The Dream

The Dream sits in De Krommerdt, a quiet residential pocket of De Baarsjes, a moderate walk east of Rembrandtpark. Almost no tourist traffic reaches this part of West, and the shop is built around locals — though visitors who make the trip get a notably warm reception. One reviewer files it flatly as "not for tourists," which is fair as a description and misleading as a warning.

It's a traditional Dutch shop with no pretensions: stools, chairs, a couple of leather benches, and a pool table, which is the room's center of gravity. There's a garden at the back, which is rare enough in Amsterdam to be worth planning around in summer. Cats live here. Snacks and hot and cold drinks are available, and there's a grinder behind the counter if you need it.

The menu is modest but has a following: Moroccan imports are the house strength, alongside Candy Kush hash, Strawberry Haze and an AK-47 that regulars claim is hard to find elsewhere in West. Prices are low.