The best bars and cafés Holland

Visiting an Irish pub in the Netherlands? Why not! This one's superb and renowned for its warm ambience and for the amount of booze that flows every night. The venue occasionally plays host to some of the finest Celtic folk bands to be found in the best Irish countryside, around which an electric, heavily imbibed crowd gathers. Mulligan's claims, and probably rightly so, to be different from other Irish bars in the capital. Just a stone's throw from Rembrandtplein, Mulligan's enjoys a dream location and a typical view.

A classic in its field and a true benchmark, Gollem is an established name when it comes to enjoying good beers in pleasant surroundings. Although not as historic as some of its competitors, Gollem offers an incredible range of bottled beers, as well as a wide selection of draught beers! The best thing to do is get advice from specialists who can guide you through this beer-lover's paradise. As the place is popular, it's the ideal place to start an evening. A good, noisy atmosphere, especially after a few drinks!

An excellent, original brewery, it brews with a love of beer, but also of people. A brand-new arrival on the capital's scene 20 years ago, the brewery is committed to social inclusion, serving as a place of reintegration for slightly disabled people, who are usually at a disadvantage in the job market. You can enjoy your beer all the more when you know you're helping to make the world a better place by drinking it! The atmosphere is cosy, in the heart of the red light district. An address to discover without fail.

If you head further west, away from the (overly) touristy Jordaan district, you'll find some authentic nuggets within easy reach. Such is the case with Café Cook, an excellent address which, according to many connoisseurs, boasts the best terrace in the capital. It's truly a special, unpretentious place, but one that will undoubtedly seduce and entice you with its excellent menu of both vegetarian and meat dishes. As you can see, there's only one thing to do: "Go west" and discover Café Cook.

Excellent design café located in the northern part of Jordaan, attracting a large audience of locals and tourists. The setting is sleek and industrial, with huge windows. Toki offers a wide choice of pastries, cakes and viennoiseries, as well as coffees with abundant foam, all homemade. The welcome is warm and inviting, and you'll feel right at home if you need to recharge your batteries between visits. The place is (unexpectedly) very popular and you'll have to be patient at times, but your expectations will be more than satisfied!

An excellent little gallery in the Jordaan, not far from the Anne Frank House, in a very pleasant part of the district, where you can come for a good-quality, tightly-packed cup of coffee and visit an exhibition at the same time. The place is bright and modern, the decor minimalist. You can enjoy delicious, ultra-healthy powerbowls while sipping a homemade smoothie. A great idea for a champion's breakfast before hitting the canals! It's a prime address for inspiring telecommuting, right across the Prinsengracht.

Jon, Sander and Thijs realize their "boyhood dream" by opening this attractive brewery in the heart of Delft. This medieval cellar dating back to 1300 was bought by the brewers. The shards of a medieval beer mug are unearthed, by chance or fate? Residents, students, tourists, beer lovers - everyone is welcome! The menu features burgers and platters. The brewery is located on the Holy Spirit cemetery, now proudly known as Brouwplein (Brewers' Square). A place full of life and history, not to be missed.

An excellent little outdoor bar on Museum Square. Excellent coffees, waffles and muffins. Tourists and locals alike have a good time here as soon as the sun comes out. In sunny weather, it's a great place to enjoy breakfast in the open air before embarking on cultural visits or shopping in the city's southern district. At first glance, this address may seem too touristy, but it's actually of consistent quality. A good idea on the way out of the Rijksmuseum and before going to the Van Gogh Museum!

In the heart of the city's eastern district, which is currently undergoing lightning-fast renewal, and a stone's throw from the lively Dappermarkt, we find this pretty traditional café on the corner of the Javastraat. It's the headquarters of the area's mixed public. An ideal place to watch a soccer match or shoot pool. Some say it's one of the few authentic places left in the capital since gentrification went too far. The café offers authentic dishes to be enjoyed with a good beer.

Welcome to one of Amsterdam's smallest bars! In just a few years, Vesper has become a firm fixture on Amsterdam's nightlife scene, just a stone's throw from the Haarlemmerdijk. Here, you can enjoy excellent cocktails, skilfully prepared. Go for the Fin Fizz, made with gin, pine liqueur, cucumber and rosemary... Alternatively, the Smoke... stoned is prepared with mezcal and juniper. The classy, sexy setting is reminiscent of James Bond, and it's no coincidence that the place is named after the only woman 007 ever really loved.

Escobar is a very pleasant bar-restaurant in the heart of the Pijp district. People come here all day long to eat, have lunch or dinner, but above all to enjoy a drink in a place that, thanks to its proportions, stands out from the other addresses in the area. Inspiration comes, as the name suggests, from South America. The cocktail menu is comprehensive and impressive. We like the unique atmosphere, in former public baths. The tacos are famous, as is the sangria. Escobar has it all, so don't wait any longer.

Stiels is a very pleasant café-cum-concert hall. Its historic reputation has been excellent since it opened over 10 years ago. This is the place to come for a superb, rhythmic evening. The program is detailed on the website. Monday is traditionally jazz night. Every evening there's something to experience at Stiels, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Spend at least part of the evening there before continuing your journey. You can have a drink while you're there, and admission is free.

