Amsterdam's hidden bars include both modern speakeasies (Door 74) and centuries-old brown cafés (In't Aepjen, opened in 1475). The 10 below show both eras.
Part of our 50 Best Hidden Gem Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
Read the world list
The 10 best hidden gem bars in Amsterdam
01 · Amsterdam
Reguliersdwarsstraat
$$$
Speakeasy · Black door
Reservation-only. Through an unmarked black door.
Order: Whatever's seasonal
02 · Amsterdam
Centrum
$$$
Apothecary · Tasting
Tej Sehgal's intimate cocktail laboratory. Tasting-format only.
Order: The full tasting
03 · Amsterdam
Centrum
$$
Speakeasy · Reservations
Through an unmarked entrance. Sister bar to Tales & Spirits.
Order: A clarified milk punch
04 · Amsterdam
De Pijp
$$
Speakeasy · Burger spot front
Through the back of The Butcher burger restaurant.
Order: A signature smoke-and-mezcal spec
05 · Amsterdam
Centrum
$
1475 · Wooden building
In a wooden building from 1475 — one of only two left in Amsterdam.
Order: A jenever, neat
Weekly editorial
The bars worth going to, weekly.
One email per week. The bars our editors are recommending right now, across 60 cities worldwide.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
06 · Amsterdam
Centrum
$
Tiny brown café · 1798
Tiny brown café in operation since 1798. Standing room only.
Order: An old jenever
07 · Amsterdam
Leidseplein
$
Eclectic vintage · Cocktails
Eclectic vintage-furniture café-bar. Cocktails by night.
Order: A Dutch-spirit signature
08 · Amsterdam
Centrum
$$
Gin specialist
Gin-and-tonic specialist with 40+ Dutch and Belgian gins.
Order: A Bobby's Schiedam G&T
09 · Amsterdam
Centrum
$$
Vintage · Cigar
Vintage Amsterdam cocktail bar.
Order: A Rusty Nail with their reserve Scotch
10 · Amsterdam
Jordaan
$
Brown café · 1786
Operating in this Jordaan room since 1786.
Order: An old jenever, served cold
More Amsterdam hidden gemsThe full Amsterdam hidden-gem-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
How Amsterdam hides its best
Door 74 is the modern reference. In't Aepjen is the historic pilgrimage. Most peak between 9 and 11 PM.
