Bars & cafes – All our local tips

Struik is a typical relaxed, ‘easy going’ café. The audience is a mix of locals, old & young, varying from hip to old fashioned.

At Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays dj’s are playing their music: hiphop/soul/classics. Popular but original at the same time. Once in a while special events take place.

The graffiti on the brick wall changes every now and then, made by several artists. Struik has a small lunch and snack menu; and most days of the week you can enjoy a great dinner for a lousy €7.50! Check the website to see what’s on the menu! Every day another ‘theme’!

Great to start off your night, or to hang around all night. Guaranteed you meet some nice locals!

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Bar Struik | Bars, Music, Snacks | Beer € 2.00
Rozengracht 160 | Canals
Mon 17:00 – 01:00, Tue – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri 10:00 – 03:00, Sat 11:00 – 03:00, Sun 11:00 – 01:00

One of the Albert Cuyp gems as it comes to exceptional venues and restaurants. Step into the magical world of the Middle-East.

Bazar is known for its beautiful interior, fine and warm atmosphere, and delightful kitchen. The colourful tables, prominent lamps, and happy music make you believe to be in a country far away from cheesy Holland. The only feeling that it may correspond to is that of the ‘cosy market atmosphere’ of the Albert Cuyp.

The dishes are originated from the North of Africa and the Middle East. Combined with a glass of wine or biological apple juice you’ll find yourself enjoying the overall atmosphere quite soon.

Whether you go for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the taste explosions are something special. Furthermore, vegetarians will be very satisfied with this menu. Think of couscous with dried fruits and raisins, steamed pumpkin and saffron sauce or the roasted Portobello mushroom filled with falafel and other special ingredients. Besides, all the meat is halal (ritually slaughtered).

An absolute recommendation is the shared (with two or more) large lunch. Ideal to try whatever they serve in small portions with bread, a combination of food of different cultures. And last but not least, don’t skip on the desserts as the cheesecake with dates and nuts leaves you begging for more.. Otherwise, a cup of fresh mint tea with traditional baklava will do just fine too.

The staff is polite and also apologizes when the food takes longer than expected.
Good quality for reasonable prices.
It is recommended to make reservations.

Don’t forget, this is not the kind of place to go for a quick bite…more an extended night full of experiences, taste explosions and that very unique atmosphere.

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Bazar | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Middle east) | Main dishes from € 8.50
Albert Cuypstraat 182 | De Pijp | +31206750544
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri 10:00 – 02:00, Sat 09:00 – 02:00, Sun 09:00 – 00:00

The menu here isn’t big. And it doesn’t need to be. The only thing you need to order is cheese fondue, entrecote, salad, and finally chocolatemousse as a dessert. I’m a great lover of cheese so this place is really one of my favorites.

The cheese fondue is great and you get plenty of bread to go with it. Any of the different salads will do great for a bit of a fresh taste cause the fondue is quite heavy and obviously cheesy!

The entrecôte comes on a plate which is on a flame where you can further fry the meat in a very tasty sauce. Maybe this is not the place for a romantic first date though. All of the cheese and garlic doesn’t leave your mouth smelling very fresh…

It is busy here every night and this is probably why they have squeezed a lot of tables into the space. You will probably sit close to the other guests but I usually only concentrate on the cheese so it doesn’t bother me!

It is important to know that a reservation is required if you don’t want to eat too late. As soon as your there you will find it easy to spend the rest of the evening there with your cheese fondue and a nice bottle of wine. I can’t wait till the next time! and the next! and the next!

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Bern | Bars, Restaurants | Main meal € 15.00
Nieuwmarkt 9 | Old center | +31206220034
15:00 – 01:00 daily

Café Crea is located on the grounds of some of the most beautiful buildings of the University of Amsterdam, and it is a haven for students looking for a break. As the place is divided into three smaller parts, the conversations of the guests do not bounce around against the walls, but fill the rooms with a pleasant humming.

Crea is one of my favorite places to go to when I need to study or write, want to drink coffee and read a newspaper, or drink a beer with fellow students. Located in a quieter part, but right the middle of the centre, it is a perfect base of operations to plan your explorations in.

In the meantime you can enjoy a delicious coffee, French toast, a sandwich or a bowl of soup, or even a decent and decently priced dinner between five and eight-thirty. With a different atmosphere in each of the rooms and a small patio on the canal side, you can be sure to find a spot that fits your mood.

The view from the patio is picturesque in a way that is typical for Amsterdam. Since I have been studying at the UvA, I have found the surroundings of Crea very inspiring. You feel very close to the history of the city and the university. When you are there, take the time to enjoy the atmosphere and stroll around between the university-buildings.

