The Sir Guide: Holiday Edition

AMSTERDAM BY JACKSON

The very cool host of Sir Explore: Amsterdam by Night shares her insider holiday tips.

Best local traditional holiday dish & where to find it:

I immediately have to think of two great places: Loetje, a very Dutch steak restaurant with incredible traditional Dutch steaks that come with bread and gravy, and Cannibale Royale, a great local place with wonderful dishes.

Best holiday market (or shopping):

On Monday mornings, you need to to the Noordermarket. Of course, the Albert Cuypmarket, but also the Dappermarket and Ten Kate market are very cool and local.

Best place for a winter cocktail:

A winter cocktail? [Laughs.] I prefer my drinks at home. However, if you really want to go out for a drink, go to IZAKAYA Asian Kitchen & Bar for a fancy cocktail or to one of the "brown cafés" in De Pijp for a nice drink.

BARCELONA BY DEAN AND AMANDINE

The owners of 14 de la Rosa, one of our favorite spots in Sir Victor's neighborhood, share their holiday picks. Read their Sir Guide to Barcelona from earlier this year here.

Best local traditional holiday dish & where to find it:

We love Berbena. The menu is seasonal and changes daily. The owner and chef is from Barcelona and makes some great traditional dishes as well as his own bread. The last time we ate at there, we had a modern take on the Crème Catalan, which was incredible.

Best holiday market (or shopping):

We love the Christmas market at La Sagrada Familia. It’s a beautiful setting for some Christmas shopping.

Best place for a winter cocktail:

When we are not working, we like to take a cocktail at Marlowe in El Born. We have also created a Christmas drink for Palo Alto Market for December.

Check out our special New Year's Eve package at Sir Victor:

Dance Dance Dance

BERLIN BY WILLIAM FAN

The fashion designer gives us the inside scoop on holidays in the epicenter of Christmas markets. Read our interview with him from earlier this year here.

Best local traditional holiday dish & where to find it:

The kale salad at The Klub Kitchen. It's a modern interpretation of the typical winter vegetable kale, which is normally cooked and served with sausages in winter times. I love the freshness and slightly bitter taste.

Best holiday market (or shopping):

I like the Christmas market at Schloss Charlottenburg. With the castle in the background, it always feels like a movie scene, and they serve wonderful food and the best Glühwein in town. For Christmas presents, I go to my favorite book store Hacker & Presting, which is also located in Charlottenburg and has the best selection of literature as well as beautiful coffee table books.

Best place for a winter cocktail:

My all-time favorite bar is Melody Nelson in Mitte. They always give classic drinks a special twist and create the most refined cocktails for seasonal events.