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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.
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 local hot spot has a sunny corner terrace facing the Oosterpark and a weekend cocktail spot, Henry's Bar, in an adjoining space—all invoking the spirit of its namesake, the hard-drinking writer Charles Bukowski.
The best-known jazz place in town occupies the utterly awesome Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. Everyone from fans of the old legends to those of the latest avant-gardists agrees: the space is close to perfect. Views of the city are breathtaking, the acoustics great, the chairs comfy, and the house rules laid-back; all drinks ordered at the bar, even full wine bottles, can be carried inside.
In 1993, a few zany American expats open their own English-language comedy club inspired by life in Amsterdam. Today, their energetic cast takes the stage inside the historic Rozentheater, performing sketch, improv, and stand-up comedy shows that remain popular with an international crowd, including locals and visitors alike.
Complete with Golden Age chandeliers, leaded-glass windows, and the centuries-old wooden ceiling, this corner café is one of Amsterdam's most charming spots. Once home to one of the city's first jenever distilleries, there's almost always a crowd at their canalside terrace, although the historic interior certainly has its charms, too.
Beware: the slant of this oldie-but-goodie may leave you a little unsteady on your feet after one too many beers on the patio. A quintessential Amsterdam view of the Oudeschans, however, has been bringing relief since 1695.
A neighborhood classic since 1890, this inviting brown café with a huge terrace on the Amstel has a bistro menu and an amazing selection of beer including 18 on tap.
Arie the cat is as much a fixture at this local brown café as its lovingly restored Art Deco features. High ceilings give a more spacious feel than your typical brown café, and the corner terrace is perfect after a day's shopping down the stylish Utrechtsestraat. Biggest perk? Café Krom may have the last working jukebox in town.
Eyeglasses peek over books and tablets as a well-read and socially conscious crowd fills the café-bar of this center for art, culture, and politics. This is an ideal spot for an affordable meal, drinks with friends, or date night. The English-language program includes film screenings and lectures, too.
The quirky Nieuwe Anita, darling of the alternative crowd, is home to screenings of cult classics, spoken-word nights, and live gigs put on by underground magazine Subbacultcha!. They also do cocktails, haircuts, and club nights.
This intimate pub just around the corner from Leidseplein is a local favorite. With a name that translates to "the drunk" in Flemish, the pub is aptly titled: there are more than 100 Belgian beers available and plenty of Dutch brews, too. Balance out all that beer with a hearty meal or thick slices of bread and cheese on the side.
If you need to gain a little confidence by drinking jenever, as the British slur goes, head straight for this charming cocktail bar. Owned by the dynamic duo Tess Posthumus and Timo Janse, who are also behind the excellent (neo)classical cocktail bar Flying Dutchmen ( Singel 460) and the Amsterdam Cocktail Week every September, you can sample over 150 jenevers and many jenever-based cocktails here. There's also a nifty kopstootjesautomatiek, a type of vending machine that dispenses a so-called kopstootje: a shot of jenever and a cold local beer—a potent combo.
This hippie hot spot offers a waterfront terrace, boat access, and live music some nights.
The Vondelpark's quietly pulsating epicenter is a blue flying saucer–shape "teahouse" dating back to 1937. In step with the style of Nieuwe Bouwen (the Dutch version of Bauhaus), the building was erected from concrete, glass, and steel, and with its minimalist forms it still looks strikingly modern. It's now owned by the famous Amsterdam brewery Brouwerij 't IJ, serving organic craft beer and pizza al taglio (pizza cut into squares) from morning until late. Its park-center location and enormous terrace, where DayGlo parakeets fly overhead, make this warm weather nightlife at its finest. You can also play petanque and table tennis here.
Right in the heart of the Red Light District, this cozy specialty beer bar has 14 beers on tap and more than 120 bottled brews. Engaging staff and a relaxed, mixed crowd of locals and tourists are only too happy to abide by the eponymous 11th commandment "thou shalt enjoy."
The speakeasy-esque HPS is a properly indie cocktail mecca whose infamous rum-based concoction, "The Walking Dead," has indeed left many locals limping away. Quality cocktails are always expensive in Amsterdam, but here high prices are compensated for by almost familial service standards.
