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Beyond the smoke and red-lighted windows, Amsterdam is a city teeming with music, dance, theater, and art, which has given it the epithet "nightlife capital of the world." Think outside the box—even outside the Grachtengordel—and you'll be amazed at what this city that (almost) never sleeps has to offer.
Many people know that The Night Watch is the name of Rembrandt’s most famous painting, but not everyone remembers that, back in the early 2000s, it was also the nickname of a bunch of "Night Mayors." This group of cultural leaders saw their role as fighters against the frumpiness that had cast a shadow over Amsterdam’s night scene since the city fathers cleared away the "squats"—the deserted buildings that were the settings for city’s wildest nighttime events and raves. Now, 15 years later, Amsterdam has happily reclaimed its reputation as a true nightlife capital. The city is a must-stop on the international DJ circuit, and new pop-up clubs and dance venues, plus a plethora of homegrown festivals, keep all walks of life shaking until the wee hours of the morning. The city is rich with inspired folk who are willing to organize a video-arts festival in a cruise-ship terminal, a gentle Bach recital on a canal, an arts festival in an abandoned factory, a house party in a football stadium, or some heart-stopping spectacle in a park. So get ready to savor Amsterdam’s giant cultural wallop through its numerous venues—from former churches and industrial monuments to the acoustical supremacy of the legendary hall of the Concertgebouw.
This nacht café, or night café, is the place where the revelry continues after other haunts have closed. It fills up with partiers from all walks of life looking for a few more rounds and a little eclectic music before the morning light. It's open until 3 am (and until 4 am on weekends).
This kitschy gay pub attracts an outgoing, all-ages crowd, who stop in for a drink and perhaps a sing-along before heading out to the club.
The fourth generation of Oosterlings still runs this corner brown café with its original 1735 stone floor and barrels of jenever way up high. Popular with locals of all stripes, Oosterling also sells all its bottles to-go, which can come in handy when you're in a fix.
Open to all “queer minded” people but catering mostly to lesbians, this traditional bruincafé has a modern interior, complete with pool tables, where plenty of drinks flow along with the music and conversation.
Sitting outside by the canal in front of Tabac with a beer in hand and a plate of bitterballen (Dutch meatballs) just may be the quintessential Amsterdam experience. If hunger strikes, there’s also a cozy if cramped indoor area that serves up more substantial Indonesian dishes.
This café in the Jordaan commands the scenic corner between Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht. The staff are friendly, have a funky taste in music, and serve Indonesian-inspired dishes for lunch, dinner, and borreltijd. It's packed at night but is also the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon drink outdoors with a canalside view.
Housed in the Volkshotel, Canvas offers splendid views over the city from its seventh-floor perch. The restaurant and bar are satisfactory but the space really comes into its own during sunny weather when you can enjoy the rooftop terrace. Meanwhile, Canvas Nights (Friday and Saturday) is known for its relaxed vibe and progressive programming of live jazz, experimental house, hip-hop, indie, and so forth.
Not far from Westerpark and just across the main canal bordering the Jordaan, Checkpoint Charlie is a favored neighborhood bar well-known for hosting a range of live music on Thursday through Sunday. With a full bar and some 24 beers on rotation, there's plenty to drink. The kitchen serves excellent, locally produced bar snacks like bitterballen and savory filled Dutch tostis (toasted sandwiches), with vegetarian-friendly options available, too.
Located within the University of Amsterdam's city campus, this hidden gem of a café housed in a former diamond-cutting factory has been converted into a warm modern space with big windows and a huge canalside terrace. Think cheap and cheerful: affordably priced homemade soups, sandwiches, and beverages satisfy not only the multitude of students but the older crowd, too. During the academic year, there are regular open-mike nights, improv shows, and other cultural happenings here.
Back in 1984, this bar was so leather-lined it put San Francisco's Folsom Street to shame. Today it attracts a more diverse crowd, many of whom find their way to what's rumored to be one of the biggest dark rooms in Europe.
In this small sawdusted and kitsch-strewn haven, students, late night revelers and alternative types don't mind yelling over the latest in loud guitars and funky beats. They also enjoy a pool tournament every now and then.
Wine and whiskey are just what patrons of De Dokter (The Doctor) have been ordering for centuries. According to local lore it was founded by a surgeon in 1798 to serve the doctors and medical students from the nearby university. However, historians recently discovered that the city's smallest pub dates back even further (to 1706), making it one of Amsterdam's three oldest. Either way, it is still run by the Beems family many generations later.
