We’ve shown some great places to hang out in Prague and Copenhagen as well, but now let’s head over to another one of the most interesting cities in Europe. Amsterdam is a really cool and youthful city with good vibes. There is something magical about the bikes and being surrounded by water. Here you feel like you are at home. The pace of life is slowing down while you are riding along the canals.
The Dutch capital is famous for its coffee shops, that are in fact selling marijuana legally. These shops were legalized in 1980, after the decriminalization of marijuana and hash in 1976. The interesting thing is that they cannot buy from growers, so technically it is not fully legal and coffee shops somehow dance with the law.
They are even banned from advertisement. There are roughly 250 shops in the town. If you tell your friends that you have been to one of Amsterdam’s coffee shops, they will think that you have smoked a few joints.
But Amsterdam also has „traditional” coffee houses which are about the culture of craft coffee and brewing, not the ganja. We gathered the top 10 from these traditional ones:
10. De Koffieschenkerij
- Address: Oudekerksplein 27, 1012 GX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 6 52653302
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10.00 AM-6.00 PM
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/Koffieschenkerij
De Koffieschenkerij is a cute little Amsterdam coffee house on the canal corner of the Oude Kerk (Old Church). A lovely spot to visit after a tour around the Amsterdam Centrum. You can just sit out in the cozy, shady courtyard, which is so calm despite being in the middle of the Red Light District. The attic-like space is so peaceful and relaxing.
When the weather is not so nice, there is also a seating inside, though the place is not too big. They have free wifi, so you can post your photos immediately on Instagram. Prices are quite high, but the quality is definitely worth it. The staff is so helpful (and English speaking), they will interact with you and recommend what you should order.
Drinks are delicious, the coffees are so very well made and flavorful! Teas, lemonades are also available. The cappuccino is just creamy enough with the right amount of milk. De Koffieschenkerij offers a wide variety of cakes. Chocolate cake and apple cake is light and moist with a deep chocolate & slight peanut butter frosting.
They also have gluten-free almond cake! Goat Cheese sandwich is definitely a must try! You must try this place if you are planning a trip to Amsterdam.
9. Cafe T Smalle
- Address: Egelantiersgracht, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 623 9617
- Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM, Fri-Sat 10:00 AM – 2:00 AM
- Website: http://www.t-smalle.nl/
This beautiful, quirky café is located in the heart of Amsterdam (a short walk from Anne Franks house and Tulip Museum), you will love everything about it. The ancient building, the high-ceilinged bar with tiled floors and leaded glass, the Canalside seating, the cozy atmosphere with candles on tables in the evening, the superb surroundings and the unspoiled interior.
It is so romantic and comfortable. Almost perfect. There is a small maisonette floor upstairs that gives you the feeling like you were on a double decker bus. The ideal place to invite your girlfriend or your lover to enjoy a late night beverage. Be careful, you may never want to leave.
It is so popular that tables are rarely free. You have to reserve or arrive outside the peak time. The baristas are friendly and efficient, Diede and Sabrine are particularly kind and they will always keep your glass full.
Here you can drink amazing beers and whiskeys (Jack Daniels) and have a great conversation with friends or guests. Lager shandy is definitely a must try. This cozy Amsterdam coffee house is definitely a must on your agenda. Try it.
8. Winkel 43
- Address: Noordermarkt 43, 1015 NA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 623 0223
- Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10.00 AM- 1.00 AM
- Website: http://www.winkel43.nl/
Winkel 43 is a cozy Amsterdam café in the fabulous Jordaan neighborhood (not far from Anne Frank House) with a good Saturday Market. The view is so amazing from the location over the bustling markets filling the square. In the morning, everything is calm and relaxing.
The quaint comfortable family type atmosphere will enchant you. This place is full of tourists, so sometimes you have to wait in the line, but the quality compensates you. Try to arrive at the opening at 8 am for breakfast. The staff is polite and professional.
Winkel 43 is mostly famous for its AppleTaart (Apple Pie), but their strong coffees are also good. You have to ask for a refill with your little Euro-sized cup, that is to say, it’s self-service. You can choose from small dishes, beer, liquors or a large sized tumbler of tea.
In fact, their Apple Pie is more of a cake than a pie with flaky crust, but it is definitely delicious. It’s so cinnamony and buttery, and it is not as sweet by American standards, which is good. Whip cream is very light. The beers and the bitterballen are fine too. This is definitely a place worth to visit during your Amsterdam trip.
