-
'T Arendsnest
This gorgeous, re-styled brown cafe, with its glowing, copper genever boilers behind the bar, is proud to specialise in Dutch beer served by friendly and helpful staff. Make sure that you try the herby, powerful Jopen Koyt, brewed from a 1407 recipe.
-
18 Twintig
This bar facing Marie Heinekenplein is all pastels, mints and tiny Buddhas to make anyone look glam, not that the good-looking 20- and 30-somethings need enhancement. There's a contemporary, diverse food menu (mains around €17 .50 to Euro21.50).
-
Abraxas
Hands down the most beautiful coffeeshop in town. Choose from southwest USA, Middle Eastern and other styles of décor spread over three floors. There are live DJs, extra-friendly staff and free internet usage with a drink purchase.
-
Amstel Bar & Brasserie
So you need to entertain a client. She's very high powered and you can't leave things to chance. The bar at the Amstel Intercontinental Hotel is dignified and appropriately clubby, and its river-view location is the power spot in town. We expect you'll get that contract you wanted and may even rub elbows with famous financiers for your next deal.
-
Amstel Taverne
This historic brown café with Delft-blue tiles draws a 40s-and-up crowd that, in the right temperatures, spills onto the street to mix with passers-by. Definitely has that trademark 'only in Amsterdam' vibe.
-
April
April is equally famous for its happy hour, a relaxed atmosphere (even when it's packed) and beautiful guys who cram into the space to flirt and drink. The revolving bar can make you giddy after too many cocktails.
-
Arc
The cool minimalist interior is sooo right for beautiful media types (mostly gay, but also lesbian and straight). Fancy martinis are the drink du jour , and the kitchen serves up zesty fusion cuisine.
-
Argos
Amsterdam's oldest leather bar still hosts leather boys of all ages in its famous darkrooms and cabins, fully equipped with the requisite kinky toys. The regular 'SOS' (Sex On Sunday) party is always guaranteed to be something wild (though safe) - the dress code is (not surprisingly) nude or semi-nude.
-
B Van B Café
The café in the Beurs van Berlage, one of the city's most spectacular buildings, boasts original brick and tilework, and murals by Jan Toorop (1903) representing past, present and future. Food includes lasagne, croquettes, steaks and the usual assortment of sandwiches and salads. Unless the main building happens to be open to the public (eg concerts), this is your only sure way to get inside.
-
Baba
Not the cheapest weed in town, but word has it Mike Tyson once took a puff and immediately got walloped. Pick up a bag of Silver Haze, plant yourself at the front window and watch the colourful types all run together along Warmoesstraat. The hash brownies have mother's special touch.
-
Advertisement
-
Bar Bep
With its olive-green vinyl couches and ruby-red walls, Bep resembles a kitsch, 1950s Eastern European cabaret lounge. It gets groovy with filmmakers, photographers and artists. The heat is off since its heyday, and we prefer it.
-
Bar Ça
One of the hottest cafés in town, this club themed like a 'Barcelona in Amsterdam' has brought real life to Marie Heinekenplein. Hang in the posh plush-red and darkwood interior, or spread out onto the terrace.
-
Bitterzoet
Always full, always changing. This is the freshest, friendliest and best-regarded among the newer venues - with different nights including pulse, roots, drum'n'bass, Latin, Afro-beat, Old School jazz or hip-hop grooves, there's always something to induce you to shake your booty.
-
Boom Chicago
This is Amsterdam's leading show for English-language improv comedy, best enjoyed over dinner and a few drinks. Fortunately, the food is decent, as is the cafe, boomBar, with DJs spinning a few nights a week and a quiz night on Mondays.
-
Brouwerij 'T Ij
The tasting room of Amsterdam's leading microbrewery has a cosy, down-and-dirty beer-hall feel (walls lined with bottles from around the world and dried hops) and the house brew is on tap. In nice weather you can enjoy your beer on the terrace at the foot of the De Gooyer Windmill . Where better to sample a Columbus (9%), a zatte ('drunk') or a sweet, orange-coloured struis (ostrich)?
-
Bubbles & Wines Champagne Bar
Ignore the silly name, this stylish wine bar is a first for Amsterdam: 54 quality wines by the glass, tasting flights (several different wines to try) and the city's most scrumptious bar food: caviar blinis, cheese plates and our favourite, 'bee stings' - parmesan drizzled with white truffle-infused honey.
-
Bulldog
Amsterdam's most famous coffeeshop chain has evolved into its own empire, with multiple locations (some double as cafés), a hotel, bike rental, even its own brand of energy drink. This flagship location on the Leidseplein is in a former police station. How times have changed.
-
Café 'T Monumentje
this slightly scruffy café is always full of barflies, backgammon players and locals. It's a good spot for a beer and a snack after shopping at the Westermarkt.
-
Café 'T Smalle
Take your boat and dock right on 'T Smalle's pretty terrace - there's hardly a more convivial setting in the daytime or a more romantic one at night. It's equally charming inside - dating back to 1786 as a jenever distillery and tasting house, and restored during the 1970s with antique porcelain beer pumps and lead-framed windows. It's so gorgeous, so authentic, and so Dutch gezellig, that there's a reproduction of it in Japan.
-
Cafe Americain
Opened in 1902, Cafe Americain is the oldest and by far the most stylish grand cafe in Amsterdam. With its Art Deco interior, vaulted roof and glorious stained-glass windows, it's a must-see. Sit yourself down at the antique reading table or get a table on the outside terrace and indulge in a spot of people-watching.
-
Advertisement
-
Café Bardewijn
This very friendly beer bar draws a mixture of local gay regulars and tourists, and has killer views of the canal out back and Zeedijk in front, making it a must on Queen's Day.
-
Café Cuba
If a brown café was beamed to the tropical Atlantic, it would probably have Café Cuba's air of faded elegance. Slouch into a table with names etched into it, and quaff blender drinks like mai-tais, planter's punch and the legendary mojito. It may remind you of Hemingway or the Buena Vista Social Club, although we can't help wondering whether Café Cuba's attractive 20- and 30-something crowd has even heard of them.
-
Café Dante
This big, Art Deco-style space is peaceful during the day, but after on weeknights it is transformed into a lively bar full of stockbrokers and suits. Plus, you get your choice of outside views: the busy Spui out the front or the lovely Singel in the back. Upstairs is the Herman Brood Galerie.
-
Café De Doelen
On a busy canalside crossroads between the Amstel and Red Light District, this cafe/bar dates back to 1895 and looks it: carved wooden goat's head, stained leaded glass lamps, sand on the floor. Still, it's far from stuffy, there's a fun, youthful atmosphere here, and during fine weather the tables spill across the street for picture-perfect canal views.
-
Café de Jaren
Watch the Amstel flow by from the balcony and waterside terraces of this soaring, bright and very grand café, one of our favourites. Find a foreign publication at the great reading table and settle down for Sunday brunch (try the smoked-salmon rolls) or an afternoon snack like banana-cream pie.
