Bars in Amsterdam

One of the most beautiful brown cafes in Amsterdam, built in 1786 as a jenever distillery on the Egelantiersgracht. The interior – dark wood, old barrels, candlelight – is exactly what a Dutch brown cafe should look like. The canal-side terrace is one of the finest in the Jordaan. A genuinely historic bar that remains completely unpretentious.

A legendary Jordaan brown cafe where Dutch sing-alongs have been a tradition for decades. On weekend evenings, someone inevitably starts playing accordion and the whole bar joins in. Completely authentic, completely local and one of the most enjoyable bar experiences in Amsterdam if you are in the right mood for it.

A tasting house for Dutch jenever and liqueurs that has been operating since 1679 – making it one of the oldest bars in Amsterdam. Dozens of house-made jenevers and bitters available to taste. The tiny space holds only a handful of people standing. No chairs, no music – just excellent jenever and 400 years of atmosphere.

A classic Jordaan brown cafe and restaurant beloved by locals for its warm atmosphere and reliable cooking. As a bar it is excellent – good Dutch beer, a proper bruine kroeg interior and a crowd of genuine Jordaan regulars. One of the most authentic neighbourhood bars in the city.

Amsterdam’s oldest bar, opened in 1624 and used by the workers who built the Westerkerk to collect their wages. The interior has barely changed – low ceilings, dark wood and a cast of local regulars who treat the place as their living room. No frills, no tourists, just one of the oldest bars in the world still operating.

Consistently rated among the best cocktail bars in the Netherlands. A sophisticated, dimly lit space with an exceptional team and a creative cocktail list that changes seasonally. The bartenders are genuinely knowledgeable and the atmosphere is elegant without being intimidating. Book ahead for weekends – it fills up quickly.

A speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden behind an unmarked door near the Jewish Quarter. A serious cocktail programme with classic and original drinks, knowledgeable staff and an intimate atmosphere that rewards those who seek it out. One of Amsterdam’s better kept secrets and a consistent favourite with serious cocktail drinkers.

A members-style cocktail bar accessed by calling ahead for a reservation. One of the first serious craft cocktail bars in Amsterdam and still one of the best. The drinks are imaginative, the ingredients are premium and the atmosphere is properly grown-up. A reservation is required – call the number on the door before arriving.

A small, beautifully designed cocktail bar in the Jordaan focused on classic cocktails done to the highest standard. The gin and tonic selection is exceptional and the Negroni is one of the best in the city. A neighbourhood bar with a genuinely expert team – unpretentious, warm and consistently excellent.

A long-established cocktail bar in the Jordaan with a warm, intimate atmosphere and a well-crafted drinks list. One of the Jordaan’s most consistently good bars for a proper evening drink. The bar team is experienced, the ingredients are quality and the setting feels exactly right for the neighbourhood.

One of the best natural wine bars in Amsterdam with a thoughtfully curated list of low-intervention wines from small European producers. The food is excellent – small plates designed to accompany wine rather than replace dinner. A warm, knowledgeable atmosphere that attracts serious wine drinkers and curious beginners equally.

Amsterdam’s most famous craft brewery, housed inside a working 19th-century windmill in Amsterdam East. The tap room serves excellent fresh-brewed beers including the legendary Zatte tripel and Columbus IPA. The setting – a genuine windmill, open brewery visible behind the bar – is extraordinary. Worth the tram ride from the centre.

A cafe by day and natural wine bar by evening. The natural wine list is thoughtful and the atmosphere transforms as the evening progresses from quiet daytime cafe to convivial neighbourhood wine bar. One of the most enjoyable evening options in Amsterdam West – relaxed, knowledgeable and never trying too hard.

A characterful neighbourhood bar on the Oosterpark in Amsterdam East with a good selection of wines, beers and spirits, a loyal local following and a relaxed literary atmosphere that lives up to the name. One of the best neighbourhood bars in Amsterdam East – unpretentious, warm and always animated.

The tap room at Amsterdam’s windmill brewery serves the full range of house beers alongside guest Dutch craft taps. The freshness of the beer poured directly from the brewery tanks is unmatched. Open daily from 14:00 until 20:00 – earlier than most Amsterdam bars so a good early evening option.

A craft beer bar and restaurant in the centre with tank beer brewed on-site, excellent chicken and a lively atmosphere. One of the more enjoyable central Amsterdam bars for groups – the communal tables, fresh tank beer and good food make for an easy, sociable evening without the tourist chaos of the nearby Leidseplein.

One of Amsterdam’s oldest and most respected specialist beer bars with an extraordinary selection of Belgian and Dutch craft beers. The original Gollem on Raamsteeg has been serving serious beer since 1974. The beer list runs to hundreds of options and the staff know every one of them. Essential for beer enthusiasts.

A social enterprise brewery in the heart of the old city that employs people with psychiatric histories. The beers are excellent – named after Dutch music legends – and the tap room is a warm, convivial space. Good for those who want to drink well and do good at the same time.

The floating terrace on the Egelantiersgracht is the most picturesque outdoor drinking spot in the Jordaan – a wooden pontoon on the canal in front of a 1786 jenever house. On warm evenings it fills immediately and holds the light longer than almost anywhere in the city. One of those Amsterdam experiences worth planning around.

A canal-side bar with one of the busiest and most enjoyable terraces in Amsterdam on warm evenings. The vibe is relaxed and social, the drinks are good and the canal setting is exactly what Amsterdam bars should feel like. A natural gathering point for the Jordaan neighbourhood from Thursday to Sunday.

A beach bar on the IJ waterfront in Noord made from shipping containers with a sand beach and fire pits. The view back across the IJ to the Amsterdam skyline at sunset is genuinely spectacular. Reached by free ferry from Centraal in five minutes – one of the most rewarding bar trips in the city.

A large, handsome grand cafe on the Amstel with one of the finest terraces in the centre – a wide riverside balcony overlooking the Amstel and the Blauwbrug. Good drinks, reliable food and a consistently pleasant atmosphere. One of the better central Amsterdam bars for a long afternoon drink.

The most characterful neighbourhood bar in Amsterdam East. A book-lined interior, a loyal crowd of local regulars, good music and an atmosphere that rewards an unplanned evening. The terrace overlooking Oosterpark is excellent in summer.

A neighbourhood bar just steps from Amsterdam Centraal with a good selection of Dutch beers and an easy, unpretentious atmosphere. Live music on some evenings and a terrace on the Singel canal. A reliable pre-train drink or a first stop after arriving in the city.

A classic Jordaan neighbourhood bar with neon lights, Dutch pop music and an entirely local crowd. The kind of bar that makes you feel like you have stumbled into the real Amsterdam. No tourists, no craft cocktails – just cheap beer, Dutch singalong music and genuine neighbourhood warmth.

A jenever and spirits specialist near the Zeedijk with an extraordinary collection of Dutch and Belgian genevers, brandies and liqueurs. The staff are genuinely knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the selection. A quieter and more refined alternative to the tourist bars of the nearby Nieuwmarkt area.