Hear top-notch local ensembles in the jam-packed and ultra-intimate environment of one of Amsterdam's oldest jazz joints. Along with live jazz every night, a little Latin, funk, and salsa can also be enjoyed here.
Artists, students, and businesspeople unite in this popular café installed in a building from 1900 that used to be a waiting room for the horse-drawn trams. Much of the turn-of-the-20th-century interior, including the tile-covered walls, remains. The (heated) terrace is a sun-trap from early in the morning until late in the afternoon.
The legendary "Milk Way" features live performances, DJs, and club nights covering everything from hip-hop to punk to world music. A former milk factory, this space began as a hippie squat in the 1960s. Today it's a slick multimedia center equipped with two concert halls, a theater, cinema, gallery, and café-restaurant.
This former church—vaulted ceilings and stained glass still intact—has become the country's most famous "pop temple," an epic venue for legendary musicians, new bands, and club nights. Paradiso also has a sister location, Tolhuistin, in Amsterdam Noord, just across the river from Centraal Station.
This highly popular pink bar is situated rather off-the-beaten-path (for the gay scene, that is)—which was exactly the intention of its founding gay couple, as they aim to be as all-inclusive as possible. Whatever their intentions, they keep winning "best gay bar" awards. The staff and clientele are as cheerful as the venue's name—prik means "bubbles" in Dutch and refers to the prosecco on tap (among other things). They serve great cocktails and finger food, too.
Choose from more than 50 types of beer on draft and 100 beers in bottle, paired with a nice selection of Dutch cheese and sausage, at this cozy ode to Dutch-only brews. You can belly up to the bar or sit on a terrace along the canal.
Popular with locals and visitors alike, this tasting room has dozens of imported beers on offer along with a variety of local brews, including Two Chefs, Oedipus, Gebrouwen door Vrouwen, and Lowlander Beer. Naturally, the food menu pairs well with a pint—think cheese platters, frietjes (fries), and hearty stews. Other locations include the Medieval Center, De Pijp, and Oost.
For well-crafted cocktails with canal views, intimate fireplace nooks, and an Art Deco–style bar, Pulitzer's Bar is one of the best in the city. In fact, we think it's a must-visit for both classic cocktails and creative next-gen concoctions.
You won't find Her Majesty the Queen here, but a mainstream crowd, fun-loving princes enjoying DJ beats, theme nights, drag bingo, and parties that pour out onto the sidewalk.
Where it comes to hidden-away drinking dens, they don't come more clandestine than a bar locked away in a former bank vault. To access this open insider's secret, head to the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam Hotel, where concealed deep within, there's a small yet stylish bar, which has made a name for itself as quite the address for whiskey connoisseurs. Here, well-informed bartenders are ready to unlock the secrets of the world's rarest and most exclusive drams, such as the prohibitively rare The Dalmore 40YO or Port Ellen 39 Years Untold Stories (both can be ordered by the glass). There are also whiskey flights and master classes with food pairings from the hotel's Spectrum restaurant.
This is Amsterdam's most famous—and miraculously its least hyped—proeflokaal (tasting room). Opened in 1679, this dimly lighted, blithely cramped little bar just behind the Hotel Krasnapolsky has a menu of more than 60 Dutch liqueurs and jenevers that reads like poetry: Bruidstranen (Bride's Tears) and Boswandeling (A Walk in the Woods) are two favorites. Call ahead for a guided tour of the distillery.
Whether you have the musical motivation to visit the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, the building's bar-restaurant is alone worth the hike. Stop by for a drink or a meal of fresh fish and take in the panoramic views of the harbor and docklands.
Down a small alley, just a stone's throw from the Dam, you'll come upon what would seem to be the multilevel home of a family of hip hobbits. You'll know better once you spot the suitably slumped travelers smoking joints or nibbling on blueberry "space muffins." At No. 6 is the souvenir shop, where you'll find branded organic cotton hoodies, T-shirts, and weed-theme memorabilia.
The dark interior is more than compensated for by the canalside view. Smoke indoors or step out to enjoy a joint while watching the canal boats pass by. Amnesia is legendary for its expansive menu, friendly staff, and edibles, including milk shakes and space cake.
