Nightlife in Amsterdam

Nightlife in Amsterdam

1. DoOost

   Bimhuis

   World-class jazz and improvised music venue, five minutes by foot from Centraal Station.

   €14-18

2. DrinkOost

   Canvas

   A restaurant-bar-club, this urban and edgy den in a former newspaper office is a great place to go out at night. With nice views of the city and a varied music repertoire (alternative, jazz, funk), it's one of the hidden secrets too often overlooked by foreign visitors. Try one of the cocktails.

   Mon-Thu 07:00-01:00, Fri 07:00-04:00, Sat 08:00-04:00, Sun 08:00-01:00

3. DrinkWest

   Club 8

   A large alternative place with lots of art on its walls. There's ping pong, a very local and fairly young crowd.

4. DrinkCanal District

   Feijoa

   Cocktail bar with a lovely atmosphere, pleasant music and friendly staff, including one of the Netherlands leading cocktail barmen. Will make any cocktail you ask for.

5. DrinkBinnenstad

   Hannekes Boom

   One of Amsterdam's hidden secrets, Hannekes Boom is a cosy, somewhat ramshackle, bar with a waterfront along the IJ. It's a great place to just hang out and have a beer. Not for clubbers, but for those looking for a relaxing underground atmosphere and live music. It is centrally located, but off the tourist path, so it has a local feel to it. Outdoor seating is available, but you have to order your drinks inside. If you want to eat, make a reservation in advance (though the food is nothing special).

   Sun-Thu 11:00-01:00, Fri Sat 11:00-03:00

6. DrinkBinnenstad

   Molly Malones Irish Pub

   Authentic Irish pub with food. Mix of expatriates, locals and tourists, friendly staff, on a canal off the Zeedijk, close to Centraal Station and Warmoesstraat. Open every night, live music in the week-ends and large-screen television.

7. DrinkCanal District

   Mulligans Irish Music Bar

   The oldest Irish bar in Amsterdam, Mulligans has live music most nights. This is where the traditional music crowd gathers.

8. DrinkOost

   Panama

   This nightclub is relatively close to the city centre. It has its fair share of nice nights and the view on the water is excellent.

9. DrinkWest

   TonTon Club West

   TonTon Club is an excellent place for a good night out. The place has a unique atmosphere with Japan as its inspiration. Upstairs there are arcades and button bashers, downstairs there's room for drinks and board games. You can also order Japanese snacks. Be early as tables are often reserved.

   Daily 13:00-01:00·€15+ per main, €1 per game

10. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Chicago Social Club

    Amsterdam's nightlife king Casper Reinders joined with the founders of Bitterzoet and the owners of Boom Chicago to bring quality clubbing to the Leidspelein.

11. DrinkZuid Not mapped

    Club Media

    Completely organic menu, fair selection, good prices, lovely staff, free fruit!

12. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Escape

    A large, fairly uninspiring nightclub that mostly plays mainstream house music. The first hall is large and attracts the more or less wannabe hip people of the city, although the crowd is diverse. The second hall upstairs has a completely different audience, mostly hip-hop and R&B enthusiasts. At some events, Escape is split in two, which means you can use the backside entry at Amstel for a different party.

13. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Jimmy Woo

    The most glamorous club in Amsterdam offers a selection of house and R&B, with a spectacularly lit dance floor downstairs. It is relatively small and there is table service, so it feels a bit like a VIP room. Entry policy is strict so dress sharp to get in. And boys, don't come alone.

14. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Melkweg

    A former milk factory, now it's one of the best live venues in Amsterdam. Its interior is not as good as Paradiso, but it feels more like a nightclub as the music is dance/trance-oriented. Popular among university students and younger tourists, it's a great place to go out till the sun gets up. Rates can vary widely, and go very steep during special events.

15. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Paradiso

    Sometimes referred to as a nightclub, it feels more like a nightly music venue and is the safest bet in town. Its interior is phenomenal as it is housed in a former church, but the main room has relatively bad acoustics. It gets a mixed crowd as there are plenty of rooms with different bands performing and it isn't too crazy expensive. Its music straddles the line between pop and alternative. Much of the performances are rock, but it can really be anything: don't be surprised to be dancing the Russian troika with thousands of people on a Wednesday night. It gets fairly packed, as is obvious by the huge line on the weekends, especially after 01:00.

16. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Studio 80

    This is a somewhat more underground, intimate club that's easy to miss because of its flashy neighbours. It prides itself on trying to stay at the forefront of electronic music in the city.

17. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Sugar Factory

    Bit of a remarkable place that integrates art, music, culture, theatre and nightclub into one. It has a relaxed atmosphere with an eccentric, artistic audience.

    Around €10

18. DrinkOost

    Tonight Club

    Hotel Arena, 's Gravesandestraat 51

19. DrinkBinnenstad

    Winston Kingdom

    Music venue and nightclub in the red light district.

20. DrinkCanal District Not mapped

    Club HOME

    Wagenstraat 7

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Amsterdam (CC BY-SA 4.0).