Nightlife in Amsterdam
Most of Amsterdam's bars and clubs are in the city centre around the Dam, De Pijp and Leidseplein. Amsterdam has earned an international reputation for its dance scene in spectacular clubs like Panama, while many of the best gay bars and clubs are along Reguliersdwarsstraat. Most clubs don't get going until midnight and stay open until 5am or later. Popular bars include places like the Old Amsterdam In 't Aepjen on Zeedijk and swish modern cocktail bars like VakZuid at the Olympic Stadium. The red light district is touristy, but has some interesting old theatres showing revues and cabaret.
In 't Aepjen
Traditional Dutch bar
An old sailors' tavern near the waterfront, In 't Aepjen is housed in one of
Amsterdam's two surviving timber buildings, which date from 1550. The 'ape'
of the small bar's name refers to images of monkeys in the tap room.
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Address
1, Zeedijk, Amsterdam 1012 AN
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 626 8401
Transport
Centraal Station
bubbles&wines
A taste for Champagne and wine
This Champagne and wine bar stands on a long lane a few minutes' walk from
the Dam. Amid subdued lighting, dark wood surfaces and red tones,
bubbles&wines serves an extensive roster of Champagne and wine
labels, along with light snacks.
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Address
37, Nes, Amsterdam 1012 KC
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 422 3318
Café De Dokter
Tiny antique bar
Filled with knick-knacks and with an impressive drinks display, the smallest,
and one of the oldest, bars in Amsterdam was founded in 1798 by a retired
doctor. It is tucked away down a narrow little street close to the
Begijnhof.
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Address
4, Rozenboomsteeg, Amsterdam 1012 PR
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 626 4427
Cafe Kale de Grote
Cool cocktails and DJs
A cocktail bar and restaurant in the Pijp district, Cafe Kale de Grote has
soft chairs, long banquettes and chandeliers. It draws a hip, youthful crowd
to sip mojitos, graze on plates of tempura and dance to DJs on Friday and
Saturday nights.
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Address
18-20, Ferdinand Bolstraat, Amsterdam 1072 LJ
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 470 0651
Amstel Fifty Four
Perennial gay bar
Perennial favourite Amstel Fifty Four is an Amsterdam institution and one of
the longest-standing gay bars in the Rembrandtplein area. It's as Dutch as
Edam, the staff and clientele are friendly and fun and there is live
entertainment most nights.
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Address
54, Amstel (off Rembrandtplein), Amsterdam 1017 AB
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 623 4254
VakZuid
Olympic Stadium cocktail bar
Located in Amsterdam South, inside the Olympic Stadium used for the 1928
Olympic Games, VakZuid is a chic cocktail bar cum lounge-restaurant-club.
The interior design is of that period in an updated form and it has a large
canal-side terrace.
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Address
35, Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam 1076 DE
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 570 8400
Café De Jaren
Fashionable classic
Trendy yet unpretentious, Café de Jaren is a vast city-centre café, bar and
restaurant with a multi-coloured mosaic floor and an airy feel. On sunny
days, tables on the two outside terraces overlooking the River Amstel are in
high demand.
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Address
20-22, Nieuwe Doelenstraat, Amsterdam 1012 CP
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 625 5771
Taboo Bar
Central gay club
On central Amsterdam's Reguliersdwarsstraat, renowned for its gay nightlife
scene, Taboo Bar attracts all persuasions and is especially popular during
happy hour. It has two floors, a friendly crowd and DJs spinning the latest
high-energy tunes.
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Address
45, Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amsterdam 1017 BK
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 775 3963
Jimmy Woo
Exotic Chinese club
Guest-list entry only at certain times can make Jimmy Woo, a deluxe spot off
Leidseplein, hard to get into. The antique-look, Hong Kong-style club
attracts a mellow crowd and the slow-starting music gets spikier the later
it gets.
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Address
18, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat, Amsterdam 1017 RC
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 626 3150
Panama
Hot venue for trendsetters
Dance, experimental theatre and club nights are on the agenda at this
sizzling nightclub, café and restaurant. Housed in a converted port
installation at the old harbour, Panama regularly welcomes top national and
international DJs spinning different kinds of music.
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Address
4, Oostelijke handelskade, Amsterdam 1019 BM
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 311 8686
Supperclub
Feast for the senses
A combination of post-fusion food served by slinky waitresses, DJ music,
cabaret-style performances, fashion shows and masseuses makes a visit to the
city-centre Supperclub a night out, not just a meal. It's not one for the
shy or timid.
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Address
21, Jonge Roelensteeg, Amsterdam 1012 PL
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 344 6400
Concertgebouw
Classical music concerts
Built in 1888, the world-famous Concertgebouw in central Amsterdam is the
city's premier classical music venue. The two auditoria have fabulous
acoustics and host concerts by myriad visiting performers as well as the
hall's own orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw.
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Address
10, Concertgebouwplein, Amsterdam 1071 KJ
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 671 8345
Paleis van de Weemoed
Dinner with nostalgia
Visitors can experience an evening of nostalgic Amsterdam at Paleis van de
Weemoed in the red-light district. This revue theatre has a spectacular Art
Deco interior. Its restaurant serves a four-course meal and drinks before
and during the show.
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Address
15-17, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Amsterdam 1012 EH
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 625 6964
Melkweg
Multimedia venue
Melkweg (Milky Way) is an innovative venue for music, dancing, art and
performance. Housed in a converted dairy factory close to Leidseplein, it
has concert halls, a theatre, cinema, recording studio, gallery, dance
studio, restaurant and more.
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Address
234a, Lijnbaansgracht, Amsterdam 1017 PH
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 531 8181
Café Peter Beense
Dutch sing-along bar
Unpretentious Café Peter Beense seems to represent the best of all the cosy,
friendly neighbourhood bars in Holland. Schmaltzy songs about stolen kisses
behind the windmill are popular. Everyone joins in, led by the
larger-than-life host and owner Peter Beense.
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Address
10, Korte Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amsterdam 1017 BH
Telephone
+31 (0) 20 626 7457
