Editorial
Amsterdam in summer is a different city. The best summer bars Amsterdam offers come into their own between May and September, when the terraces fill, the canals catch the evening light, and the city operates at a pace that encourages sitting outside with something cold rather than rushing anywhere. We have spent several summers identifying which spots hold up under pressure and which ones overcrowd into tourist traps. These are the bars worth planning your summer around.
Amsterdam's canal terraces operate on a first-come basis for the most part. The ones worth arriving early for are the bars where the drinks and the atmosphere match the setting — not just a terrace with a view and mediocre lager.
Amsterdam's rooftop bar scene punches above its height. The city's flat landscape means that even a fourth-floor rooftop delivers views that feel genuinely elevated. These are the spots worth the effort.
Amsterdam's best summer bars are not always the most photographed. Some of the neighbourhood spots that keep their terraces for locals year-round reward summer visitors who find them before the guides do.
Amsterdam rewards summer visitors who leave the central tourist circuit. The best summer bars Amsterdam offers are concentrated in the Jordaan, Oud-West, Oost, and across the IJ at NDSM — neighbourhoods where the locals drink and where the bars have not been configured around tourist throughput. Build your day around a neighbourhood rather than a landmark and you will eat and drink considerably better.
One practical note: Amsterdam's summer terrace culture means most good bars are full by 5pm on sunny days. Arrive before 3pm for a table at the canal-side spots, or plan to stand and accept it graciously. The craft beer bars and the waterfront spots across the IJ tend to have more space and less competition.
Sofia has spent portions of four consecutive summers working through Amsterdam's bar scene in a professional capacity. She has strong opinions about which canal has the best terrace bars and is not shy about sharing them.