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Café Crea | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Theaters, Restaurants (intern.) | Beer € 2.00
Turfdraagsterpad 17 | Old center | +31205251423
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 01:00, Sun 11:00 – 19:00

This is a well-known place in Amsterdam right next to Hotel de L’Europe. A nice looking place from the inside, especially because of the extremely high ceilings.
In the summer this is one of the best outdoor cafes to sit with loads of boats passing by.The beer company Grolsch still owns this building. In the summer you can enjoy your beer on one of the most beautiful terraces of Amsterdam.

In the winter, loads of magazines are there to get you through a rainy or snowy day. You can sit here for hours with one drink without waiters looking at you like “go away or order something else”. Maybe this is because they do not notice you either if you want to order something.

The sandwiches are fine, but personally I would stick to the beverages only, although the chocolate pie is very good.

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Café de Jaren | Bars, Coffee & tea | Coffee € 2.00
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20/22 | Old center | +31206255771
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Café Katoen is a really popular place amongst students. (Katoen means ‘cotton’ but to be honest I don’t no why the cafe has this name.) It is located in the city centre very close to the University of Amsterdam. This is why lots of students find their way to it.

The cafe isn’t very big but it doesn’t seem cramped thanks to all the windows. The room isn’t packed full with tables and chairs. This is a good thing because this makes it feel spacious and relaxed.

On the other hand a lot of times there aren’t any places to sit. This can be a disappointment. There are also a couple of seats at the bar but for the rest it isn’t the kind of place where you can stand with your drink. So whenever I go there and spot an empty table I’m very happy.

As I said the place is mostly visited by students. It opens quite early so in the morning it is a good place for breakfast. As it gets later it gets busier and during the day it is often filled with girls chatting and drinking coffee or having lunch.

In the evening they don’t serve dinner but they do serve small snacks to accompany your drinks. The evening is the busiest time, and the later it gets you have to find yourself lucky to find a seat. At evening time the cafe is filled with guys as well as girls. And lots of groups of students having a drink after a whole day of studying!

I like this cafe very much. The interior is a bit outdated but I guess this has its charm. Also if you aren’t a student it is a nice place for a drink. Right in the city centre but filled with locals.

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Cafe Katoen | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Wine € 2.50
Oude Turfmarkt 153 | Old center | +310206262635
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 01:00, Sun 10:00 – 01:00

The east of Amsterdam is an area which has become very popular in the last while. More and more students (including myself) and young professionals are moving into this area. And it is noticeable!

There used to be nothing much around here but now more and more nice bars and restaurants are opening their doors. Maxwell is one of them. It is close to the Oosterpark (see the Oosterpark article) and the OLVG hospital and a great place for lunch and a drink during the day, or dinner during the evening. I love to go there for lunch and coffee on a lazy Saturday or Sunday  afternoon.

In the corner of the smallish place are a comfortable sofa and two very comfortable seats. This is definitely the best place to sit down and not get up soon!

Maxwell serves hot and cold drinks and also different lovely sandwiches. For dinnertime they offer a great hamburger ‘To the Max’ amongst other things. In the evening time they also serve snacks to accompany your drinks.

They make great coffee which they also serve to go, although this isn’t something for the early birds because the opening time is 12 o’clock.

The place is small on the inside but there are lots of places to sit and when the weather is good there is quite a big terrace to enjoy. Because the terrace sits on a corner there is sun all day long.

For the smokers they have the terrace heated and they also offer blankets to make sure a smoker doesn’t catch a cold.

Every once in a while they also do live music and different other performances. (Check programming on their website)

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Cafe Maxwell | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Varies) | Main meal € 12.50
Beukenplein 27 | Plantage/Oost | +31207726748
Sun – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 02:00/03:00

The cosy Café Proust is located on the charming Noordermarkt, right in the middle of the great atmosphere of the Jordaan and it’s many daily markets.

The interior can be described as no-nonsense, modern and cosy. In fact, Proust recently got a huge makeover! The greens are turned into cosy reds! 
Tourists, locals, students and market visitors drop by to have lunch, dinner, relax for a nice cup of coffee or some beers. On market days the café gets really packed, although the atmosphere remains laid-back.

The menu changes every now and then. The quality is definitely above the average café-level. The Proust Hamburger is a recommendation, and so is the salad/pasta/soup of the day. Something what also should not be forgotten: the quality-price ratio is great! The new chef offers you a superb variety of dishes…even cheese-fondue!

