KEY2 Pick
Best bars in Amsterdam
Cocktail rooms, rooftops and unmarked doors — where to start a night and where to end one.
KEY2 Pick
Cocktail Bar • $$$
Vesper Bar
A dim, intimate Jordaan cocktail bar with a devoted following for its precise classics and quietly excellent playlist.
Best for: Date Night
Brewery • $
Brouwerij 't IJ
A tiny craft brewery beneath the De Gooyer windmill, pouring its own strong Dutch ales on a terrace at the mill's foot.
Best for: Casual Drinks
Grand Café • $$
Café de Jaren
A soaring grand café on the Amstel with a two-level canalside terrace, a reliable daytime-into-evening drinks spot.
Best for: Casual Drinks
Waterfront Café • $$
Hannekes Boom
A laid-back waterside café-bar on the eastern docklands with its own sandy terrace, popular for sunset drinks by the water.
Best for: Casual Drinks / Group
Questions, answered
What are the best bars in Amsterdam?+
The KEY2 editors' top picks for bars in Amsterdam are Door 74, Vesper Bar. Every listing in this guide is individually vetted, with hours, prices and booking links.
Where can I find good-value bars in Amsterdam?+
For $$-level bars in Amsterdam, consider Brouwerij 't IJ, Café de Jaren, Hannekes Boom.
What are the best bars in Amsterdam for a special occasion?+
For a splurge, the KEY2 guide recommends Door 74, Vesper Bar. Reserve ahead — the booking link is on each listing.
Do I need to book bars in Amsterdam in advance?+
The most popular bars in Amsterdam fill up days or weeks ahead. Every KEY2 listing includes a direct reservation or booking link where one is available.
More Amsterdam guides