Top Bars in Netherlands

Tales and Spirits ★ 4.8 · Amsterdam

Lijnbaanssteeg 5-7, 1012 TE Amsterdam

Tales and Spirits on Lijnbaanssteeg is the Amsterdam cocktail boudoir of the old guard, antique cabinets, chandeliers, drinks served in vintage glassware.

Door 74 ★ 4.7 · Amsterdam

Reguliersdwarsstraat 74I, 1017 BN Amsterdam

Door 74 on Reguliersdwarsstraat is the Amsterdam speakeasy that opened the city's cocktail wave, by reservation only, behind an unmarked door.

Hiding in Plain Sight ★ 4.7 · Amsterdam

Rapenburg 18, 1011 TX Amsterdam

Hiding in Plain Sight on Rapenburg is the Amsterdam American-style cocktail bar, big-windowed despite the speakeasy framing, sharp menu, unfussy room.

Café Hoppe ★ 4.6 · Amsterdam

Spui 18-20, 1012 XA Amsterdam

Café Hoppe on Spui has poured Amsterdam jenever and beer since 1670, the brown cafe with the dark-wood interior and the stand-at-the-bar after-work crowd.

Café 't Smalle ★ 4.6 · Amsterdam

Egelantiersgracht 12, 1015 RL Amsterdam

Café 't Smalle on Egelantiersgracht in the Jordaan is the Amsterdam canal-side brown cafe with the postcard terrace, the building going back.

Kafe Belgie ★ 4.6 · Utrecht

oudegracht · Oudegracht 196, 3511 NX Utrecht

The longest beer list in Utrecht: 200 Belgian bottles and 20 draught lines in a canal-side werfkelder. Open until 04:00 on weekends. A city institution.

Tip: The Trappist shelf behind the bar has 40 bottles; ask the barman to pull one with a glass-rinse ritual.

Café Papeneiland ★ 4.5 · Amsterdam

Prinsengracht 2, 1015 DV Amsterdam

Café Papeneiland on the corner of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht is the Amsterdam brown cafe from 1642, the apple pie inside almost as canonical as Winkel.

Twenty Third Bar ★ 4.5 · Amsterdam

Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH Amsterdam

Twenty Third Bar at Hotel Okura sits next to Ciel Bleu on the top floor, the Amsterdam cocktail bar with the city's most generous view across the city.

Proeflokaal Reijngoud ★ 4.5 · Rotterdam

Centrum · Schiedamse Vest 148, 3011 BP Rotterdam

Rotterdam's finest genever proeflokaal (tasting room), stocking over 100 Dutch and Belgian genevers in a tiled interior that has survived since the late 19th.

Maximus Brewery Taproom ★ 4.5 · Utrecht

leidsche-rijn · Pratumplaats 2, 3454 HZ De Meern Utrecht

Maximus Brewery taproom in Leidsche Rijn on 20 taps. Brutus IPA and seasonal wheat beers are the flagship pours. Brewery tours on Saturday afternoons.

Tip: Saturday afternoon is the best time to visit; brewery tours run at 14:00 before the taproom fills for the evening.

Wynand Fockink ★ 4.4 · Amsterdam

Pijlsteeg 31, 1012 HH Amsterdam

Wynand Fockink on Pijlsteeg has poured Amsterdam jenever since 1679, the proeflokaal where you bend over the tulip glass without lifting it from the bar.

De Witte Aap ★ 4.4 · Rotterdam

Witte de Withstraat · Witte de Withstraat 78, 3012 BS Rotterdam

The anchor of Rotterdam's most famous bar street since 1973, well-regarded for craft Dutch beers, late-night energy, and free live music every weekend.

Ledig Erf ★ 4.4 · Utrecht

centrum · Tolsteegplein 3, 3511 SK Utrecht

Utrecht favourite waterside terrace, packed April to October. Tables line the Tolsteegplein quay. Dutch bar food and draught beer; no reservations.

Tip: Arrive before 17:00 on warm days or you will be standing. The quay terrace has the best canal view in the city.

vandeStreek Oudegracht ★ 4.4 · Utrecht

oudegracht · Oudegracht 50, 3511 AR Utrecht

vandeStreek Brewery taproom on two floors with a werfkelder and canal terrace. Twenty taps of Utrecht-brewed ales, IPAs and session beers on tap.

Tip: The Playground IPA and the seasonal sour rotate most often; ask what just came in from the Nieuwegein brewery.

Bar Barak ★ 4.4 · Utrecht

overvecht · Gansstraat 164, 3582 EK Utrecht

Open-fire bar in a former forensic centre on Gansstraat. Wild and craft beers on tap, natural wines by the glass and food from the in-house Lavett bakery.