The absolute eye-catcher of Proust is the gigantic pistol-lamp (designed by Hans van Bentem ) above the bar. Madonna has one as well!

In summer you are lucky if you can find yourself a seat outside as the terrace is, unfortunately, quite small. On the other hand, this preserves the intimate atmosphere.

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Café Proust | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (International) | Beer € 2.20
Noordermarkt 4 | Canals | +31206239145
Mon 09:00 – 01:00, Tue – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sun 12:00 – 03:00

I don’t have lots of spectacular things to say about this spot so I’ll just keep it simple. It is simply a really good spot.

The good things are to begin with the location, right on the Nieuwmarkt with views of De Waag. Secondly the reading chairs by the window, very nice! Check out the lunch menu during the day which is tasty and affordable. And last but not least the different kinds of Belgian beers and the nice housewine are worth a try.

Don’t forget to order some bitterballen to go with your drinks and just enjoy!

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Cafe Stevens | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | lunch € 5.00
Geldersekade 123 | Old center
10:00 – 01:00 daily

Cafe Weber is a bar where most people in Amsterdam have been at least once. It is one of those places where you end up after a long evening for a final drink. The bar is open till three o’clock during the week and four o’clock in the weekend. This means it is usually one of the only options left after all the other bars are closed.

But if you think it is a dodgy bar in a strange little alley you are wrong. The bar is quite trendy and it is not only for the late hours, you can also go here a bit earlier (it opens at 20:00) for a drink, this is not a bad idea as it will be the only time when you will easily find a place to sit. The later it gets the more crowded it will be and you will have to squeeze yourself through the masses of people. But if you do spot an empty seat don’t hesitate to squeeze yourself in. People will  take advantage of any seat they can get even if that means sitting very close to your neighbours.

As I said the place is quite trendy and the interior is very nice. They change the colour of the walls and the other decorations every once in a while. Inside it used to be very smoky but with the new smoking policy this isn’t a problem anymore inside. Now everyone is crowded around on the street in front of the bar to smoke a cigarette. Sometimes it is as busy outside as it is inside.

The Weber bar is situated together with two other bars on the Marnixstraat. The bar next to it is called Lux and is almost identical to Weber. Choosing between the two bars is usually a matter of where there is the most space. A bit further on is the bar Kamer 401. This is slightly different than the other two. It is usually not as crowded and there are more places to sit. It also closes at the normal closing times. This bar is a good option if you like a bit more space around you but my favorite has to be Weber!

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Cafe Weber | Bars | Beer € 2.20
Marnixstraat 397 | Canals
Sun – Thu 20:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sat 20:00 – 04:00

Canvas is located on the top floor of the former Volkskrant (newspaper) building.
Besides that it’s a club; it’s also a café, restaurant, lounge, cocktail bar and exhibition hall. Because it’s not too close to the city centre, the venue is transformed into a local hotspot. The ultimate hangout of young creatives, students, and inhabitants of the neighbourhood.

Not only the spectacular panoramic view over Amsterdam makes this venue worth visiting. Other super features are the two rooftop terraces and the customized second hand furniture by artists.

In weekends DJs make sure you can dance the night away. Due to its small measurements, the intimate and cosy atmosphere is preserved. I can recall a certain Berlin-style.

The small menu offers the possibility to have dinner or lunch. Don’t expect exquisite dishes but the Canvasburger is tasty and reasonably priced. Simple but just fine!

Check the website for the program and flyers!

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Canvas op de 7e | Art & culture, Bars, Music | Wine € 3.00
Wibautstraat 150 (side entrance) | Plantage/Oost | +31207163817
Mon – thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sun 12:00 – 03:00

Monday night is film night in De Nieuwe Anita, a cozy little bar that used to be run by squatters. The movies are presented by an American dude named Jeffrey Babcock, who’s been a part of the sub-cultural scene of Amsterdam for quite some time.

Not only does he select those hidden, twisted gems that you would not find yourself, he also drags you into the world of the filmmaker. By mixing factual information with juicy details about the often quite eccentric lives of the directors, he creates the right context for the viewer to experience the film in, in all its richness.

If you need explaining afterwards, or want to know more about the filmmaker, you can strike up a conversation with the host, who’s probably hanging around having a beer in the living room like café as well.

The films at De Nieuwe Anita are not for the faint-hearted, but rather for those who like to be stunned, baffled or shocked. If you are open to it they can offer a momentary escape to a realm that can be perverted but beautiful, or terrifyingly philosophical.

Cinemanita takes place every Monday night at 20.30. Be there at least half an hour in advance, as the seats are usually quickly filled.

