The 21 best bars in Amsterdam

Amsterdam boasts a diverse and lively nightlife, offering options to suit different preferences. Traditional bruin cafés, known for their rustic charm, are popular in the Jordaan area, while De Pijp is home to modern, trendy cocktail bars. 

As a city with strong ties to Heineken, Amsterdam is particularly appealing to beer enthusiasts. However, it also provides alternatives like stylish wine bars, energetic nightclubs, and small, intimate tasting rooms where visitors can try jenever, a traditional Dutch spirit and the forerunner of gin.

The guide also includes expert recommendations for top nightlife spots, making it easier for visitors to plan an enjoyable evening. Additionally, it offers helpful resources on Amsterdam's best hotels, restaurants, shopping destinations, free activities, and ideas for spending a weekend in the city.

Central Amsterdam

Luminair

Luminair, a chic cocktail bar in central Amsterdam, is situated on the 11th floor near Central Station, combining breathtaking views of the city with a creative, sky-inspired ambiance. Its interior features unique cloud-shaped installations, glass walls, and shifting light projections that give the feeling of floating in the sky.

The venue blends stunning aesthetics with vibrant energy, thanks to music from emerging DJs. It also stands out for its innovative menu, offering bold cocktails like the “Cloud,” made with lemongrass, shiso, cucumber, and gin, alongside gourmet snacks such as karaage cauliflower and soft-shell crab. Luminair is perfect for a memorable outing, whether day or night, making it a year-round must-visit spot.

De Dokter

De Dokter is a historic pub in Amsterdam, notable for its small size—just 18 square meters—and its long-standing family ownership dating back to 1798. The pub's antique charm is accentuated by its vintage decor, including dusty lampshades and eclectic knick-knacks that give it a unique, old-world ambiance.

Originally a favorite gathering spot for medical students, it has since gained fame for its impressive variety of whiskies and a selection of Dutch and Belgian beers. One of its highlights is the reasonably priced "whisky of the month," which often features high-quality single malts, making it a popular spot for whisky enthusiasts and those seeking a cozy, historic drinking experience.

ARCA

ARCA is a sophisticated bar and cultural spot located in a lively, neon-filled area near Central Station. It stands out as a chic retreat with its modern and artistic design. The main bar area features a sleek black bar and a mosaic wall, complemented by stylish leatherette tulip chairs, creating a trendy and vibrant atmosphere.

For those seeking a quieter experience, ARCA offers a lounge area with designer furniture and art books, perfect for relaxation or conversation. Guests can indulge in a selection of colorful and sparkling cocktails, adding to the upscale experience.

Beyond its bar and lounge, ARCA also incorporates a cultural element. The basement gallery showcases contemporary Dutch art, offering visitors a chance to engage with edgy and innovative artistic expressions. This combination of style, relaxation, and culture makes ARCA a unique and appealing destination.

Bierfabriek

Bierfabriek is a dynamic and welcoming microbrewery designed to cater to a diverse crowd, including students, backpackers, and young adults looking for a fun and social experience. The venue features a cozy, rustic atmosphere with multiple rooms, creating a comfortable setting for guests.

It specializes in brewing its own beers, offering a range of unique options such as a warm, flavorful porter, a fruity red ale, and a standout pilsener called "Puur," which is unfiltered and rich with yeast flavors. To complement the beer, the brewery serves freshly baked bread made using brewer's yeast and organic grilled chicken, providing hearty food options to enjoy with drinks.

For groups of friends or parties, Bierfabriek offers a unique feature called a "taptafel," a table equipped with its own beer draft pump. This allows guests to pour their own beer, adding an interactive and personalized touch to the experience.

Super Lyan

Super Lyan is a trendy cocktail bar in Amsterdam that combines a nostalgic 1950s aesthetic with a contemporary twist. The bar's design, crafted by renowned designer Jacu Strauss, is characterized by playful bubble-gum colors, rounded shapes, and innovative lighting, creating a vibrant and inviting atmosphere.

The bar is celebrated for its meticulously made cocktails, offering a perfect harmony of flavors. One standout is the East 8 Straight Up, a cocktail featuring a blend of vodka, Aperol, lychee, and passion fruit, delivering a refreshing and balanced taste experience.

Super Lyan also caters to those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks, offering grown-up, inventive options that are just as thoughtfully prepared and flavorful as their alcoholic counterparts, ensuring a satisfying experience for all guests.

Café@Droog

Café@Droog is a modern and visually striking café situated above the studio spaces of the renowned Dutch design company, Droog. The café's interior is minimalist and predominantly white, creating a clean and sophisticated atmosphere. It is decorated with an eclectic mix of furniture and art pieces created by Droog collaborators, showcasing the company’s innovative design ethos. Highlights include Tejo Remy’s Rag Chair, a creative bundled-up design, and Rachel Harding’s whimsical fish tank model of a Chinese restaurant.

This café attracts design enthusiasts and style-conscious visitors, offering a menu focused on fresh, healthy options such as quinoa salads and carrot-cardamom mousse, along with a selection of refreshing juices. It provides a calm, relaxing space amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, with some seating offering picturesque canal views, making it an ideal spot for both a quiet meal and creative inspiration.