Also referred to as "the Pilsner Club," this unmistakably brown venue, which celebrated its quasquicentennial in 2018, seems to belong to some lost age when beer was the safest alternative to drinking water. Reinforcing the impression that time has stood still here, the bar has been run consecutively by a Teun van Veen (I, II, III, and IV) since opening.
This grand café dating back to 1898 is popular for both its intimate seating arrangements and a U-shape bar surrounding old-style wooden museum cases filled with zoological specimens. In the evening, the clientele sit pretty, high above the noisy, street-level clubs on Rembrandtplein. On weekends there are dance nights with live DJs.
Stop by this intimate canalside café for a traditional Jordaan feel. As a home to local music since 1921 singing is encouraged, and (tipsy) patrons are known to belt out a song or two.
Founded in 1974, this must be the oldest fetish bar in Amsterdam. Today, this self-proclaimed "sleaze pit" offers a darkroom on two floors, cabins, slings, a golden shower bathtub, and free condoms, among other features.
At this friendly Red Light District café, you'll find an excellent selection of beers on tap and tasty and sustainable food. Despite its name, which means "foolish things" in Dutch, the place has a Christian identity, but if you're not looking for it, you probably won't see it. Either way, it's a good spot to contemplate the serious "sinning" taking place behind the red-lit windows nearby.
This friendly neighborhood coffeeshop is in the heart of multicultural De Pijp. With a happy, homey vibe and light and airy decor featuring work by local artists, this is a place where everyone will feel welcome. They have a patio where you can freely smoke their high-quality, all-organic products.
Another Cannabis Cup darling—and a not uncommon docking station for celebrities like Rihanna and Snoop Dogg as evidenced by the many celebrity pics on the wall—this chain is renowned for quality weeds and seeds. An earthy color scheme provides a restful background and cannabis-footed storefront tables let patrons take in a breath of fresh air. There are five other locations.
Around the corner from the bustling Albert Cuyp is this bistro/bar that packs them in so tight it makes walking through the market look like a day in the park. All sorts of locals converge here, from students to suits, but don't despair: there's plenty of room on the humongous terrace, which takes up much of the Gerard Dou square.
A wide selection of beers and ales from around the globe amid jolly surroundings in a former distillery attract all types and ages. There are 250 bottled brews to choose from, 18 beers on tap, a featured beer of the month, and regular beer-theme events.
This chain serves mellow jazz alongside scrumptious chocolate-chip cookies in airy historical locales, providing a refreshingly understated approach to getting high. Take your purchase to Café Zoutsteeg across the street at No. 11, if you like to enjoy your smoke with a drink. There are also outposts on the Langebrugsteeg 7A and Rosmarijnsteeg 9 nearby.
Nestled on an easy-to-miss alley is this atmospheric bar and restaurant named after a Flemish TV hero from the 1960s. The food, the furniture, and the French chansons (lyric-driven songs) playing transfer you to Paris in the 1950s. A glass of wine or a simple meal here can be memorable, especially when accompanied by the occasional live music upstairs.
This stoners' mainstay, steps from the Albert Cuypmarkt, is known for its quality weed, homey feel, and, believe it or not, coffee and vegan edibles. The work of local artists lines the walls, giving you something to contemplate when the mood hits.
Easily identified by the Vincent van Gogh mural outside, this has been a family business since 1983, and now, a mother-daughter team is in charge. Plenty of plants, rocks, and crystals fill the relaxed interior, where visitors can pick up homemade edibles (including vegan and gluten-free space cake options), prerolled joints, or the weed and hash needed to roll their own.
This decade-old drag-show bar is renowned for its extravagant weekend performances. The monthly agenda includes Sunday night karaoke.
This unpretentious, minimalist bar sandwiched between the Red Light District and Chinatown is best known for its karaoke and mojitos at very reasonable prices, especially during happy hour (before 9 pm).
A fantastic 1960s feel and an attractive young crowd, namely local students, keep it lively at this small Marnixstraat pub, a great spot for a nightcap after a live show in nearby Leidseplein. Next door, its sister location, Bar Weber, serves cocktails and bar snacks with a punky vibe.
Known as one of the best coffeeshops in town, with plenty of Cannabis Cup awards to prove it, Dampkring became even more popular after its use as a set for Ocean's Twelve. The weed menu is exceptional, and the smoothie and milk shake selections remarkable. Other coffeeshops have opened under the same name, but this is the one-and-only real Dampkring.
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