Where to eat:

Amsterdam is packed full of bars and restaurants, with everything from a mini Chinatown to entire rows of Argentine eateries. They’re buzzing at all hours, as lads on tour soak up their hangovers - or line their stomach in preparation for the next. Also, Amsterdam is a snack-lover’s paradise thanks to the ‘munchies’ everyone inevitably gets.

On every corner you can get your mitts on greasy pizza, chocolate-smothered waffles or traditional fried balls of beef and breadcrumbs, called bitterballen. Outdoor stand Vleminckx on Vooetboogstraat offers what may be the best chips you’ve ever had, and we recommend going native by eating them with mayo. At Burger Bar, good-quality patties are loaded high with delicious sauces and toppings that will have you coming back for more.

If you want something more classy, head out of town by taxi to REM Eiland. Don’t panic when they drop you off in the middle of an industrial wasteland, they have the right spot. Housed in an old oil rig with sky-high 360-degree views of the water, the restaurant serves up modern European fare and good wine. The prices won’t break the bank, but dress up a bit for the occasion. Arriving here means that you’re in the know.

Where to party:

Where not to party is the question. There are 1,200 bars in Amsterdam, so you’ll never have problems finding some froth.

Dam Square and the Red Light District in the Old Centre is where it all begins, and you can’t walk more than a step without stumbling into a watering hole, whether you like it or not. Simply follow the good vibes rather than a shopping list of bars. For a relaxed experience, head to Caféde Dokter, which is one of the smallest and oldest bars in Amsterdam.

Twenty Third Bar in the arty neighbourhood of Pjip is a classy affair, worth a visit for its spectacular view of the city from the (you guessed it) 23rd floor. Cutting-edge house and electric music permeates the clubs here. Club Trouw, located in an old newspaper printing press, is a cavernous, multi-floored venue where the beats go on all night, and well in to the day. Bitterzoet offers a break from non-stop techno with its soulful vibes and intimate bar.