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Cinemanita Nieuwe Anita | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas | Ticket € 2.50
Frederik Hendrikstraat 111 | Westerpark | +31641503512
Mon 20:30

Club 8 is a great venue for a fully filled, entertaining night! With more than 24 pool tables there’s always space to start your game! Feeling hungry?
The restaurant menu offers burgers, soups, pasta and typically Dutch snacks like ‘bitterballen’ en ‘kaassouffle’.

The restaurant area might not be a picture perfect place for going out for dinner, but for a quick bite it’s just fine.

At night, Club 8’s nightclub plays funky sounds: electro, pop, indie, house….name it, they have it! Check out the program on the website, just to be sure you like what’s on that particular night!

The audience is very diverse: students, tourists, expats, and locals… everybody likes Club 8!

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Club 8 | Bars, Music, Restaurants (international) | One hour pool € 9.50
Admiraal de Ruyterweg 56B | Oud-West | +31206851703
Mon – Thu 14:00 – 03:00, Fri 14:00 – 04:00, Sat 12:00 – 04:00, Sun 12:00 – 03:00

De Ysbreker is a bar and a restaurant and also a great place to sit during the day. It used to be a theatre as well but those activities had to be moved elsewhere. The Ysbreker is situated at the Amstel River, which must be one of the most beautiful places of Amsterdam. In the summertime the big terrace in the front is great to sit by the water and to watch all the people cycling by…

The café has a vast history. The building used to be a guesthouse where in wintertime the people who broke the ice of the frozen Amstel River used to stay. That building burnt down but the new building kept the original name and is now a place where people go for a drink or something to eat while enjoying the great view of the Amstel River which in present times isn’t frozen over as often as it used to be a couple of hundred years ago.

If the weather isn’t that great it is also very nice to sit inside. I love to sit in the part at the front with the big windows. The view here is as good as when you’re sitting outside. During the day the place is very peaceful with people reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of coffee. Later on it gets a bit more buzzing. When you come in the place doesn’t seem that big bit there is also a large area in the back where you can sit. As I said they have a lot of newspapers to read which is a great way to spend a couple of hours of spare time during the week or on a Sunday afternoon.

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De Ysbreker | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants
Weesperzijde 23 | Plantage/Oost | +310204681808
Sun – Thu 09:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 09:00 – 02:00

Looking for something original, classy and exciting? Door 74 is where you should be! This bar is hidden in the centre of Amsterdam and only known by those who know what’s hot and new in town.

The owners describe Door 74 as a place for those that have a taste for fine cocktails and classy surroundings. Go to Door 74 for a long night with your closest friends and enjoy the fine drinks. I once read an article that it was said to be Amsterdam’s ultra-cool 1920s- style bar!

The minute you step into the fancy world of Door 74, you will treated like a VIP all night long. Your coat will be taken to the wardrobe, you’ll be personally brought to your table by one of the gentleman waiters, water and nuts/olives will be on your table and every now and then the waiter will come up to your table to check if you need anything else: no waiting at the bar to place an order! Could you wish for anything else?!

Door 74 is an all-seated bar and it never gets too crowded as no more than 40 guests are allowed to get in. No entrance fee is asked, it’s free to use the toilet and wardrobe and there is no door policy; just bring the classy, relaxed, good-mooded you!

Probably the most special thing about Door 74 is that you actually have to make a reservation to get  in (to make sure you can seated at the table/ boot of your preference). Make a call or send a text to the mobile number and your reservation will be confirmed within a day!

You can check the cockail menu at the website. I can recomment the Summer Sling and Playmate Cocktail (the very first cocktail ever to be descibed in Playboy magazine in 1954). Here no regular Bacardi mixes, Cosmopolitans or Breezers but instead, the most classic cocktails ever! I had never heard of any of the cocktails on the menu….and I’m a huge cocktail fan! The menu is updated a few times a year and even has different themes.

It’s hard to find so be sure to have the right address when you ring the bell at the unmarked door… Door 74 is by far one the best hidden gems of Amsterdam!

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Door 74 | Bars | Cocktail € 10.00
Reguliersdwarsstraat 74 | Old center | +31634045122
Tue – Sat 20:00 – 03:00

This brown colored pub on the Kloveniersburgwal was here when my father was studying in Amsterdam. It is supposed to be a literary café, a place where you can read a book or newspaper in peace, but I usually find it quite lively.

It has a layout that is typical for Amsterdam: quite narrow and deep. There is only sunlight in the front, but bars like these are not supposed to be bathing in light. The crowd is usually positioned in the narrow space in front of the bar, in the smoke free area back you can sit down in relative peace; take a look at the photos that are exhibited, or play a board game.

