I am going to Amsterdam in Feb. and trying to decide where to stay. Are the brown cafes congregated in certain areas are they spread thoughout the city. Looking for good (locals)non-touristy drinking establishments/cafes. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

I found Let's Go Amsterdam 2002 an excellent guidebook with thoughtful listings of all the usual plus "Only in Amsterdam" topics. Included Brown Cafes in various districts, good maps too.

Brown cafe's

what are they?

Brown cafe is just a name for a certain type of bar; non-trendy, cosy, dark. You can find them all over Amsterdam. Hoppe on Spui is a very well known cafe.

The traditional Brown Cafe, an old-fashioned pub, is most associated i think with the Jordaan, the area of canals east of Spui - the area is laced with these cozy but smoke-filled places. Stop by the VVV (Tourist Office) and they have a walking tour of the Jordaan, an incredibly gorgeous area of town, with many venerable brown cafes on it. Why Brown Cafe? Don't know but would like to find out - brown because of the brown beer, brown tobacco smoke stains on the ceiling? "Pils, please" is how the Dutch order a glass of beer - assuming you want the traditional Heineken-type pilsener beer. (Heinies brewed for export to the lager-loving states have a different taste than that for the domestic market according to info on the Heineken Beer tour, in the Heineken Experience occupying the facade of the now-demolished Heineken Brewery near Museumplein. If you want a real Dutch drink, ask the cafe for a jenever, drunk in 'young'and 'old' styles for men, and in lemon-flavored styles for the ladies - served in thimble-sized glass cups this is basically gin.

<brown because of the brown tobacco smoke stains>

I think that is where the name began but as Tulips explains it a common term for a certain type of neighborhood "pub".

I believe that I'm right in saying that genever is the eau de vie of gin?

>I believe that I'm right in saying that genever is the eau de vie of gin?<

I would suggest that a lot depends on the brand.

Last Time in Amsterdam I stayed at the Clemens hotel. It was easy walk to Cafe Gollem (Raamsteeg 4), cafe t'Arendsnest (Herengracht 90)and In De Wildeman (Kolksteeg 3). Three great drinking establishments. Not for people looking for a typical pils but for someone looking for great beers with great service and knowledge. All three offer a great variety of beers, Arendsnest offers all the micro brews of the Netherlands while De Wildman and Gollem offer more Belgium. I would highly recommend all three. All three are very local. While in the Gollem I was asked by a patron how I found it since it is usually all Dutch patrons.

The Hoppe at the Spui has been my favorite for many years. They serve Amstel, not Heineken, as I recall. The back of the room has the more interesting characters, and they all want to practice their English with Americans. The back is more easily accessible through the side door off the mini alley. Watch out for bicycles!

The Hoppe has no ladies room. That's why you see women walking through the door behind the split bar to use the facilities in the cafe next door.

I was told that the "brown bar" name came about from the smoke stains on the walls and ceilings. Enjoy a Dutch cigar while you are there.

The Cafe Luxembourg is two doors away from the Hoppe. It is a relatively new place by Amsterdam standards (opened within the past 25 years) and serves a good lunch and snacks. It's a relaxing spot and has a table of newspapers, including the IHT, for guests.

When ordering a beer try the Dutch <i>een pils alstublieft</i> or <i>pils graag</i>.

Anstel or Heineken? What's the difference. The last time i was in the Heineken Brewery for a tour, before they pulled it down, they were bottling Amstel, owned by heineken. To me there is no difference in taste or anything else except the name.