Eating and Drinking, Amsterdam

There are a good few Irish pubs here in this town. Some of them have a more authentic feel than others (Hoopmans/Reijnders/Hole in the Wall megapub on Leidseplein isn't exactly an original), but even a new place like Aran on Max Euweplein can be great craic with the right staff and live band!

Here follows a list which isn't comprehensive (yet), but gives a good overview anyway:
- "Mulligan's", Amstel 100. Very cosy and one of the 'original' Irish pubs in the city. Great live sessions. Check out their website for more!
- "Tara", Rokin 89. Very nice and BIG Irish bar with some fantastic details and lots of nooks and snugs to have a relaxed evening and because of this the place doesn't feel crowded even when it's very busy. Popular with students from the nearby UvA. Also features live music and pool tables.
- "O'Reilly's", Paleisstraat 103-5. More catering towards mass entertainment: big screens, DJ features prominently and the bar is huge. Was good fun on Paddy's Day, though!
- "Durty Nelly's", Warmoesstraat 117. Not just a pub, but also a hostel. How very convenient! Not prententious at all, which explains its popularity with the Irish travellers and locals alike.
- "Aran", Max Euweplein 73. Great bar, very modern but excellent live music! Upstairs is very alternative (yet good fun!) and the Irishness is shed almost completely.
- "Dan Murphy's", Leidseplein 24. Of all Irish pubs on the square, this one's the best. Features all kinds of clientele but at least it looks the most authentic.
- "O'Donnell's", Ferd. Bolstraat 5. Again one of many pubs on a square, but it looks good and has a great selection of beers on draught!

Dress Code: No dress code, come as you are (well, within limits of course!)

Cafe de Jaren is a bar/restaurant near Dam square. Is is located in a beautiful building with high ceilings and large windows.
The first (ground) floor is the bar area with several 'library' desks in the middle. I used to come here every sunday morning, sit by the window with a book and a pack of cigarette and drink coffee for hours. During the summer they will open the back door to a small veranda on the Amstel river(!) that sits about 12 people.
The second floor is a restaurant - they serve very decent food but be warned that they have 'typical' Dutch service. Don't expect them to come and check on you. You need to call them to get the menu, call them when you are ready to order, call them when you need more drinks, and yes call them when you want the bill :)

In de Wildeman certainly justifies its label as a bierproeflokal (beer tasting house) with its choice of 200 bottled beers and another 18 or so on tap.

The staff are very knowledgeable so if you are not sure which of the 200 plus varieties to try they can offer help.

It’s a popular place – not only because of the beer but the atmosphere, which is relaxed and amiable as any good pub/bar should be! – so getting a seat may be tricky but if you enjoy a good glass of beer in a convivial atmosphere I would certainly recommend visiting.

There is also a non-smoking room in the back.

It is worth visiting their informative website (www.indewildeman.nl) to find out about sepcial events, featured beers etc..

Open: Mon-Thurs. 12pm-1am
Fri and Sat : 12pm-2am
Closed on Sunday

Even if you are not much of a drinker, this place is well worth finding. On Graven straat, just off Dam Square, it is one of the smallest bars in the city.
As the name suggests, the bar specialises in beers from Belgium. Worth a try, I never drink beer but enjoyed a glass of Kwak (complete with odd shaped glass!)
The bar has around 40 types of beer to choose
There are not many places to sit inside but there are a couple of bench seats outside, good for people watching.
I was extremly lucky, it was mild enough in October to sit out!!

Dress Code: Whatever you like!

The original Three Sisters Pub in Rembrandtplein remains to be the finest grand cafe in the city. A very popular hangout the pub has nice leather seats and booths and a good looking full bar.

In the weekend they crank up the music up so that people can dance around the bar area (music from the top 40) but on any other time it is a cozy place to hold conversations while sipping Irish Coffee or a downing a pint of Guiness

Dress Code: During the weekend evenings you cannot wear sneakers or shorts

Het Papeneiland is a wonderful brown café in a great location overlooking Prinsengracht. The name – Pope’s Island – reflects the time when a tunnel ran between the café and a secret Catholic Church across the canal.

The eclectic decoration includes blue Delft tiles, a mixture of wooden furniture, ceramic beer barrels and a stuffed bird!

Take a seat near the bar downstairs – if there’s room – or venture upstairs and sit, as we did, in the window overlooking the canal and passing cyclists. Give yourself over to the atmosphere and let the beers flow!

Open: Mon-Thur 10am-1am
Fri-Sat 10am-2am
Sun 12pm-1am

A cosy small but long bar with a lot of b&w photos at the walls. Mixed guests from everywhere, quite good drinks, but when it´s full, you better order your drinks at the bar, the service was not that quick. Prices are ok. averaged.

Dress Code: none

The Leidseplein is the focul point of the Amsterdam vibrant nightlife This square is virtually surrounded by bars of all kinds. Each with bar or pub seems to have a patio make the Leidesplein is wonderful place to people watch. More importantly you can then observe the score of street entertainers that seem to congregate here. Many of these huskers are quite talented and its lots of fun watch. Nearby in the off shoot streets from the square, there are numerous restaurants were you can eat before you go for a bar hop around the square itself.

Dress Code: Casual

Strooling along Zeedike one night and a voice rang out "hello, why dont you come in and have a drink". I promptly ignored it. Then I thought, Im going to have a drink, so why not here. I turned and saw a rather large black man. He directed me into what I later discovered to be his bar. The pub was empty!!!. Before I could say anything, he offered me his hand and said," My name is Mike , they call me Lord Mike. Please sit down, what would you like to drink, here is the "mouse" you can select your own music, wait Ill get you some peanuts". Slightly taken aback I retorted, Ill have a whiskey.L M.. Let me get you a large one!!! I asked what he was charging but he didnt answer!!! We chated and he said he was from Bristol UK. I played my Jerry Lee Lewis and Freddy Fender on his jukebox. Then a few customes came in.A nice couple from Liverpool.Barry and Rachel, and some boys from Bury St Edmunds. They bought some drinks , I likewise and we had a hell of a night. The whiskey by the way, was about normal price. The next night I went and saw this character again with my Dutch friends Chi Chi and Cor, who knew him anyway. Another nice night.

Dress Code: He not too bothered.!!!

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Okay, I know, we are in Holland and drinking Belgian beer. Don’t worry, we also drank our fair share of Amstel and others but we did also enjoy visiting this tiny, fantastic bar for a few Trappist – and more – ales!

The bar is tiny and with wooden tables, stone floor and tan walls covered in old-fashioned advertisements for many of the beers they sell. It specialises in Belgian Beer, having 8 on tap and 30 in bottles. The beer menu is very well written, informative but also very amusing, giving you background to where the beer was brewed and also the percentage alcohol content (the 11% Kasteel Bruin was like dark, sweetish and treacly, reminding me of autumn evenings) very important if you in tend to stay, as we did, for more that one or two!

The girl behind the bar was extremely friendly and also knowledgeable about the beers on sale. You can also order bar snacks such as toasties, cheese and mustard (perfect with beer) and spicy (VERY spicy according to Steve) sausage.

I’d recommend a visit!