This place has an atmosphere that you will not find in newer bars, but what is more, they serve beers that you will not find anywhere else in Amsterdam. It is not a beer café per se, but the beers they have on tap are exquisite. I would not know where to find a tastier beer in this city.

During the day you can have a tasty lunch, served on proper, thick slices of bread. After five in the afternoon you can pick your dinner from the small menu written on a chalkboard in front of the bar. The food is tasty and far from expensive; the meal of the day will set you back about Euro 8.50. It is no haute cuisine, but it is good and healthy and you can flush it away with a delicious drink.

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Engelbewaarder | Bars, Restaurants (Lunch and dinner) | Beer € 2.20
Kloveniersburgwal 59 | Old center | +31206253772
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 02:00, Sun 14:00 – 01:00

Besides the Amstel Hotel, this is one of the most beautiful and prestigious hotels in Amsterdam!The Grand is filled with heritage listed examples of the city’s history dating back to 1578. In its origin this building was a monastery. Napoleon directed the City Hall on Dam Square in 1808 to Hotel The Grand, because he needed the building to become The Royal Palace.

Created in 1926 by Chris Lebeau, the First Class Marriage Chamber of Amsterdam’s City Hall is a work of art, with its figures and scenes depicting married life. The hotel is centered around the former council chamber, in which Her Majesty Queen Beatrix was married.

The council chamber is the largest convention room in the hotel itself. Robust wooden furniture, carpets, chandeleers all handmade. Bear in mind that the entire building is a historical monument and can not be changed without a legislation.

A small detail is the painting in the restaurant of Karel Appel, a famous painter in the Netherlands. The story about this painting is that after a previous renovation a wall was broken down and this painted wall was behind. After taxation it happened to be of great value.

Right now a part of the hotel is being renovated, but still open.

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Hotel The Grand | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (French)
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197 | Old center | +31205553111
24 hours daily

Located in front of one of the bigger branches of the UvA (University of Amsterdam) the café is swarmed by students during the day. Their continuing presence shows that the hours in between classes are longer than the classes themselves. The UvA students spend their free time drinking lattes, cappuccino’s or the occasional espresso, reading a newspaper, or, I see this quite often, studying.

What looks like a café during the day, feels more like a pub at night. With the candles lit, the music turned up a bit, and a friendly beer drinking crowd, I dare to say that Kriterion is the only cinema in Amsterdam that has a real pub in it. You can go there just to drink a beer, or just to see a movie, but for anybody that wants to combine these two experiences, Kriterion is the perfect place. It is one of the main things that attracted me, since I like to think of going to the movies as going out. Besides, the conversations about the movie seem so

much more insightful when you’re gulping down a cold beer.

If you’re from abroad you will not feel a stranger, since a large part of Kriterion’s clientele consists of foreign students or memb

er of our international community. You can easily blend in with a very diverse crowd of moviegoers, students from all over, and the quite eccentric individuals living in the neighborhood.

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Kriterion | Bars, Cinemas | Movie € 8.00
Roetersstraat 170 | Plantage/Oost | +31206231708
Sun – Thu 10:30 – 01:00, Fri 10:30 – 03:00, Sat 12:30 – 03:00

A downside of living in the district De Baarsjes is that good bars or restaurants are almost non-existent in this part of the city. Fortunately, in 2005 Louter was opened. It has been very popular ever since, because of its excellent location at the border of De Baarsjes.

It is quite a hip place, with a mixed crowd. The interior is nice, although you could have your own opinion about the lamps above the bar. It is excellent for a morning cup of coffee (with homemade coco-cookies) or a drink.

In the weekend they have a hearty breakfast, with croissant, egg and bacon, fresh orange juice and coffee from 10:00 to 12:00. A really pleasant place to sit down and relax (even when you are having a hangover).

The Amsterdam community council is very strict concerning licenses. You are not allowed to stand and drink or drink and smoke on the terrace, everybody should be in at 01.00 hours, otherwise neighbours will complain and the police is on your doormat. However, here it is friendlier, you can sit here on the terrace and drink your wine or beer without any problem. Perfect spot!

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Louter | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (international) | Sandwich € 8.00
De Clerqstraat 82 | Oud-West | +31203892623
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00

This restaurant was opened in October 2008, so it’s pretty new. The neighbourhood is in a multicultural community in Bos en Lommer. Great to see more trendy restaurants coming up here!

They have small tables with a bar in the middle. Every first Wednesday of the month they have a new menu.

