cocktail bars

Amsterdam is home to countless cocktail bars, often featuring cosy, romantic interiors and with innovative menus. While my personal favorite is Tales & Spirits, go ahead and explore all my top recommendations below! And don’t miss the chance to try ‘Jenever’, the juniper-flavored traditional Dutch spirit.

Tales and Spirits

As far as cocktail bars go, this centrally located spot featuring low level lighting, exposed brickwork and innovative cocktail recipes is definitely worth a visit.

The cocktails are fun, super different and they taste great. Each cocktail has a story behind it and many creations feature an added element of surprise. The interior is sophisticated, warm and cosy, and the service is great.

💰 Price Range: €€€

Door 74

Tucked away on a small, unassuming street in Amsterdam, Door 74 is one of the city’s most popular speakeasy cocktail bars. With its 1920s-inspired interior featuring moody lighting and dark wood accents, it’s a hidden gem perfect for a great night out.

💰 Price Range: €€€

Karakter

Popular with locals, this bar shakes up a wide choice of different cocktails and G&Ts, and wine and beer. It has a dark and lively interior and makes for a great post dinner drink. The espresso martinis are great, and they also have a karaoke bar – should your night take you there!

💰 Price Range: €€

Madam Bar at A'DAM Tower

Located on the 20th floor of the A’DAM tower, this bar is definitely worth a visit if just for the view alone. Entry is free, and since it usually costs €15 to go up to the D’DAM Lookout anyway, you can excuse the expensive cocktails! At the bottom of the A’DAM tower is a popular club called Shelter – playing techno and house music until the early hours.  

💰 Price Range: €€

Vesper Bar

Vesper Bar is a small and swanky cocktail bar just off the trendy street of Haarlemmerdijk. Featuring menus in the style of newspapers and a cocktail menu loosely inspired by James Bond, you can expect a sophisticated offering of negronis and martinis – or go for something more creative with one of their house specials.

💰 Price Range: €€€ 

De Tulp

This tropical-themed gem is a favorite among locals, starting the evening with a tapas-style dining experience before evolving into a lively bar that stays open until the early hours. The menu perfectly complements the vibrant atmosphere, featuring fresh coconut and ginger beer, unique cocktails, and adventurous lunch dishes. Don’t miss their salsa nights every Tuesday for extra fun!

💰 Price Range: €€

HPS (Hiding in Plain Sight)

This is another one of my all-time favourite cocktail bars in Amsterdam. HPS is 1920s themed, with big chandeliers and crystal glasses, and the cocktails are delicious. It’s expensive (expect to pay €16-€20 for a cocktail) but with expert mixology on display and complimentary nuts and olives, it’s worth every penny.  Very popular with locals and definitely worth booking a table if you want to guarantee a seat, although there are places to perch too.

💰 Price Range: €€€

Flying Dutchmen Cocktails

This is a fabulous, buzzy cocktail bar near the city center. The Flying Dutchmen serves a variety of high quality, classic cocktails seven days a week from 5pm- 4am. Definitely worth a visit.

💰 Price Range: €€€

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