Top 10 cafés in the heart of Amsterdam

Café ‘t Mandje

Just around the corner of Amsterdam Central Station, you’ll find the well-known Café ‘t Mandje, owned by Bet van Beeren. It doesn’t get more Amsterdam than this: the walls are covered with old prints, the ceiling is decorated with ties and there’s often singing and dancing. Fun & respect: it’s been this way since 1927. Read more about the café’s history on

Mata Hari

Enjoy a lovely lunch or dinner at Mata Hari in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The café mostly works with local and seasonal products, and everything – right down to the ice cream – is home-made. Of course, you can also drop by for a drink. At Mata Hari, you can choose from a wide selection of wines, local and specialty beers, cocktails, teas and coffees. Pull up a chair in the outdoor seating area overlooking the oldest canal in Amsterdam or enjoy the fabulous Art Deco decor inside.

De Huyschkaemer

Just around the corner of the touristy Rembrandtplein, you’ll find one of the friendliest streets in the centre of Amsterdam, the Utrechtsestraat. Cosy up in Amsterdam’s most visited “living room”, De Huyschkaemer. The name says it all: you will feel just as comfortable here as in your own living room. So enjoy a hearty breakfast or lunch and don’t forget to try the sandwich of the week. Or pop in for a drink with the locals.

Bar Moustache

Two doors down from De Huyschkaemer, you’ll find Bar Moustache. Bar Moustache is especially popular for lunch, antipasti and dinner. Wines, cocktails and pizza are served until the wee hours, so you can just go ahead and make a night of it!

Café Lowietje

Café Lowietje is a so-called ‘brown café’ in the heart of the Jordaan. Pull up a chair and if you’re lucky, you may even catch a live performance by one of Amsterdam’s many local artists.

Until a couple of years ago, the café was used as a setting for the popular Dutch crime series ‘Baantjer’. The place hasn’t changed one bit!

Café Thijssen

Not far from Amsterdam Central Station, overlooking the city’s most picturesque canal, you’ll find Café Thijssen. Thijssen is another typical brown café with a large outdoor seating area – the perfect place to do some people-watching! Drop in for a mouthwatering slice of home-made apple pie, a quick lunch or a drink. There’s plenty of choice, especially for beer enthusiasts. Café Thijssen is a hotspot for local residents, students, business people and tourists. In short, 25 years of hospitality.

Café De Blaffende Vis

De Blaffende Vis is an old-fashioned friendly local bar in the Jordaan area. This brown café on the Westerstraat is filled with yuppies, artists and Jordaanites from the early morning, who come in to read the newspaper with a cup of coffee. In the evening, the café is usually heaving with students – presumably because the food is good and affordable.

A friendly place on the bustling Westerstraat where you can go for a drink and a simple snack.

Restaurant Daalder

Feeling adventurous? Daalder, located in the picturesque Jordaan, serves a surprise lunch and dinner menu. Just pick the number of courses you want (2 to 4 for lunch and 4 to 7 for dinner) and lean back and enjoy the delights that are placed in front of you. The combination of high-quality food and the relaxed and informal atmosphere makes Daalder unique. Of course, you can also just pop in for a drink.

Restaurant-Café In de Waag

Go for a bite in a fifteenth-century historic building. Amsterdam truly has it all! Restaurant-Café In de Waag, located on the lively Nieuwmarkt in the heart of Amsterdam, is the place to go for lunch, drinks or dinner. This medieval building is lit by 300 candles, giving it a unique, fair-tale vibe. Restaurant-Café In de Waag is definitely a must-see during your trip to Amsterdam.

Dwaze Zaken

The secret behind gastropub Dwaze Zaken is real food and drinks at reasonable prices. Located right in the centre of Amsterdam, the arty and Christian character of Dwaze Zaken draws visitors who look beyond the first impression. The café is always on the lookout for new products and ways to serve its customers. Whether it’s the art, a wink from the barman, the “Crazy Mondays” or the delicious lunch… you’re not likely to forget your visit to Dwaze Zaken anytime soon!

Mossel & Gin

Okay, okay. Since Amsterdam is full of great eateries, here’s an extra tip:

Mossel & Gin in the former industrial area, the Westergasterrein. The name kind of gives it away as this is the place to order the most delicious mussels and gins. If you think there’s only one way to cook mussels… think again! This mussel restaurant has grown into one of the better fish restaurants in Amsterdam. So be sure to book a table online!