7. Bocca Coffee
- Address: Kerkstraat 96HS, 1017 GP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 321 314 667
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8.00 AM- 6.00 PM
- Address: https://www.bocca.nl/
Are you interested in specialty coffee? Bocca Coffee may be the place for you! This Amsterdam coffee shop in the calm area of Kerkstraat is a paradise on Earth for coffee lovers! The clean lines, the cool furniture and the chilled music will definitely take your breath away. Even NY Times admires Bocca Coffee.
The place is so spacious, so you won’t feel like your privacy is invaded. The atmosphere is so relaxing, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Mack, the informed barista is from New Zealand, and he will do his best to pamper your taste buds with the best coffees. Just sit down with a book or a friend and enjoy the good vibes.
They are so passionate about their coffee that they may even seem to be snobbish and almost like they are doing you a favor selling it to you. And perhaps they are right. The coffees are of top quality. Their Synesso machine provides some great filter coffee options and delicious espressos.
The cappuccino and the v60 are a must try. The Ethiopian coffee is so soft and tasty! And the desserts! The brownie and the banana cake! The lemon cake with coconut! Words can’t describe. Vegan options are also available. Don’t miss it.
6. De Drie Graefjes
- Address: Eggertstraat 1 | Hoek van de Gravenstraat, 1012 NN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 626 6787
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Address: https://www.dedriegraefjes.nl/
This cozy Amsterdam coffee house is located at the back of the Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square. You can easily access the place since trams run right past. Just sit in after a tiring day of shopping. The café consists of two buildings which are side by side. The interior is cute.
One of the buildings offers lunch and desserts, while the other one is only for desserts. Finding a seat is not an easy task due to the popularity of the café. You can get upstairs by a very narrow and steep spiral staircase. Big portions, good prices, lovely and professional service. You can bring your dog too. They don’t accept credit cards, only cash and Maestro.
Coffees are really good with a real character and so much flavors. Espresso and cappucino are delicious. A good selection of burgers, lunches, toasts, sandwiches, cakes and drinks are available. The carrot cake and the strawberry swirl cheesecake are definitely a must try, they are so creamy, rich and moist.
They also do takeaway cakes. You should also tste the marshmellowy meringue, the lemon curd and the pie crust, they are so good! Not to mention the Mississippi Mud Pie. Highly recommended, one of the best Amsterdam coffee shops.
5. Melly’s Cookie Bar
- Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 137, 1012 RJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 423 4797
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM
- Website: http://mellyscookiebar.nl/
This comfortable, sweet llittle Amsterdam café has such a charming decor! You will definitely fall in love with this place. You can have a seat by the window, from where you will have a nice view over the traffic. Kudos, the barista is so knowledgeable and he will tell you everything you need to know about your coffee. You have to check out their pre-bagged varieties.
Music is great, the decor is charming. You can enjoy a brief chill out and a refreshment stop here. If you are a coffee gourmet and pastry lover, this is the place for you. Their authentic and tasty products are prepared in their own kitchen (warm out of the oven) from fresh, high quality ingredients.
Their Italian coffee will give you a boost of energy after a long day of sightseeing. The espresso is particularly great, so falvorful. Not to mention the Dutch hot chocolate with whip cream. Nice cookies, canolis, croissants, muffins and treats with free samples are available.
The homemade dulche de leche is their speciality. The apple strudel cake is something to die for. Are you already planning your trip to the Dutch capital? Don’t miss this place, you won’t regret your choice.
4. Toastable Koningsplein
- Address: Singel 441 | Koningsplein, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 626 2969
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Website: http://toastable.nl/
Toastable Koningsplein is lovely little Amsterdam coffee house near the Flower market. You will love the decor and the chilled atmosphere. So clean and homely, you will feel really comfortable. Everything is baked in the back, the delicious baked goodies up front.
The staff is super friendly. You can have a breakfast with yogurt and nuts and bread with jam for 16 euros for two persons. A plethora of cultures is walking in the door in each moment. The space is quite small with a few seats. Breakfast for 4 with drinks is approximately €45, which is a relatively nice price.
Coffee is perfect, you can take away (this can be useful due to the crowdedness). Coffees are so flavorful and strong with a real character. Fresh fruit juices (orange, kiwi, and mango) are so tasty. You can eat freshly baked cakes, nice home-made biscuits and tasty fresh sandwiches here.
