At spitting distance from the NDSM Werf, an old shipyard that has been turned into a incubator for creative companies and starting artists, you’ll find the IJ-Kantine, conveniently located next to the small ferry terminal in northern Amsterdam. The free ferry-ride alone is reason enough to venture away from the city center to this old industrial area, but this restaurant adds even more joy to the expedition up north.

Reading through reviews you’ll find that not everybody truly appreciates the IJ-Kantine, just because the prices are a little higher than at other places and the staff is not always super-attentive. Nevertheless, the restaurant is an architectural treasure with huge glass windows and high ceilings.

Enjoy a meal and a few drinks, watching the sun go down over the waterfront. The restaurant even hosts live music on Sunday afternoons, as well as a supervised arts and crafts corner for kids—in summer there’s even a huge sandbox outside.