Our favorite brown cafés in Amsterdam
Het Parool was looking for the most historic brown cafés in Amsterdam at the end of last year. This is because the brown café may become a municipal monument. Completely justified if you ask me, but the list they came up with… I do feel that a few names are missing.
Because we have so many fun and unique brown cafés in Amsterdam that choosing is difficult. That’s why I’ve also listed my six favorites — plus a seventh extra if you still haven’t had enough afterward.
The 8 best brown cafés in Amsterdam
1. Café Hans
This is where you want to watch Ajax, drink (too much) beer and, really, never leave. There’s a fun mix of young and old here, who unanimously agree on one thing: the meatballs at Café Hans are incredible. You absolutely have to try them at least once, because they might even taste better than your grandmother’s.
Amstelveenseweg 69
2. Café Brandon
Granted: the people who come here are considerably hipper than those at Café Hans, but that doesn’t affect the atmosphere. Nor the crowds, for that matter; quite the opposite: on Fridays, the surrounding pavement is often packed with people having drinks too. Good times guaranteed. An extra plus: there are so many great restaurants nearby that you can easily grab a quick bite somewhere between drinks.
Keizersgracht 157
3. Café de Amstel
This place is packed when Ajax plays too (even during such a terrible season as this one), and many people stay because of the convivial atmosphere. It’s great here in summer too, by the way, because they have a fairly large terrace — even a section by the water. You have to be lucky to get one of those tables in summer, but otherwise it’s still great inside; there’s a large round bar, so there’s always someone to chat with.
Amstelkade 39
4. Café Thijssen
Although I can’t understand how anyone finds those low stools comfortable (they’re placed along part of the bar), Thijssen is a genuinely great pub. With decent food and lots of conviviality — beyond just having drinks, too. They regularly host pub quizzes here, and I’m extremely picky about those, but this one gets my approval and is genuinely fun (and difficult).
Brouwersgracht 107
5. Café Hoppe
An Amsterdam institution and one of the few reasons to brave the crowds in the city center. Right on the Spui, so ideal for people-watching during the day, but getting there by bike can sometimes be a real nightmare. But hey, once you’re there, it’s immediately worth it. A fun mix of regulars, locals and tourists — although the first group thankfully predominates.
Spui 18-20
6. Café Gambrinus
I consider this a bit of a brown café 2.0, because it has received quite a few upgrades here and there over the years. The walls aren’t even brown anymore! But the people who have been coming here for years know that the brown café feeling is still very much alive. These days, slightly hipper people come here too, and the menu is a little more extensive (but fortunately, you can still get a portion of ossenworst here).
Ferdinand Bolstraat 180
7. Mazzeltof
And if all of the cafés above close and you’re told to leave… Then you know that Mazzeltof will always be there for you. Yes, that’s Mazzeltof: the final stop for many, where numbers or sleepovers are quickly arranged.
Ferdinand Bolstraat 40
Read also:
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- Weizen vs. witbier: what’s the difference?
- Groceries are becoming much more expensive because of these dramatic tax measures
Image: Café Thijssen // Café Hoppe
