AMSTERDAM FOUR

Here are my final favourites from Amsterdam -

1. Scandinavian Embassy
Coffee shop / cafe (I had the strongest hot chocolate ever...)

2. Patta Negra
Tapas restaurant that we went back to twice. Have the fried chorizo, patatas bravas with aioli and some cheeses / jamon - amazing!

3. Cafe De Klos
Best dinner we had - I didn't get a photo of a single dinner the whole trip, so that says something! We had to wait a while, but you can go to the bar across the road and they come and find you when a spot is ready. I had the ribs and Gus had the chicken, both barbecued to perfection with potatoe and salad on the side.

4. Cafe Bern
Absolutely amazing French restuarant. The best fondue I have EVER had. I read about this one on Hypebeast before I went, and took a loaf of gluten free bread with us. They toasted it for us, and I excitedly scooped the whole fondue up with the bread and their succulent steak. Order a karafe of their red wine - went beautifully with it.

5. Cannibale Royale
Book this one, because we were lucky to squeeze in. Dark, moody atmosphere inside with candles and lace curtains. The burger was tender and topped with bacon, cheddar, salad and barbecue sauce - I couldn't help ordering the jacket potatoe with crispy bacon and sour cream too!

AMSTERDAM THREE

Rijksmuseum
Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM TWO

One thing I didn't expect from Amsterdam was the amount of vintage stores. The first one we stumbled across was Bij Ons Vintage - filled with racks and racks of vintage sports jackets. Fila, Kappa, Adidas, Nike, Ellesse just to name a few brands. Every colour of the rainbow, amazing condition and all priced around €12, which is a fraction of what they would be in London.

There is another Bij Ons store in Amsterdam too, with just as much sportswear. The only other vintage store that I liked was Episode, which was spread across two huge levels and I think I was too excited searching the racks of Burberry and Levi's to stop and take a photo.

Other stores worth mentioning are Patta (smaller than I thought, but with great collabs all the time). Concrete was a unique fashion store that had Opening Ceremony, Nike, Bape and lots of other amazing designers. And lastly Ben G (pictured above), which is three levels of clothes, shoes and accessories.

1. Bij Ons Vintage
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 150, 1012 SJ Amsterdam

2. Episode

Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 61, 1017 DD Amsterdam

Berenstraat 1, 1016 GG Amsterdam

3. Concrete
Spuistraat 250, 1012 VW Amsterdam

4. Patta
Zeedijk 67, 1012 AS Amsterdam

5. Ben G
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 142, 1012 SH Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM ONE

Last night I got back from five days in Amsterdam with my boyfriend. Torrentail rain and gale force winds aside, the food, vintage shopping and museums made up for it.

One thing I noticed straight away was hardly any graffiti compared to other European cities I've been to. The huge wall pictured above was the only large piece I saw, and trust me I circled every canal in the city by the end of the trip.

Being coeliac (and now my boyfriend finding out he is too!), I always do my research beforehand for good gluten free places to eat...

Bagels & Beans
As soon as I head that this bagel chain offered a gluten free option, we hunted one down. I had the proscuitto, mozrella, rocket and pesto one and Gus had a BLT with pine nuts. The food was great, but service was not so great.

B E R L I N

Berlin was one of my absolute best trips in recent years. I didn't have any expectations from it, just four days of exploring... But I fell in love with Kreuzberg's endless cafes, cocktail bars and raindbow raods of graffiti. Here are my favourites -

Gipfeltreffen

Perfect breakfast, and beatiful seating inside and out. Fills up quickly so get in early to get a good seat in the sunshine. A plate piled high with meats, cheeses and salad - the German's do breakfast right!

Salumeria Lamuri

Walking past this little Italian cafe, you wouldn't expect what awaits inside. Beautifully tiled floors, a huge counter filled with paninis and sweet treats, cosy little tables and beautiful high windows looking out. Trying to find the bathroom, this back room (above) took me by surprise - filled with wood and windows covered in plants.

Burgermeister

I don't know if I even need words about Burgermeister. Hopefully these pictures (we went three times all up over our four days) do the outdoor Kreuzberg burger cart enough justice...

New Deli Yoga

Small vegetarian cafe near Gorlitzer Park

Baraka

Amazing mix of Lebanese, Egyptian, and Moroccan food. The platter we had was so cheap and delicious.

BICYCLE CAFE

A small cafe with high windows, wooden tables and a counter laden with neat stacks of hand-made cakes and sandwiches. I'll go to what I call Bicycle Cafe at least once a week... Whether it's with a new magazine from the off license nearby, or just to sit and write my sister a letter.

Gluten free almond macaroons, and the prettiest coffees. Without a doubt my favourite cafe here so far.

Tapped & Packed cafe Soho

SYDNEY FAVOURITES

I've only travelled to Sydney twice - once to visit the Monster Children studio, and once to see the Harry Potter exhibition. If I was to move back to Australia, I would be more than happy to live and work there (Surry Hills please!) There are so many places to still discover, but for now these are my favourite parts...


EAT
Sailors Thai - 106 George St, The Rocks
Canteen style upstairs with a massive wooden communal table and a dining room downstairs. The food is the best I've had outside of Thailand... My favourites have to be chicken with cashews and chilli jam followed by coconut ice cream!

Bourke Street Bakery - 633 Bourke St, Surry Hills
This is when my allergies make me want to cry. Walking into this tiny corner bakery, my mum looked at me panicked as if I were about to lie on the floor and have a tantrum. Seriously, cabinets of rhubarb almond tarts, raspberry pear butter cakes and every kind of loaf you can imagine. Worth it even just to drool at their creations!

Deus Cafe - 98/102-104 Parramatta Rd, Camperdown
Sitting alongside the Dues ex Machina store and below the Monster Children studio, you know this cafe is going to be good... Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Monday movie nights and live music through the week. Add a menu of good ol' classics and a bloody good coffee - it's a winner.

Food on Five - Westfield Pitt St Mall
Westfield's lavish food court is enough to make your jaw drop. I managed to try four places in three days. Try Rueben & Moore's massive Rueben sandwiches. Or go to Charlie & Co. for a gluten free wagyu beef burger and parmesan truffle fries... Need I say more.


SHOP
Pretty much ALL of Paddington and Surry Hills, but with a special mention of Mrs Red & Sons where my sister and I picked up the tiniest hand painted Chinese cats and the staff are just the best (polaroid above). Find it at 427 Crown St, Surry Hills.


Pictured: 1. The Rocks Market. 2. My younger brother Bon. 3. Deus Cafe. 4. My sister in the background thinking, "Seriously, he's posing for ANOTHER photo!?" 5. Aimee on the train. 6. Polaroids of the sights on the boat ride. 7. Knot and trench. 8. Aimee taking photos of her own. 9. Blue hues. 10. Taxi driver stories. 11 & 12. Ariel bookstore in Paddington. 13. Mrs Red & Sons. 14. Bonjamin.