Tip: The wild-fermented tap list changes weekly; the barman will let you taste before you commit to a pint.

Oproer Taproom ★ 4.4 · Utrecht

overvecht · Beyaertdreef 2, 3562 WA Utrecht

Oproer plant-based taproom in Overvecht, inside a converted industrial building. All beers brewed on-site; food menu entirely vegan from the open kitchen.

Tip: The seasonal sour ales and their experimental series are only available at the taproom; worth the trip north.

Bar Bet ★ 4.4 · Utrecht

oudegracht · Wed 1, 3512 JH Utrecht

Gault-Millau recognised bar-restaurant on the Wed square under the Dom. A 250-bottle list, 30 wines by the glass and a seasonal kitchen. Open terrace.

Tip: The bar opens at 16:00; arrive then to claim a canal terrace seat before the kitchen opens at 17:00.

Rosalia's Menagerie ★ 4.3 · Amsterdam

Kloveniersburgwal 20, 1012 CV Amsterdam

Rosalia's Menagerie on Kloveniersburgwal is the Amsterdam cocktail bar set in a 17th-century canal house, an intimate room with animal-themed drinks.

De Drie Fleschjes ★ 4.3 · Amsterdam

Gravenstraat 18, 1012 NM Amsterdam

De Drie Fleschjes behind Nieuwe Kerk has poured jenever since 1650, the Amsterdam tasting room with 50 wooden vats and the only working drankorgel still.

Spikizi Bar ★ 4.3 · Rotterdam

Katendrecht · Zwarte Paardenstraat 91a, 3081 TA Rotterdam

Hidden in Katendrecht's former sailors' quarter, Spikizi blends West African flavour profiles into its cocktail programme, pairing dark rum and mezcal.

Kaapse Maria ★ 4.3 · Rotterdam

Katendrecht · Veerlaan 19b, 3072 AN Rotterdam

The Kaapse Brouwers taproom inside the Fenix Food Factory serves the full Kaapse range fresh from the tanks with Maas harbour views and a food-factory.

Rotown ★ 4.3 · Rotterdam

Witte de Withstraat · Nieuwe Binnenweg 19, 3001 Rotterdam

Rotterdam's most beloved music bar and indie venue, Rotown has launched local bands and hosted cult acts since 1993, with a bar open until 4 AM on weekend.

WT Urban Bar ★ 4.3 · Utrecht

rotsoord · Heuveloord 25A, 3523 CK Utrecht

Bar at the top of the Heuveloord water tower with a panoramic rooftop view over the whole city. Cocktails, wine and craft beer; no reservation needed.

Tip: Sunset on a clear evening from the upper deck is one of the best views in Utrecht.

In 't Aepjen ★ 4.2 · Amsterdam

Zeedijk 1, 1012 AN Amsterdam

In 't Aepjen on Zeedijk occupies an Amsterdam building dating to 1475, one of two surviving wooden facades, the brown cafe with the longest backstory.

Café de Reiger ★ 4.2 · Amsterdam

Nieuwe Leliestraat 34, 1015 ST Amsterdam

Café de Reiger on Nieuwe Leliestraat in the Jordaan is the Amsterdam eetcafe with the back-room kitchen, brown-cafe service out front, no-frills dinners.

Mavis ★ 4.2 · Rotterdam

Centrum · Westzeedijk 68a, 3016 AH Rotterdam

Perched above the Maas on the Westzeedijk, Mavis pairs creative seasonal cocktails with one of the best sunset-over-the-river terraces in the city.

La Soiree ★ 4.2 · Rotterdam

Centrum · Veerhaven 12, 3016 CH Rotterdam

A bistro-style bar on the Veerhaven sailing harbour, La Soiree pairs oysters and charcuterie with natural wines and classic cocktails on one.

Bokaal Rotterdam ★ 4.2 · Rotterdam

Centrum · Kruiskade 22, 3012 EH Rotterdam

A minimalist tap-and-wine bar on Kruiskade with 25 craft lines and a selected short wine list. Craft beer and wine bar. Reservations advised.

Belgisch Biercafe Olivier ★ 4.2 · Utrecht

mariaplaats · Achter Clarenburg 6A, 3511 JJ Utrecht

Former hidden Catholic church from 1860 with original vaulted ceilings and pipe organ. Belgian beer list and food in the most warm-lit bar room in Utrecht.

Tip: Sit in the original nave under the vaulted ceiling; it is one of the most striking bar spaces in the Netherlands.