The best bars and cafés Amsterdam

A classic not to be missed. This brown café, which has been serving beer since 1670 in the heart of Spui, the city's literary square, gathers regulars and transients around its counters. The narrow, panelled room with its sawdust-covered floor is always packed with customers, who drink standing shoulder to shoulder, when they're not overflowing onto the square in fine weather. The house serves excellent beer in the Dutch style. The place has a rare photogenic quality, and it's a must to stop by in the middle of winter to warm up.

This friendly café is located on the corner of Singel and Paleistraat, behind the Royal Palace and Dam Square, hence the name of the establishment. It attracts a rather young (average age 25) and student clientele. The menu is rather banal, serving simple dishes in an uncluttered setting, but the place has the advantage of also offering very good sandwiches for a fair price. We love the terrace, where we can watch the peloton of cyclists as they make their way along the canal.

One of the city's prettiest cafés, it's located in the heart of the Jordaan. Dating back to 1780, it's a youngster for the city! Queen Beatrix (now back to being a princess) came in person to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of its floating terrace on the canal. The room is typical: a handful of tables, weathered furniture, nicotine-impregnated walls, beautiful enamelled stained-glass windows... Quite intimate during the day, this cosy bar fills up very quickly in the evening. Serving sandwiches and simple dishes. A beautiful, photogenic address.

Probably the address where we feel most at home, a classic since the 1970s that's always lively, whatever the day of the week. The crowd is made up of regulars and tourists, and the whole place exudes energy. The menu is attractive, with the usual sandwiches at lunchtime and burgers and salads in the evening. As in many places in Amsterdam, you'll also find a vegetarian menu. In summer, a pleasant terrace is often crowded. The cuisine is simple and moderately priced. The night often goes on very late.

This café is located on the corner of Keizersgracht and Leliegracht, in a picturesque spot that's sure to make you dream. Café Brandon boasts to be the^3rd oldest in the capital, and with a little imagination, you'll find yourself back in the Golden Age. The decor has changed little and Brandon has remained the same: an authentic brown café! Football fans will recognize the posters of Neeskens, Cruijff and the great Ajax, while aficionados of billiards and various games (chess, a checkers) will also be delighted.

Herengracht has long been a favorite of Amsterdam's trendy, affluent scene. The decor, with its brick walls and huge paintings, is utterly charming! Part bar, part restaurant, it serves delicious, if somewhat expensive, food. We particularly like the lovely terrace along the majestic Herengracht, where people come to see, but also and above all to be seen! A good place for young professionals to pick up girls. Note: the place also has a lovely patio.

This café, located 3 minutes from the station, dates back to 1629. It's great when old age comes into its own: it's said to be the oldest café in town, and a very authentic one at that. Delft earthenware, sawdust thrown on the parquet floor to soak up the overflowing moss, walls in colors aged by centuries of smoking, a clientele of regulars who come to chat or play cards... it's all there. This neighborhood bistro has the added bonus of being spared the tourist flood and the fickle moods of fashion...

Schuim (foam) is a sort of relic of the pre-social networking era, when design wasn't the main topic in cafés. It's a classic in its genre. The atmosphere is assured and constant. The address still attracts loyal locals who have grown a little old, as well as tourists. The food is pretty good and not too expensive, given the location, not far from Dam Square and Spui, the capital's literary square. The establishment also organizes theme evenings. A pleasant address.

The Minds is a very comfortable bar with character that has proclaimed itself Amsterdam's only (and last) punk bar, and it's probably true. Here, you can spend a pleasant moment listening to good rock while drinking good beer (real, not Heineken, the manager tells us). Billiards on site to pass the time. A superbly located address in the center of town, which thumbs its nose at the trendy new addresses springing up like mushrooms in Amsterdam, particularly in this district.

Ideally located on one of Amsterdam's most beautiful squares, this superb brown café has become a benchmark for Amsterdam's young, hip scene. It's a place to drink (a lot) to good music. The complex was once the waiting room for the horse-drawn streetcars, so the history is very much present. You can have breakfast, lunch or brunch (burgers, bagels, wraps...) while enjoying the sunrise on the east-facing terrace. Excellent choice of beers, over 8 on draught and 20 by the bottle, just to name a few.

