Ready for a gay Amsterdam tour?
Ready for a gay Amsterdam tour? Here’s the interview of Mario, a local Gaybassador of the city.
Hello Mario, can you tell us a bit about you?
I was born in Argentina, but I have been living abroad for the last 10 years. First in Italy, until I moved to Amsterdam 6 years ago. I worked here as a web specialist for an online travel company until I decided to go freelance.
Why do you love Amsterdam that much?
There would be so many things to say … Besides been picture perfect, it’s also one of the most exciting, resilient, changing, and modern global villages in the world – while it still takes you only half hour cycling to be in the middle of the countryside.
Sometimes I just stop on a bridge and take in the scene, and I think to myself: “look where you are, who could have ever told you you’d be living in Amsterdam”.
My 4 favorite places
Jordaan quarter – particularly the Saturday market.
Flemish theatre quarter – a small angle of the center where you can find some rest from the crowds.
Cool and hip places in my own area – Amsterdam Noord.
There are also some places outside the city that I love to visit when I need some relax, as the North Sea beaches or on the outskirts of the city along the Amstel river.
My favorite restaurants
Café Kadijk, an Indonesian resto-pub.
China Sichuan, I think you guessed.
Mitsos, a really tiny Greek take away with a few tables.
Which are the main spots you like to show to gay travelers in Amsterdam?
I’d love to show them so many places. Walking through the quieter areas in the center, where the masses of tourists don’t go, stop and explain to them why the houses are not standing straight, show them the B-side of the city.
The tiny canals near Nieuwmarkt, the view from the Kikkerbilsluis, the old mill with the IJ Brewery, the Amstel river from the Blauwbrug until Sarphatistraat, the Amstelveld and Reguliersgracht, the 9 Straatjes, the quaint canals and streets of Jordaan, the Saturday Market at the Noorderkerk and having an apple pie with whipped cream…
But also my favorite gay spots, like Getto or Prik, maybe meeting friends, have a laugh… Feel the city like we do.
What about gay local life in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is a very cosmopolitan city, which means that has everything for every taste. There are quite a lot of places to go, though people tend to believe that Amsterdam is a 24/7 city while it’s not.
It’s actually quite small, 800 000 inhabitants, which means that if you missed the weekend, you wouldn’t have much happening. There are also quite some great parties: Bear Necessity, Rapido, Funhouse, Furball, as well as very well known festivals, like Milkshake or Wasteland.
Gay Amsterdam bars and other LGBT venues
Prik bar is always in the top of my list – voted for several years as the best gay bar in the country, with a quite cool mix and cool guys in the service.
Getto resto-bar for diva burgers and cocktails – Thursdays’ Getto Glam are fun!
Church to go out dance – or more. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday, but you need to check their agenda to see what’s on each night.
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Visiting Europe soon? Have a look on Gaybassadors’ interviews for Barcelona, Marseille, Paris or Sofia.