It's a real favorite, but the competition on the Place Spui is fierce. De Zwart is a small, young shop, only built in 1921, and is the corner store on this pretty literary square. Its clientele, made up of intellectuals, writers and apprentice-writers, is loyal. It's a quiet, music-free place, with a lovely terrace for watching cyclists and pedestrians. The service is efficient and humorous. A quality address where you can drop in for a coffee after buying the press or a book in French from the bookshop next door.

Pilsvogel is one of the city's hotel monuments, a classic in a way, even if it's not a brown café. The decor is inspired by Gaudi, and the toilets are well known for this. Pilsvogel is not far from the Heineken brewery and the Albert Cuyp market, and attracts a mixed crowd. It's famous for its tapas and chicken with satay sauce, which won't break the bank. Pilsvogel is a great reference address in the neighborhood, where you can come with friends until the end of the night!

Don't worry, Gollem is just a beer bar and won't do you any harm. In fact, it's one of the best places to go out in the capital. Close to the Leidseplein, it's located on a less touristy but just as lively thoroughfare. The space is quite impressive. The menu is very extensive, and you'll need to listen to the staff's ever-wise advice, a comprehensive menu that will appeal to novices and enthusiasts alike. Jazz concerts are held every Saturday. An address to discover and rediscover.

Here is a very nice address! Botanero is a mix between a bar, a restaurant, a canteen and a tasting place. It is all that which is proposed here. The decoration is elegant and warm with very big walls of bottles, plants, wood. The terrace is also very pleasant. The menu proposes modern reinterpretations of traditional dishes. However, one comes here mainly for the cocktails and the place has even been elected best cocktail bar in the Netherlands. And this election is well deserved.

For some years now, Amsterdam has had its own Soho house, an exclusive private club, a creative community that moves and comes alive in a superb historic setting, a former university. The space includes a bar, restaurant, cinema and superb panoramic rooftop terrace (with pool!). The idea is to make it your home away from home. Yes, you have to be a member or be invited by a member. Otherwise, you can always rent a room (there are around 60) or dine at the excellent Cecconi's to discover the Soho house spirit.

Located in the city's historic district, between the Nieuwmarkt and the Amstel, Engelbewaarder is a classic brown café with a lively atmosphere. Attracting a fauna of intellectuals and students, it deserves its title of literary café. There's plenty to drink and talk about, sometimes even politics... A great place to appreciate what Dutch democracy is like on a daily basis. The international cuisine is nothing special; you come for a drink from a wide selection of presses, and for jam sessions on Sundays between 4.30 and 7pm.

This friendly bar livens up the center of Amsterdam, a stone's throw from Leidseplein and its theaters and concert halls. The good-natured atmosphere attracts a mixed crowd of locals and tourists young and old. A concise food menu is offered (currently pizza and antipasti), while the drinks menu features local beers (notably from the oedipus brewery) that should be accompanied by a juniper, a combination that gives the bar its name (kopstoot). It's best to start with a small glass of jenever, bottoms up. Proost!

A few steps from the red light district, opposite the emblematic Nieuwmarkt square, this is a place to discover! Elegant cocktail-bar, speakeasy, cabinet of curiosities, one would not know how to describe it. Located in a 17th century house, elegantly furnished and full of all kinds of decorative objects, the atmosphere is intimate and warm. The team, led by Rachel and Pepijn, is passionate and will be happy to advise you on the choice of (excellent) cocktails.

It's all in the name: this (unofficial) Scandinavian embassy is located at the foot of Sarphatipark, a stone's throw from the Albert Cuyp market. Here, you'll find the area's culinary classics in a zen-like setting that's a delight to eat and drink in. Fans of cinnamon will be delighted, as will fans of salmon toast. It's a pleasant address with a fine reputation in the neighborhood and beyond. The coffee is excellent and will refresh you during your breaks between visits. Takeaway available.

An excellent exotic address in the heart of Nieuwmarkt, the capital's historic square. As its name suggests, this is the place to celebrate Cuba and its various delights. It's been about ten years since this address took up residence here, and its success is constant. You can enjoy an excellent cup of coffee, then move on to cocktails, comfortably seated in the pretty armchairs. Don't forget to try the cocktail of the month, at a special price. Oh yes, there are over 20 rums on the menu, which is no mean feat. A small menu of dishes is also available.

Fonteijn has a reputation for being warm and welcoming, and the reputation is accurate. Located on the historic and photogenic Nieuwmarkt square, it welcomes a mix of locals and tourists. The terrace is very pleasant in fine weather, and the interior is sure to seduce you too. People come here to eat and drink. The menu offers the usual sandwiches, but also flammekueches, fried snacks (mmm! some would say) and bitterballen! A fine, unpretentious address.

Bierfabriek Delft is a brewery-restaurant in the heart of downtown Delft. They brew their own beer and serve Burgundian dishes. Their signature dish is charcoal-grilled farmhouse chicken. The warm, friendly atmosphere is at the heart of their concept. The restaurant also offers an online reservation service.

Café Langereis is a café located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It offers a warm atmosphere with old-style tables and armchairs. Customers can enjoy Belgian beer and fast-food dishes. Prices are affordable and service is fast. Customers appreciate the friendly atmosphere and the games available.