18 cocktail bars in Amsterdam you’ll want to visit
Remember when: there was a time when you had to search really hard in the Netherlands to find a good G&T? But our capital transformed into a true cocktail capital in just 10 years. Full of iconic bars and refreshing newcomers. In the mood for a sour, fizz, Daiquiri or a twist on such classics? These are the 18 cocktail bars you really must visit.
18 amazing cocktail bars in Amsterdam
Arca
At the Art’otel you’ll find Arca, where the bar team draws inspiration from the striking art collection of Signature Artist Atelier Van Lieshout. That may sound somewhat abstract, but it makes for a delicious exhibition of flavor. Portuguese influences and traditions shine through in the creative cocktails and bites. Portuguese two-Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa surprises with his special sandwiches, which you can easily enjoy with a few cocktails, because every single one packs quite a punch. From his brioche bun with crispy pork and the Francesinha to the Cheek-y Asian Sando. Wow!
Bar Bacán
The word Bacán has several meanings, all somewhere between cool and awesome. And that’s exactly what Bar Bacán is. Here, your night feels like a balmy summer day—whatever the season. The cocktails feature plenty of South American influences. Or sip from a gigantic selection of tequila and mezcal.
Barbue
The Hoxton Lloyd has been completely renovated. And that called for a brand-new bar too. Barbue is an Amsterdam ode to the rich culinary and cultural history of the incredibly beautiful building at Oostelijke Handelskade 34. Barbue is located in the building’s original ticket office, a bar inspired by Argentina’s golden age, with expertly crafted cocktails that put a twist on the classics, made with seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
Bar The Tailor
Before Adolph Wilhelm Krasnapolsky ran the iconic hotel on Dam Square, he was a tailor. And the cocktail bar in the iconic Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky pays tribute to that history. Wooden tailor’s shears, antique sewing machines and measuring tapes add to the atmosphere and create a beautiful setting for tasting the latest cocktails. The Tailors are known for their unrestrained creativity when it comes to developing new signature cocktails. From the Dutch textile trade to the mythical creatures of European folklore, inspiration for each cocktail collection comes from the most unexpected places. The Tailors also serve snacks such as oysters, Dutch caviar, vegetarian sushi and truffle fries.
Belly of the Beast
Dive into the cabin of Flying Dutchmen Cocktails and discover Belly of the Beast. This cocktail bar has sea legs. Because right in the middle of the capital, Belly of the Beast’s cocktails can transport you to the coast. Whether you’re looking for the perfect drink for a palm-fringed beach or something warming beside a rough sea. Set a course for a memorable evening. Here, you can order bites with your cocktails until 4 a.m.
CatuaBar
I’m a huge fan of good cocktails, but after two I’m guaranteed to tumble off my barstool. That’s why I love places where you can also eat well alongside your cocktail. Enter: Catuabar. Here, fantastic South American dishes are served alongside your cocktail. Tip: go for the four-course menu (€42) with cocktail pairing (€24) and let yourself be surprised by the distinctive flavors.
Dutch Courage
An ode to Dutch drinking history. At Dutch Courage, slurp cocktails based on jenever and old Dutch liqueurs. Even the bravest among us can’t try all 150 different jenevers, jenever-based cocktails and kopstootjes. At least not all at once. A good reason to come back, then. Even if it’s just to pull something from the jenever vending machine.
Duke of Tokyo
Dive into the vibrant nightlife of cities like Tokyo—right here in Amsterdam. At Duke of Tokyo, you can not only sing your heart out in the karaoke rooms; it’s also a true cocktail destination. At the bar, you’ll drink cocktails in which Japanese spirits and flavors take center stage. Imagine yourself in a world of neon, murals, light boxes and 3D art inspired by the coolest city in the world: Tokyo.
Fitz’s Bar
At Fitz’s Bar, you can escape into the classic charm of the roaring twenties. You’ll find this cozy cocktail bar in the beautiful Pillows Hotel in Amsterdam-Oost. Sip Nick Vrielink’s elegant cocktails—he won the World Cocktail Championship in Rome in 2023.
Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
Flying Dutchmen Cocktails is an institution where hordes of award-winning bartenders once shook their first cocktails. In this bar, founded by cocktail legends Tess Posthumus and Timo Janse, you can discover the history behind all the classics and try creative twists. There’s plenty to choose from. Flying Dutchmen Cocktails has the largest back bar in the Netherlands, with more than 800 drinks on the shelves!
Law & Order
Don’t be fooled by the serious name—it’s far from peace, quiet and order at Law & Order. This is ‘the bar without bullshit’ (Pardon their French). At Law & Order, childhood friends Sergej Platonov and Vitaly Alekseyev serve seriously good cocktails while you relax at the bar and hip-hop blasts from the speakers.
Lotti’s
Sink into the vintage lounge chairs at Lotti’s neighborhood bar in The Hoxton Amsterdam. You can work here all day and secretly sample a cocktail between emails. Or simply enjoy a relaxed evening at the bar. That’s what we call a good neighbor.
LuminAir
At LuminAir, the cocktails rise to great heights—literally and figuratively. Here, works of cocktail art always come with an incredible view over Amsterdam. Meanwhile, LuminAir’s interior continually changes with the evening thanks to an artistic light installation.
NEXT
Take the ferry to NDSM; the makers of Pllek have opened a new venue with NEXT. Is it a bar, a restaurant, a lounge or a great place to work? None of those—and all of the above. In the immense cocktail bar at the heart of NEXT, the international bar team delves into its roots to create refined cocktails. Alongside them, there are brilliant bites by Jaimie van Heije.
Rosalia’s Menagerie
Amsterdam menageries once collected tropical animals brought back by sailors from their voyages. At Rosalia’s menagerie, you’ll marvel at entirely different discoveries. Vintage furniture, stacks of cocktail books and—of course!—creative cocktails featuring plenty of local ingredients. Rosalia’s Menagerie’s bar team found inspiration in the present and the past, facts and fables, near and far.
Super Lyan
Cocktail icon Ryan Chetiyawardana has been the mind behind some of the world’s best bars for 18 years, including Lyaness in London and Silver Lyan in Washington. But you don’t need to board a plane to sit in one of Mr. Lyan’s bars. You’ll find Super Lyan near Amsterdam Central Station. In the flamboyant interior filled with neon lights, try refined cocktails that flirt with all the classics.
Taiko
Taiko Bar in the renowned Conservatorium Hotel was once the drum room of the Amsterdam conservatory. But nowadays, you mainly hear the tapping of shakers here. Both the cocktails and the dishes by chef Schilo van Coevorden are based on flavors from Asian cuisine.
Zum Barbarossa
One of the best-kept secrets in central Amsterdam. An innocuous door conceals a speakeasy. Once inside, you lose track of time in the red glow of the bar and sip delicious cocktails into the early hours, alongside fruit de mer and other treats from the sea.
Amsterdam Cocktail Week
In the mood for a drink? During Amsterdam Cocktail Week, you can discover even better cocktails. From September 4 through 10, Amsterdam bars open their doors for guest shifts, tastings, bar takeovers, workshops and more. Enjoy classics, new flavors and the craft behind bartending for an entire week. Sounds like a recipe for a good week, right? See the full program at Amsterdam Cocktail Week.
Also read:
- How to make classic cocktails when you’re not a bartender
- Everything about Daiquiri, the ultimate summer cocktail
- Darker Don is the Don Papa rum cocktail you’ll want to make now
Header image: © Floris Heuer – www.florisheuer.com
