Nightclubs and bars in Amsterdam

Once each year (in 2003 it was the 8th of November) all museums open for the night and have special entertainment for the visitors. The "museumnacht" (museum night) has a truely spectacular ambiance and is recommended dighly to all that are in Amsterdam at the time it is held. Check the website or type "museumnacht Amsterdam" at Google.

Amsterdam's reputation as a capital of liberalism may be most famously embodied by its coffeeshops but its nightlife provides ample opportunity to do anything you want. There are clubs cater to the gay or straight, to just the scenesters and for the dancers alike. Amsterdam boasts a world class nightclub scene and one that is refreshingly focused on dancing and having a good time.

Dress Code: Anything goes in this wild town!

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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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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

There are several types of bar/restaurant here in Amsterdam, ranging from the Grand Cafes to the coffee shops but if you want to immerse yourself in the real Dutch Drinking society then search out these little "Brown Bars".

There is some debate as to why they are so-called - have they become brown over the years because of the tar build up from the tobacco smoked or are they just painted brown to hide the smoke staining? But, either way, these are the proper bars, where there will be a limited range of beers, and if you are lucky such food offerings as bitterballen or fricadelles.

Cafe Pleinzicht is a perfect example, despite its red light district location, where the predominant language is Dutch, though easily switching into English as required, and on the evening I was there interspersed with a little Spanish as well. Just like a proper British pub the beer facilitates conversation, old jokes are disinterred and geniality is the order of the day. Great little bar :)

Dress Code: Don't be silly!

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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.

The Rode Baron is a somewhat typical Dutch bar, but then without the typical Dutch Bar music! Good combination in my opinion ;-) The place is quite dark and very very small. There are a few tables with chairs in here so the area on which you can stand is very limited. On the walls are many typical dutch paintings!

The hostess is a very nice lady who happens to be thai! She is very small and it is great to see her tap some beer with her hands and arms high in the air in order to be able to do the trick! Drinks are put on an account so you can pay when you leave! Your drinks even get served here, so just sit down and wait to give your order! Drinks are fairly cheap too, so it's great to start your night here before hitting town!

This bar is a favourite among me and my colleages, because after work we regularly go for a drink here!

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.