De Pilsener Club (De Engelse Reet)

De Pilsener Club, also known as De Engelse Reet, is a historic and distinctive bar in Amsterdam with a unique layout. Instead of a typical bar counter, drinks are served from a small backroom that connects to a front room, a traditional setup that has been in place for centuries and is rare in the city today. The bar has been operated by the same family for four generations, with each successful generation sharing the same family name.

A notable feature of the bar is its long-standing tradition of having a barman named "Teun van Veen," a name that has been carried on for over 85 years. The bar is especially famous for its selection of genevers, a traditional Dutch gin, sourced from the local distillery De Ooievaar, which has been in operation since 1782. This combination of history, family legacy, and quality drinks contributes to the bar's charm and reputation.

Grand Café 1e Klas

Grand Café 1e Class is situated in the historic first-class waiting room of Amsterdam's Central Station, a space that maintains its original luxurious features from when it was built in 1882. The room was designed to offer first-class passengers an elegant and royal experience, evident in the high ceilings, large Delft vases, potted palms, and intricate William Morris patterns on the walls. These details help preserve the grandeur and sophisticated atmosphere of the space.

Today, the café remains a popular and convenient meeting spot for those unfamiliar with the city, especially due to its central location. However, visitors may need to acquire a free platform access ticket to reach the café, which is directly located on Platform 2B of the station, making it easy to find for anyone passing through.

Hoppe

Hoppe is a traditional Dutch pub, often referred to as a "brown café" due to its characteristic wooden paneling and the darkened walls that have been stained by centuries of tobacco smoke. This gives the café an old-world charm and an authentic atmosphere that is typical of many historic Dutch pubs. Founded in 1670, Hoppe has maintained a reputation for being a more refined and established venue, particularly the 'Standing Room' section, which is the oldest part of the café.

Over the years, Hoppe has maintained a distinction from the more bohemian, laid-back Café De Zwart across the alley. While both cafes attract locals and visitors, Hoppe is known for attracting a more formal crowd, especially during certain hours. In the early evening, the café becomes very crowded with professionals in suits, making it less enjoyable due to the noise and the packed environment. Therefore, it’s better to visit Hoppe at times other than after work to fully appreciate its historic ambiance and character.

Café In De Waag

Café In De Waag is a charming café and restaurant located in a historic building that dates back to 1488. Originally built as one of Amsterdam’s city gates and later transformed into a public weigh-house in the 17th century, it now serves as a unique dining and drinking destination.

The interior exudes warmth and character, featuring exposed brick walls, wooden details, and the soft glow of nearly 300 candles, which adds a romantic and cozy ambiance—though it can get warm during summer. For a more comfortable experience in warmer weather, guests can opt for the outdoor terrace, which offers views of the bustling Nieuwmarkt square, located on the edge of the Red Light District. Café In De Waag is a perfect spot for those seeking a relaxed and elegant atmosphere, distinct from the livelier venues nearby.

De Jaren

De Jaren is a modern, elegant café in Amsterdam, known for its minimalist aesthetic. The interior features white walls, light wood accents, high ceilings, and expansive windows that provide beautiful views of the Amstel River. A standout feature is the terrace that extends over the water, making it a favorite spot for arts and media professionals, particularly during cocktail hour.

Visitors can enjoy different experiences based on the weather: sunny days invite guests to dock their boats and relax on the terrace, while rainy afternoons are perfect for cozying up indoors in a basket chair or at the long reading table. The café offers a wide-ranging menu, including sandwiches, salads, and budget-friendly full meals throughout the day, catering to both casual visits and longer stays. Its versatility and inviting atmosphere make it a must-visit venue.

Café Van Zuylen

Café Van Zuylen is a traditional "brown café," a type of bar known for its cozy, old-fashioned ambiance with wooden interiors and walls that have a patina from years of tobacco smoke. The café offers two different environments: one room is vibrant, noisy, and packed, particularly in the evenings, creating a lively atmosphere, while another room, accessible through a side door or a separate entrance, is quieter and more intimate, featuring a chandelier and artwork, making it suitable for couples or those seeking a more peaceful experience.

When the weather is nice, the café’s expansive terrace, which spans across a bridge over the Singel Canal, becomes a popular spot for enjoying the sunshine and relaxing by the water. This combination of lively and calm spaces, along with the beautiful outdoor setting, makes Café Van Zuylen a versatile and inviting destination.

Wynand Fockink

Wynand Fockink is a historic distillery and tasting room in Amsterdam, founded in 1679 by Wynand Fockink. The distillery specializes in crafting high-quality liqueurs and jenever (Dutch gin). 

The tasting room, which retains much of its original character, features wood paneling, sawdust-covered floors, and shelves stocked with bottles of liqueurs with distinctive names, creating an old-world, cozy atmosphere. 

Although the space is small and tends to get crowded in the evenings, it's a perfect spot for a quick drink, particularly during the winter months. For those who have only experienced commercial jenever, Wynand Fockink offers a chance to sample a more refined version, like their superior three-year-old malt, providing an authentic taste of traditional Dutch gin.