Here's a place steeped in history... This large, uncluttered café plunges us into an almost medieval atmosphere, thanks to the dim light provided by a few wrought-iron chandeliers hanging over long guest tables and its wooden mezzanines. It is also home to the Society for Old and New Media, an association with links to numerous institutions, which works to develop and disseminate multimedia through conferences, exhibitions and a website.

These sandwiches have been excellent and of consistent quality for years, and a connoisseur crowd flocks here every day. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, giving you the impression of being in a living room. It's great to sit on the popular sofa or gaze out of the window and watch the ballet of cyclists and tourists as you enjoy a tasty dessert. The broodjes are really delicious! Ideally located just a stone's throw from the Jewish quarter and with the Spinoza statue not far away. Puccini has been a unanimous favorite for years!

In the heart of the Jordaan, on an ultra-photogenic canal, lies this brown café, not as old as it looks. Thijssen is frequented by a motley crew, often from the neighborhood, with a nice mix of expats and locals who crowd the terrace in fine weather or around pretty tables while reading the press. You can also dine on small, economical dishes. Beware: on Saturdays after the market, the smell of fish on the terrace is quite unpleasant! A fine address for a quiet breakfast in this typical neighborhood. Continue with the Saturday market.

It's a slightly hidden café in the northern part of Jordaan, on a street perpendicular to the lively Lindengracht. It's undoubtedly one of the most authentic and photogenic. This place has real class and seems to be frozen in time, ideal for spending a quiet evening chatting. The café is the setting for a famous Dutch crime series(Baantjer). The establishment, which dates back to 1954, regularly organizes special evenings, including live music, to immerse you in the musical style of the Jordaan.

This brown café, one of the most popular in Jordaan, is renowned for its lively atmosphere and the warmth of its mainly Amsterdam clientele. For over 100 years, it has built a solid reputation that extends far beyond the Jordaan district. A great passion: Levenslied, the Jordaan folk song. For a glimpse of what's in store, visit the website, as vintage as it gets. A beautiful, authentic address in the heart of the Jordaan. You're sure to have a memorable evening.

The style of this place, which mixes Art Deco and neo-Gothic, is not yet entirely at the point, even if it intrigues. We also find ourselves at one of the best addresses, close to the central station. A small garden in the background is open when time permits, but the room is also very pleasant. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, jazz groups regularly deliver interesting music for our great pleasure.

This establishment, close to Amsterdam Zoo (Artis) and the Maritime Museum, prides itself on being the neighborhood's living room. On entering, it's easy to see why: the setting resembles the houses of yesteryear, and the decor seems to have remained unchanged for years, perhaps even centuries. Candles on aged wooden tables, newspapers available and a welcoming local clientele. Scharrebier is both tasting room and café. It's a place where you immediately feel at home, and where you want to stay for hours meditating or talking.

Just behind the Concertgebouw, Café Welling is the brown café version of a bistro for young hipsters in a very jet-set neighborhood. At the first ray of sunshine, the tables invade the sidewalk... and the Ray Ban sunglasses come out of their cases. We love this authentic address, even if the crowd is a little too blinged-out at times. Concert exits see a mix of all kinds of people, and it's great fun. The terrace is very pleasant in summer, as there are few cars in the neighborhood. An address to discover on your way out of the Concertgebouw.

Located on the first floor of the American Hotel, now the Clayton Hotel, just behind Leidseplein, this illustrious establishment opened in 1902 and has recently been refurbished. It's a thing of beauty. With its stained glass windows diffusing golden light, kitschy frescoes and Tiffany chandeliers, it offers a very authentic Art Deco setting, all in a contemporary design with vintage notes. The menu features brasserie-style dishes, from bavette to croque-monsieur. We recommend the de luxe champagne high tea.