The staff is great and the food is fine. We had salmon and Boeuff Bourgignon, both dishes were prepared well. The carrot soup did not taste like carrots, but was nice as well.

The entire atmosphere is relaxed and you feel welcome here!

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Luim | Bars, Restaurants (French) | Main course from € 10.50
Admiraal de Ruyterweg 404 | Westerpark | +31206889986
Sun – Thu 11:30 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:30 – 02:00

MOMO brings the mystic from the far East and the sophisticated West together, from a bento box for lunch to a Seared Mabel Beef for dinner. It is an experience!

The bar serves a wide range of cocktails and mixes, classical, traditional to new, not yet discovered, taste explosions.

A trendy, new hot spot to be seen and to have been!

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MOMO | Bars, Restaurants (Asian-Western fusion) | Main course € 32.50
Hobbemastraat 1 | Oud-Zuid | +31206717474
Bar & Lounge: 10:30 – 01:00 | Restaurant 12:30 – 14:30 & 18:00 – 22:30

P.King used to be a Chinese restaurant but as you walk by there is not much that will remind you of that except the name and the dinner menu. For the rest the style is quite different. It has a sixties style retro feel to it, especially the dining room upstairs which you should really take a look at if you get the chance.

The cafe is open the whole day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. No matter what time I go, I always enjoy the laid back chill vibe. The menu during the day is quite standard but with a couple of real good choices like for instance the typical Dutch bread with ‘kroketten’.

At dinnertime the menu is Cantonese with lots of different kinds of rice and noodles with chicken and meat to choose from. I really like the sweet and sour chicken. You can choose to have small portions so you can share and try different things.

I like to go here before or after I go to the cinema, for instance the Tuschinski Movie Theatre is really close.

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P.King | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Cantonese) | Main meal € 10,00
Herengracht 515 | Canals | +310203208175
Sun – Thu 09:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 09:00 – 03:00

Pompstation a new place in town, New York industrial style, great food and wines. Fridays and Saturdays after dinner dance. Live music of young up coming jazzy performers and bands. I had a excellent food and wine experience on a casual Tuesday evening.

I choose the salad of green aspargus, confit of tomatoes and smoked sliced eggplant with a great vinaigrette. My main course was a ‘aged’ ribeye from the Creekstone Prime Black Angus USA Corn Fed. Very tasty and tender, this can becoming their best seller.

The winelist has a width range of beautiful offerings, from easy and nice prices up to the the famous and starred, and from France to the New World. For everybody there’s something to choose.

The interior is industrial, with the use of pure and original materials, impressive. Service is very nice, helpful and professional but still has to get used to their own restaurant setting, it has only to be fine-tuned!

The only thing is the location, which is a bit out of centre, but with tram 14 (stop at  ’Borneostraat 1 – terras’) you will overcome that problem. I say have fun and enjoy!

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Pompstation Bar & Grill | Bars, Music, Restaurants (BBQ & grill) | Main course € 28.50
Zeeburgerdijk 52 | Plantage/Oost | +31020692288
Restaurant Tue – Thu 18:00 – 22:30, Fri – Sat 18:00 – 22:30
Bar Tue – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 16:00 – 03:00

Sophia is part of a very ambitious small Restaurant Group. They own restaurant Ron Blaauw in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel as well – a two Michelin star restaurant. And Ron Blaauw is advising the Chef at Sophia!

Sophia has a sharing concept, you order about 4 to 5 dishes per person, and you share them all, which is great for all your taste-buds. The interior is slick and high profile. The staff is over-educated and well mannered.

Sophia is back on the food track! It’s entertaining, with Sunday brunches with live music. The food is delicious and by that I really mean delicious.

They change the menu extremely often, which makes it difficult to recommend dishes, but actually everything I have tasted in the 6 times I had dinner, was great. When you are having drinks at the bar and can’t wait, order the black plate to start and share, and you’ll smile immediately.

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Sophia | Bars, Restaurants (Fushion) | Evening menu € 55.00
Sophialaan 55 | Oud-Zuid | +31203052760
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri 12:00 – 02:00, Sat 15:00 – 01:00

STOUT = Naughty! Because rules are there to be broken. Because risky business, the sin and sense go frequently nicely together. Giving meaning to enjoyment, is what restaurant STOUT does! Therefore every guest is a welcome challenge, every product, selected carefully by the Chef, prepared in a stimulating way, every wine a sunny holiday and every employee an individual with a refined feeling for your wishes. Thus it is the challenge, which seduces us and seduction, which we defy.