The „Legend” Sandwich is especially good, just as the chorizo toast. The croissant with cheese and egg with a latte and the B&B toast (cheese, bacon, tomato) are also worth a try. From the desserts, I would recommend the alfajores and the brownie. Everything is so delicious. Give it a try. One of the best Amsterdam cafés.
3. De Laatste Kruimel
- Address: Langebrugsteeg 4, 1012 GB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 423 0499
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Website: http://www.delaatstekruimel.nl/
In De Laatste Kruimel, you will feel like you were in your grandmother’s kitchen. The place is located in old Amsterdam. They have a small balcony with a couple of seats looking really cozy. One window is filled with cakes – chocolate cake, courgette and lemon curd cake, brownies, scones, apple pie, cookies etc.
In the other one, you will see savory food – about 5 types of quiche – leek and goats cheese, mixed vegetable, bacon and mushroom, blue cheese and walnut etc. All is homemade, which is a nice plus. They don’t have a lot of space, but the prices are reasonable.
Service is professional, but a little uncaring. They only accept cash or Maestro cards. The perfect spot for a quick dinner. If it’s busy you can just grab your food and walk down the street a bit to sit down at one of the benches set against the canal. The coffees are delicious, all prepared freshly with great flavor and taste, especially their flat white. A wide variety of sandwiches is available.
The grilled chicken thigh sandwich is particularly good. The zucchini cakes and the strawberry tartes… Oh my God! The quiche, the cauliflower, and coconut with chickpeas are definitely a must try! The chocolate cake and the apple pie are something to die for. Don’t miss this Amsterdam coffee house, you won’t be disappointed.
2. Prins Heerlijk
- Address: Prins Hendrikkade 57 | Prins Hendrikkade 57, 1012 AC Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 20 624 9375
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/prinsheerlijkamsterdam/
This small, unpretentious Amsterdam café is so well located near Grand Centraal station, not far from Park Inn Victoria hotel and Barbizon Palace Hotel. The interior is small but pretty and comfortable, seatings are available both inside and outside. They offer local cuisine.
The menu contains light options such as yogurt and fruit, but if you want to boost yourself up for the day, you should ask for English breakfast or Dutch Bouncer. The waiters are polite and the prices are relatively reasonable. The place opens early in the morning (7:30 AM).
They give Illy café, which is so delicious! The menu has a large selection from yogurt and croissants to omelettes, burgers, American pancakes etc. The yogurt with granola and the chocolate croissant are definitely a must try. Not to mention the strawberry jam croissant! If you want something more serious to eat, just order a hamburger.
Their burger is dressed differently from what you get in the United States. You can choose from Spanish burger with chorizo sausage, BBQ burger with pulled pork, big burger with cheese, bacon and special sauce and many others. They are excellent, not too huge and in the 7-8 euro range. Recommended.
1. Ivy & Bros
- Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 96A, 1012 GH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Telephone: +31 6 11924244
- Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 11:30 PM
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/ivyandbros
Ivy & Bros is a cozy little Amsterdam café in the buzz of the big city. The interior is so open and light with unusual household accessories from around the world (that you can even buy) and the beautiful furniture. When you enter, you will immediately smell the freshly baked goods, which is so amazing, foods are simple but made up of all sorts of high-quality ingredients. The music is lovely.
The music is lovely. The place is run by women, it is so good just to grab a cup of coffee or try some fresh cake on a cloudy day and sit outside to enjoy the good weather. The only disadvantage is the price that is a little bit high and the service can be slow, so if you are in a hurry just go to the counter and order. But the quality will definitely compensate you.
Try their coffees: all delicious and of high quality! Espresso is so full of flavors, the macchiato is also fine. Other drinks are also great, just as their smoothie (you can get the smoothie of the day, which is usually a mix of berry, banana etc.. and is delicious). A wide range of tasty
A wide range of tasty sandwiches is available, the smoked salmon sandwich with avocado and cream cheese is definitely one of the best among them. Omelet with mushrooms and bacon are fine too. We highly recommend this Amsterdam coffee house.
Summary:
Dutch have loved coffee for centuries and their contemporary coffee scene is very progressive in Europe. The cool city of Amsterdam offers you a lot of coffee opportunities, but be careful, because „coffee shops” are not cafés in the traditional sense.
They sell marijuana, that is to say, ganja. But there are some coffee houses that are brewing quality coffee and are the places for coffee culture. We hope that this article helped you in creating a real image about the exciting city of Amsterdam.