Nightclubs and bars in Amsterdam

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Forget Amstel and Heineken: this is where you go for good Dutch beer. It's a small microbrewery offering up ten varieties or so ranging from light to dark, hoppy to smooth, and alcohol content from 5 - 9%. Some of them, like the Maibock, rotate in and out seasonally so the full menu isn't on tap at certain times of the year but no matter: we liked just about everything we tried. They make testing easy with a sampler of 6 generous pulls for the bargain price of €5 (at time of this writing).

Here's the only caveat: I don't know as you can call this "nightlife" as the sampling room is only open from 2:00 - 8:00 (every day) but it's one popular venue. We got there really early to grab a seat on the big (nearly empty) patio but we weren't alone for long - the place was rockin' when we left several hours later.

I won't go into best brews as everyone's preference for hops, bitterness and whatnot is different so just order up a sampler and go from there. Pints run under €3 - no more expensive, really, than the usual pub fare in Amsterdam and a good price for craft/organic brews. NOTE: prices may have gone up a bit since our last visit.

The tasting room/patio is right under the De Gooyer windmill - one of only 6 remaining in Amsterdam - so it's easy to see from a distance. It isn't in an area known for tourist attractions so you'll be a bit off the beaten but that was just fine with us. For €4,50 (includes 1 pint) you can take a short tour of the brewhouse on weekends, and they have a small menu of eats to help soak up the alcohol. The tasting room staff was friendly and helpful, and we were chatted up by some cheerful locals on the patio who were obviously BIG fans judging from the number of pints they put away!

Great fun.

Dress Code: Come in whatever

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This became "our" pub 'cause it was just a block away from our hotel and you couldn't beat it for the location. De Magere Brug faces the Amstel River and is right on the corner of De Magere Brug: the famous Skinny Bridge. From your table on the terrace, you can watch the bridge in action as the barges go by, and observe the tourists. They have food but who needs it when you can just hang out with a cold (cheap) pint? We heard a lot of Dutch here so it appeared to be a favorite with the locals too. Lively, friendly and very casual.

Bonus: they're open late so you can admire the bridge lit up at night too.

Monday / Thursday 12.00 - 01.00
Friday / Saturday 12.00 - 03.00
Sunday 12.00 - 01.00

Very close to The Bridge Hotel so a good stop for a nightcap and short stumble to bed.

With de Pijp being predominantly a residential area most bars and cafes shut by 2 am but for those of us who may fancy one more beer for the road then Nacht Cafe Masseltof on Ferdinand Bolstraat is the place to finish up. This bar (and it is a bar rather than a nightclub) doesn't open until 8 pm and is usually pretty quiet until the early hours when the other bars start to close. This is the time that it comes into its own.

Late at night the atmosphere is laid-back and friendly, as was the barman on my last visit. There's usually a bit of music (not too loud) and despite the beer being an extra 50 cents is well worth dropping in for if out until late.

Also useful is that Moes Falafel and Shoarma place is just down the road and stays open purely to catch us drunks with the munchies.

Dress Code: This is just a bar and so no particular dress code but the rule regarding scantily-dressed women always applies ;-)

Honestly,i don't know if I'll recommend this or not,because I was disappointed with the place.
Taking pictures inside is not allowed because they'll do it for you and you have to pay for it which I think is a rip off,the picture quality is horrible and its very expensive (15 Euros).The entrance is also 15 Euros.

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If beer is your thing and you want a proper drinking establishment then this where to be. In de Wildeman is described as a "Bier Proeflokaal" - literally "beer tasting place" - and that is exactly what it is. There's no music, the food offering is limited to snacky stuff and so there are no distractions from the serious business of quaffing an international selection of beers.

There are usually 18 tap beers on offer, mainly Dutch and Belgian, changing seasonally, with each served in its appropriate drinking vessel, and another 180 or so in bottles. The bar has two rooms, one used to be non-smoking, but now both are (spit!) and there is a pleasant beer-fuelled bonhomie about the ambience.

I've notice that some other sites' reviewers knock the service here but this isn't a tourist destination and if you're expecting fawning service don't bother - this is a pub!

Clientelle tend towards the older age group and is mostly local, I suppose the lack of Eurofizz and Musak deters the youngsters, but is eclectic and even if dropping in for a sole session you'll usually find a conversation. On my last visit I even ended up being photographed by a local mag as an archetypal beer hound!

Yep good bar!

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I obviously like the theme of this club ... how could one not love "Pirates" in a port city? Professional staff and fun club, decent music, and good drink specials for the Ultimate Party Pub Crawl. Lots of fun at this bar - dancing and drinking the night away. Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

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On the first night of my first trip to Amsterdam, Brian and Jeroen took me here for Cosmos before dinner. On my most recent trip, we stopped in just as the place had opened, for a couple before heading off to dinner. It's pretty spot with lots of different seating areas. There are small tables and large tables, mini bar-like counters w/bar stools and couches by picture windows that lead out to a really pretty garden.

This time around I tried a fun 'n fruity concoction that was a lot like Mojito and so pretty!

Dress Code: It's a Gay bar. Look your best!

By the way, their website isn't available (at least not now). I've put in a link to an alternate one that has reviews, etc. on it.

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If you are a clubber, I'm sure that you've heard that the 11th floor of the Post CS building has become a hot destination, especially on the weekends. But I went with my friend in the middle of a Sunday afternoon and we found a lot of families hanging out, children playing, kid dancing to "spacy music," young adults "chilling" with a coffee or a beer.

Dress Code: Dutch style whatever