Small World

A tiny deli making the Haarlemmerbuurt's best sandwiches since 1999.

Blink on the Binnen Oranjestraat, just off the Haarlemmerdijk, and you'll miss it: a shop roughly the size of a generous wardrobe that has fed this neighbourhood since 1999. Small World is what every 'artisan lunch concept' pretends to descend from. Everything is made on the premises, the stacked sandwiches, the quiches, the salads, the carrot cake people cross town for, the pestos, the fresh juices. Order the meatloaf sandwich or whatever they've roasted that morning, take it to a bench by the Westerdok, and feel briefly superior to everyone queueing for mediocre pancakes on the Haarlemmerstraat. There are a couple of stools if you're lucky and it's takeaway otherwise, which is the correct format: this is fuel for browsing the Dijk, done at a level most sit-down lunch places never reach. Closed Mondays; sold-out cake is your own fault for arriving late.

The carrot cake is non-negotiable, buy a slice with your sandwich or regret it by the Westerdok.

Photo: Small World Catering

Photo: Small World Catering