Canal Belt – West

De Melkweg

De Melkweg is a renowned and lively venue in Amsterdam that has been a cultural landmark since the 1970s, playing a central role in the European counter-culture movement. Originally a dairy building, it has evolved into a multi-purpose space with a cinema, art gallery, and café. The venue hosts a diverse array of events, including Dutch pop music, grunge rock, hip-hop, and contemporary dance performances.

To attend most events, visitors are required to become members of the venue, paying a small membership fee (which is often included in the event ticket or available for an annual discount). For certain events, it’s recommended to book tickets in advance, as this may ensure entry and sometimes involve an additional surcharge. De Melkweg remains an important spot for cultural and artistic expression in Amsterdam.

Morlang

Morlang is a well-loved café situated beside a canal, attracting a mix of people, including local office workers and visitors in their thirties. The café has a lively atmosphere at all times of the day and night, with outdoor seating available by the canal when the weather is nice. 

However, the area can be somewhat noisy due to the nearby trams and traffic. Inside, the upstairs area offers a cozy window nook that provides a beautiful view of the canal, making it a perfect place to spend a quiet, relaxing afternoon, especially on rainy days. 

The café's dual spaces—outdoor for lively moments and indoor for more peaceful ones—make it a versatile spot for various moods.

Museum District and De Pijp

Flamingo

Flamingo is a vibrant café situated in the lively De Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam, right next to the Albert Cuyp Market. 

The café is located on one of the area's busiest streets, surrounded by fruit boxes and offering a front-row seat to the energetic nightlife. It serves a range of beverages, including mulled wine in the winter, refreshing mojitos in the summer, and a selection of beers from local breweries like Brouwerij ’t IJ and Oedipus. 

Flamingo is a popular spot to start a night out, as it’s within walking distance of numerous other bars, making it an ideal place to relax and observe the bustling social scene before venturing further into the neighborhood’s nightlife.

Jordaan and Amsterdam West

De Tuin

De Tuin is a relaxed, inviting bar located in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, popular with locals and regular visitors. The bar has a cozy and quirky interior featuring stone floors, wooden chairs, retro floral wallpaper, and a varied collection of prints and pictures. 

It offers ten beers on tap and a range of bottled beers, along with a selection of wines. For those who prefer outdoor seating, the bar has a pleasant outdoor area where patrons can watch the bustling street life. Craft beer lovers will enjoy options from Oedipus and other Amsterdam-based breweries. It's a great spot for a casual drink and to experience the local atmosphere.

Oosterdok and Amsterdam East

Bar Bukowski/Henry's Bar

Bar Bukowski and Henry's Bar are two distinct venues located in Oosterdok and Amsterdam East, each offering a different atmosphere. Bar Bukowski, inspired by the writer Charles Bukowski, is a lively, crowded bar known for its youthful and energetic vibe. It features a giant typewriter-key light installation and lively music that adds to the excitement. 

In contrast, Henry's Bar is a quieter, more laid-back venue accessible through an archway. It offers soft chairs for relaxation and a skilled team of bartenders who craft unique cocktails, such as the refreshing "Chuma’s Cucumba" made with elderflower, cucumber, lime, and gin. 

While Bar Bukowski is known for its vibrant, noisy environment, Henry's Bar provides a more serene experience with a range of adult soft drinks, including pine-flavored options.

Hannekes Boom

Hannekes Boom is a distinctive café in Amsterdam, situated in a relatively hidden location near Central Station. The café offers exceptional views: on one side, the sounds of trains passing by, and on the other, the striking NEMO building by Renzo Piano dominates the skyline over the eastern docks. The café has a relaxed, rustic atmosphere with a shack-like structure and expansive outdoor terraces surrounded by trees.

It draws a youthful, alternative crowd and often features live performances, including funk, jazz, and singer-songwriters, as well as various arts events. During colder months, visitors enjoy the warmth and coziness of the indoor area near the open hearth, making it a favorite spot for a winter retreat.

De Ysbreeker

De Ysbreeker is a historic café in Amsterdam, dating back to the 18th century. Originally an inn and billiards bar, it has transformed into a contemporary music venue.

 The café has large windows offering views of the River Amstel, and its interior has been redesigned with a modern, sleek style by local designer Ronald Hooft, while preserving original elements like cast-iron pillars. 

It attracts a wide range of visitors, including design lovers, politicians, and media personalities. The café also features a spacious shaded terrace by the river, making it an ideal spot for relaxation, particularly on warm afternoons.

Amsterdam North

Café-Restaurant Tolhuistuin

Café-Restaurant Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam North is a vibrant cultural hub, attracting a diverse crowd, including musicians, performers, tourists, and locals. The café serves a variety of food and drinks, such as traditional apple pie, nachos, bitterballen, and a selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes, including jackfruit rendang. Located in a former Shell research facility, it is now part of an arts center with a large shady garden that hosts summer gigs. Tolhuistuin is a popular destination for those looking for a bite or a drink while exploring Amsterdam Noord.