97 Best Bars in Amsterdam, Netherlands

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.

The history of this traditional brown café can be traced back to 1832, and thankfully the bar has not lost its prewar charm to prefab fittings or hip design. In fact, the clock behind the bar runs backward, so you can happily lose all sense of time. The owners pride themselves on reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere. Go Dutch and order an uitsmijter (fried eggs with cheese, ham, or bacon on sliced bread): according to local lore it was once served to café patrons just before closing time as one for the road, which is perhaps why its name translates as "bouncer." Nowadays, you'll also find it on breakfast and lunch menus.

Every night, this megaclub opens its doors to some 2,500 people. It's a great Escape for those who take "dress to impress" literally and are keen to dance under laser lights as DJs spin dance music spanning all the popular genres, including house, techno, electro, and pop.

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.

Founded in 1996, this truly mellow place welcomes everyone: gay, lesbian, bi, queer, or straight. They have an appetizing cocktail menu and offer food at reasonable prices. Inspired by well-known Dutch drag queens, the "diva burgers" are a hit, as is the Monday all-night happy hour with cocktails from €6.50.

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.

Thursday through Sunday, this is probably the hottest club in town for the rich and famous and their wannabes. The urban grooves are funky, and the sound system not too shabby.

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.

This dive bar is the place to be for rock, blues, and live music with a local vibe. Occasionally, local musicians are joined on stage by bigger names, fresh from their gigs at bigger nearby venues.

Stylish and cruisy with a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath, a bar, and private cabins, the award-winning NZ Sauna, brought to you by the team behind Club ChUrch, has been steaming up the city's gay scene since 2013. Mellow Monday, No Towel Night Tuesday, and the biweekly Gender Fluids Wednesday mean there's something for everyone.

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.

This legalized squat in the former film academy offers fun alternative nights with live bands and DJs. The eclectic music ranges from hardcore to free jazz and Latin beats. Also on the premises are a movie theater, an art gallery, and an organic café serving on Sunday.

In a newly built residential area a little northwest of the EYE Filmmuseum, this trendy modern bar has a great selection of wines, a bewildering choice of wild fermentation beers, and possibly the Netherlands' biggest range of craft ciders.

Indulge your senses in cocktails inspired by the rich Dutch history of trade, distilling and innovation in cozy-chic surroundings on the ground floor of an inn along one of the city's oldest canals. The makers and shakers here have a passion for jenever, korenwijn (old-style traditional jenever), and other local spirits and service is prompt and professional.

Located along the Brouwersgracht since 1984, Siberie is an award-winning coffeeshop, selling high-quality goodies like organic weed. Visitors can also enjoy its friendly staff and the changing art on its walls.