The kitchen staff is inspired by the international kitchens and trends and is very familiar with the metropolitan and most recent developments, tendencies and developments of high-quality food & beverage products, concepts and formulas. Purely to keep informed; Naughty! He does not obey to fashionable one day trends. We are naughty! , a little bit wrong, a source, to enjoy!
© Website Stout, free translation by author of this article.

Stout is one of my favourites for lunch and I love to go there for a coffee when I finished my shopping in the Haarlemmerstraat.

I like the ‘broodje ½ OM’ in particular, a nice roll with thinly sliced pastrami and cooked calfs liver slices: very Amsterdam! The fresh fruit juices are also very good. The focaccio STOUT, is a cheese melted tuna sandwich is also very good! Coffee’s and espresso’s are of very good quality and delicious.

The service I experienced as personal and friendly, and they changed chefs I will see what happens in the future?

They now have a menu for autum en winter!

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Stout | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (international) | Broodje ½ OM € 7.00
Haarlemmerstraat 73 | Canals | +31206163664
11:00 – 01:00 daily

Quite far in the eastern part of the city you find a cinema/club/pub/restaurant rolled into one. Studio K is located prominently on the Timorplein, in a building that used to be a school for craftsmanship. The building has been beautifully renovated and it looks airy and fresh. The large building houses a budget hotel, and a number of offices for small companies. Studio K is an ambitious project, meant to create a cultural and creative center in a neighborhood that has otherwise very little to offer.

It is located in a part of the Zeeburg quarter that was already quite decent, but in my opinion this little oasis is working its magic on the rest of the district, drawing more creative initiatives to the neighbourhood.

I would not know another place in Zeeburg that is as suitable as Studio K to have a drink or enjoy a movie, but I would in fact take the effort to make the trip to this part of the town to enjoy a beer or a proper meal in a beautiful bar, served by a friendly staff, and to watch a movie if I feel li ke it.

Their selection of films is usually good, although it often includes some reruns. I do not always feel like being in the midst of the rumor of the city and Studio K has all the atmosphere that you need in a quieter part of town.

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Studio K | Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Festivals & events, Restaurants (International) | Coffee € 1.70
Timorplein 62 | Plantage/Oost | +31206920422
Check programming

In my quest for an authentic pub experience I’ve been stopping by a small pub called “The Minds” quite often lately.

It is small, brown, and what’s more, smoky! Yes, despite the ban on smoking in public places, the clientele is still steadily puffing away over here. It doesn’t matter whether they’d be sucking on a joint or on a cigarette, them smokers do provide this dark and shady atmosphere that even I as a non-smoker have been missing since the ban.

For the health freaks this is obviously not a strong selling point. The alternative, relaxed crowd might be however, just as the stone solid rock music that is constantly being played. From The Doors to Queens of the Stone Age and everything in between. The bartender, who’s been the owner of The Minds as long as anybody can remember, obviously plays just what he likes.

I happen to think that this is the perfect way to attract the people to your establishment that fit in. If you like rock in all its different shapes, tasty, cheap beer and smoking, you should go to The Minds. Don’t mind the interior, it’s all rough edges, but the atmosphere is better than in most other pubs.

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The Minds | Bars | Beer € 1.60
Spuistraat 245 | Old center
Sun – Thu 21:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sat 21:00 – 04:00

At the end of the very lively Haarlemmerdijk you will find the oldest cinema in the Netherlands. The building of The Movies does not look very impressive from the outside, but when you enter it you find yourself in a different era.

The whole interior is in the original, well-preserved Art Deco style. In the café or in the film rooms you feel as if you stepped back into a time when cinema was young and exciting.

The bar inside the cinema is rather large, with a drinking and an eating area. The place feels more like a café than the bars in bigger cinemas, and you don’t feel pressured to go to your seat in the film room. The beer that they serve, from the south of the Netherlands, is one of my favorites.

A delicious, cold beer makes for a very pleasant cinematic experience, and The Movies is certainly a good place to watch a film. Their program usually consists of a mix of art films and more mainstream cinema, so you are likely to find something that suits you. If you are in the neighborhood but you don’t feel like settling in a dark room, you might just want to take a peek at the interior, or have a drink or a meal.

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The Movies | Bars, Cinemas | Movie € 9.00
Haarlemmerdijk 161 | Canals | +31206386016
Check the website for opening times

Small and elegant at the corner of the Banstraat and Valeriusstraat; that’s Valerius.

A place to go to for breakfast, lunch and after work drinks. If you have something to celebrate, small parties are welcome, but please call a little in advance.

The interior is modern and elegant. Beautiful photos decorate the walls.