Two minutes from Leidseplein, De Balie is located in the complex of the same name, which includes an excellent arthouse cinema and a conference room. This handsome, high-tech café, with a large bay window overlooking the square, is a favorite meeting place for young cosmopolitan hipsters and artists, after a canvas in the neighborhood. Above all, De Balie is the place to be for cutting-edge debates and discussions featuring world-renowned intellectuals (often in English). Check out the program!

This long café-bar is not far from Leidseplein and is very popular with students, but not only them! It includes a bar serving good fast food and hosting live bands at weekends, as well as a restaurant serving hot dishes at reduced prices. A pleasant, welcoming place that we warmly recommend. While many of the neighborhood's shops are closing, to be replaced by trendy addresses that all end up looking the same, de Koe (Dutch for cow) is holding out!

A unique, colorful address long appreciated by locals and tourists alike. This coffee shop is one of the city's best addresses. The place has a certain style and the music is good. It seems to be customary to write your name and the date of your visit on the walls or on a table before leaving. The setting is cosy, with soft club armchairs just waiting for you. Savor a cup of tea, gaze at the canals through the long bay windows. Hill Street Blues is a rare gem to discover.

Did you know that the red light district also includes authentic, historic cafés where locals also go? Such is the case with this one, which is a proeflokaal, a tasting place, historically for genever, but which also offers a fine beer list. The draught beer is the Brand, much better than the Heineken, as well as numerous genevers. The interior is so pleasing to the eye that you'd think you were in a museum, and this is an address you'd love to discover and immortalize after a stroll through the neighborhood.

The Friedhats roaster opened his café (Fuku) in Amsterdam's West End. The café quickly established itself as a benchmark, offering a wide range of flavors and varieties, both espresso and filter. You can also enjoy excellent pastries and viennoiseries, but the star of the show is the petit noir in all its forms. As soon as the weather's fine, a small tree-lined courtyard awaits you. A popular, authentic address that's a must-see if you're in the neighborhood.

Just a stone's throw from the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, this café is the ideal place to relax before diving into the city's museums. Uncommon welcomes you in a sober and warm atmosphere. The café offers delicious breakfasts with homemade granola, acai bowls or savory toasts with toppings to personalize. Each of these options is available in a vegan version. While the quality is undeniable, the bill can be a little steep. Reservations are not possible, and sometimes you'll have to wait a while.

Joost, a well-known and common first name here, is THE typical neighborhood bar. In the east of Amsterdam, close to the Indian quarter, it's 99% populated by locals, making it the perfect place to immerse yourself in Amsterdam nights. Here, only local beers are served, and people come to socialize, play darts or board games. The atmosphere is very friendly, and you can be sure of making new acquaintances in the vicinity of the zinc. Although local beers take pride of place, a fine selection of gins and cocktails completes the offer.

Close to Anne Frank's house, this bar is surely one of the city's finest brown cafés. Renovated a few years ago, it offers a selection of natural, white, red or sparkling wines to accompany succulent sandwiches or well-executed brasserie dishes. In the evenings, you'll enjoy a good beer at the bar. A warm welcome. For a break between two visits, a drink with friends or a meal on the go, you've come to the right place. In summer, the place boasts a pleasant canal-side terrace.

Between Westerpark and the banks of the River Ij, on the Houthavens industrial estate, lies Yellow House. This hybrid space, housed in a bright, modern building with large bay windows, is a popular coworking space, a healthy canteen and a lively café that transforms into a music venue in the evening. It's a place where you can easily spend the day in an ever-changing atmosphere. Slightly off-center, you'll have to pedal a little to get there, but you'll be rewarded for your efforts with one of their succulent pastries.

An excellent wine bar located on a lively street in the West End, where a lively market is held. Located on a corner of this street, Centraal has built up a loyal following of diners who come for the inspired, well-presented dishes, but also and above all for the overall very successful atmosphere. The rather basic decor doesn't suggest such a good table, and the bar is no exception. A special place is given to natural wines. Take advantage of this address when you visit the De Hallen cultural center or the Ten Katemarkt market.

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.

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.

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.

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.