Cafes in Amsterdam

One of the pioneers of Amsterdam’s specialty coffee scene and still one of the best. Lot Sixty One roasts its own beans and runs a focused, expert bar. The espresso and pour-overs are consistently excellent. A small, serious space in Amsterdam West that attracts coffee professionals and enthusiasts from across the city. No wifi – come to drink coffee, not to work.

A beautifully designed specialty coffee bar in Amsterdam West with an industrial-minimal interior and a serious approach to sourcing and extraction. The flat white and filter coffee are both benchmark. A favourite of the creative and tech community who live and work in the area. Good wifi and a calm working atmosphere on weekdays.

A well-loved specialty coffee and natural wine bar on the Overtoom that blurs the line between daytime cafe and evening wine bar with great success. Excellent coffee during the day, a thoughtful natural wine list in the evening and consistently good pastries throughout. One of the most versatile and enjoyable spots in Amsterdam West.

A popular specialty coffee bar near the Rijksmuseum with an excellent bean selection, rotating guest roasters and a knowledgeable team. The espresso-based drinks are all excellent and the filter coffee programme is one of the most interesting in the canal ring area. Good for a morning coffee before the museums.

A Scandinavian-inspired specialty coffee bar overlooking Sarphatipark in De Pijp with a beautiful, calm interior and a serious commitment to coffee quality. The open-faced sandwiches and pastries are excellent. One of the most pleasant cafe settings in Amsterdam – the park view from the window seats is particularly good in all seasons.

A respected independent roastery and cafe in Amsterdam West with an excellent selection of single-origin coffees and a relaxed, neighbourhood atmosphere. Monks sources carefully and roasts with precision – the pour-overs are outstanding. One of the more knowledgeable and unpretentious specialty coffee spots in the city.

One of the most popular brunch spots in Amsterdam, consistently excellent and consistently queued for on weekend mornings. The eggs dishes, sourdough toast and fresh juices are standouts. Canal-side setting in Amsterdam West. Arrive before 10am on weekends to avoid a wait – it fills up extremely quickly.

A social enterprise cafe and brunch spot in a beautiful garden setting behind the Westerkerk in the Jordaan. Excellent brunch dishes, good coffee and a warmly welcoming atmosphere. The Hoftuin garden terrace is one of the nicest outdoor seating spots in the Jordaan in summer. Profits fund employment training for people with distance to the labour market.

A New Zealand-inspired brunch cafe in the Plantage neighbourhood with an exceptional brunch menu. The eggs benedict, banana bread French toast and green smoothies are all standout. One of the most consistently excellent brunch spots in Amsterdam – the Kiwi influence shows in the quality of the coffee and the generosity of the portions.

A hugely popular brunch spot in the Jordaan with a varied menu covering everything from full English to shakshuka, avocado toast to French toast. The queues on weekend mornings are a testament to the consistent quality. One of the most reliable brunch options in the Jordaan – arrive early or go mid-week to avoid the wait.

A specialty coffee and all-day brunch spot in the Nine Streets area with an excellent menu and consistently good coffee. Popular with the shopping crowd doing the Jordaan and Nine Streets on weekend mornings. Good eggs dishes, fresh juices and a warm, unhurried atmosphere that is rare for such a central location.

The main Amsterdam public library on the Oosterdok is the best free work space in the city. Seven floors of study space, fast free wifi, power sockets throughout, a rooftop terrace with city views and a good in-house cafe. Open until 22:00 most evenings. The most practical and underrated work space in Amsterdam – consistently excellent and completely free.

Fast wifi, plentiful power sockets and excellent coffee make White Label one of the best work cafes in the city. The calm, minimal interior is conducive to focused work and the weekday mornings are reliably quiet. A favourite of Amsterdam’s remote-working community.

A German-inspired neighbourhood cafe with a book-lined interior, good coffee and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere that makes it one of the best work cafes in the canal ring area. Laptop workers are welcomed and the cafe fills steadily through the day with writers, students and remote workers. Good wifi and a generous supply of power sockets.

A large, beautifully converted industrial space in Amsterdam Noord with excellent coffee, fast wifi and an atmosphere that draws creative professionals from across the city. The Noord location puts it away from tourist traffic and the spacious interior means it rarely feels crowded even when busy. A favourite of the creative and tech community based in Noord.

A Japanese-inspired specialty coffee bar and lunch spot in the Jordaan with excellent coffee, good wifi and a calm, focused atmosphere that makes it one of the better work cafes in the neighbourhood. The matcha lattes and Japanese-inspired sandwiches are both excellent. Fills up from lunchtime but quiet and work-friendly in the mornings.

A beloved canal-side cafe on the Marnixstraat with one of the most popular outdoor terraces in Amsterdam. Good coffee, simple food and an easy, sociable atmosphere that draws a loyal neighbourhood crowd. The terrace fills immediately on any remotely sunny day – one of those spots that defines Amsterdam cafe life at its most enjoyable.

A spectacular all-day cafe in a converted 1920s cinema in De Pijp with three floors of seating, a tropical theme and a menu that runs from breakfast through dinner. Good coffee, fresh juices and a strong brunch offering. The interior is one of the most impressive cafe spaces in Amsterdam and the vibe is reliably warm and international.

A beach bar and cafe on the IJ waterfront in Amsterdam Noord made from upcycled shipping containers. Pllek has a sand beach, fire pits in winter and a relaxed creative atmosphere year-round. Good coffee, good food and one of the finest outdoor settings in Amsterdam. Reached by free ferry from Centraal – five minutes across the IJ.

Next door to Staring at Jacob and sharing its canal-side setting, De Vrienden is a more relaxed and slightly quieter all-day cafe option on the same stretch of canal. Good coffee, light lunches and a warm neighbourhood atmosphere. A good choice when the queue at Staring at Jacob is too long.

A small, perfectly formed neighbourhood cafe in a hidden alley off the Spui in the centre of Amsterdam. One of those rare Amsterdam spots that feels genuinely local despite being steps from the tourist centre. Good coffee, cheap sandwiches and a warm regulars atmosphere that locals guard jealously.

A Flemish-style bakery and cafe in the Nine Streets with some of the finest bread and pastries in Amsterdam. The sourdough, croissants and pain au chocolat are all exceptional. A small seating area for eating in, but most people take away. The best bakery-cafe in the Jordaan and Nine Streets area.

A beautiful French patisserie on the Utrechtsestraat with some of the finest pastries and cakes in Amsterdam. The tarte tatin, eclairs and mille-feuille are all outstanding. A small seating area with excellent coffee makes it a refined afternoon treat. The best French patisserie in Amsterdam for those who take their pastry seriously.

A historic Dutch wholegrain bakery in the Jordaan that has been baking the same honest, substantial bread since 1900. No frills, no Instagram aesthetic – just excellent Dutch bread made the old way. A neighbourhood institution that locals rely on weekly. Take away or eat one of their excellent sandwiches at the counter.