Breakfast is a feast with many choices. Lunch offers a range of nice salads, tosti’s, egg-dishes, slices of bread sandwiches with delicious fillings and toppings and interesting finishing sweets.

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Valerius Eten & Drinken | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Breakfast € 8.00
Banstraat 14 | Oud-Zuid | +31204713976
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00

This is still a relatively new wine bar in Amsterdam on the Prinsengracht. Next door they have a restaurant called Envy. In both establishments it is all about the wines. The combination wine and food is important, but the food comes with the wine instead of the other way around.

It is quite an expensive place, but all waiters are real trained professionals. They all have a sommelier certificate and they know all about the wines they sell (and that is a lot).

Personally I think that the nicest item on the card is the “flight”. This is to taste several different wines from the same grape or to taste similar wines from different grapes, for instance Chardonnay, Bourgogne or Champagne. The staff tells you everything about the wines, from which grapes they are made off, which year the wine is from, on which land it has grown and what the taste of the wine is. And of course all special items which are typical for a particular wine.

The entourage is also very nice. On the left, red wines all hanging on a wall of bricks, then you have the bar and on the right the entire wall is covered with one large refrigerator with all white wines, rosé and champagnes. The opposite is one large couch with small tables and bar stools. It is a very modern interior.

I really recommend this place for an appetizer or an after-dinner wine. It is a nice, upper-class wine bar with specialized staff who have fun at what they are doing!

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Vyne | Bars | Flight of 3 wines € 11.00
Prinsengracht 411 | Canals | +31203446408
Mon – Thu 18:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 17:00 – 01:00, Sun 17:00 – 22:00

The last time I was on my way to Waldorf I was in a hurry. I was going for a drink with a friend but left my house later than planned. And as if that wasn’t bad enough it was very very cold and the rain was pouring down. By the time I got there I hoped my friend would be waiting for me inside, warm and dry. But she wasn’t. It turned out the cafe wasn’t open yet and she was waiting in front of the door just as soaked as me… So it turns out Waldorf doesn’t open until five! It used to be open for lunch but I guess it isn’t anymore. But you are still welcome for dinner, and it’s good!

The food Waldorf serves is mainly Italian and very tasty. The thing I like about the place is that you can eat Italian food without being in either a too tacky or too posh Italian restaurant. Simple pasta dishes are served, but you can also order meat or fish.

The restaurant has a very retro feel. All of the furniture looks as if it comes right from the fifties but at the same time it all looks nice and fresh. The carpets on the tables are typical old fashioned dutch style. You will still see those in other real old fashioned Amsterdam bars. I love the picture on the wall of a winter landscape, although looking at it makes me feel cold!

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Waldorf | Bars, Restaurants (Italian ) | Pasta (main) € 12.00
Elandsgracht 2 | Canals | +310207787564
17:00 – 01:00 daily

Walem is the place to be, when you are in the mood for great drinks, sandwiches on the canalside with a great terrace. They serve smoothies, but also a good white house wine. The famous dutch bitterballs and the tuna sandwich are also good.

To kick off after a hangover, start the morning with their nice and tasting croques. But best of all is the location and the gorgeous staff. Cute waiters in black, serving with a smile.

In summertime they have a nice terrace next to the canal, so waiters have to cross the road and sometimes that causes a traffic …!

It’s next to the Famous Metz & Co on the corner of the Leidsestraat and the Keizersgracht: hard to miss!

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Walem | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (International) | Lunch € 25.00
Keizersgracht 449 | Canals | +31206253544
10:00 – 17:00 & 18:00 – 22:30 daily

You can find Wolvenstraat by the address because this bar basically has no name. Locals just refer to the bar as ‘Wolvenstraat 23′, but you won’t miss it as it’s located in the popular 9 street district.

Atmosphere is created by the laidback crowd, art on the walls, furry pillows and blankets, retro-styled interior and the friendly cat who sleeps undisturbed. Comfortable enough to stay lounging till cocktail hour starts or even longer..!

This may not be the place for an extensive diner, but for some high quality bites it’s definitely worth visiting. The Thai salad is suberb and so is the cheesecake.
Service is friendly and polite.

At night, the perfect place to go for a beer, wine or exciting cocktail! The mix of trendy young locals and expats make this bar an absolute ‘place to be’, but then with the lack a ’seen and want to be seen’ atmosphere. Think relaxed and cosy with suitable music.

A reliable place with delicious food and a great atmosphere!

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Wolvenstraat | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants | 3 course menu € 17.00
Wolvenstraat 23 | Canals | +31203200843
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 01:00, Fri 08:00 – 02:00, Sat 09:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 01:00