BEST COCKTAIL BARS AMSTERDAM

Bar TwentySeven sits on Dam Square's third floor, offering panoramic views of Amsterdam's Royal Palace and city center landmarks from an elegant, art-filled setting. Established in 2018, this hidden gem emphasizes Fine Drinking with bartenders creating sensory experiences through innovative flavor combinations never tasted before. The extensive cocktail menu features over 50 unique creations spanning light to strong profiles, complemented by exclusive whiskeys and wines. The international team delivers personal attention in a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere where the bar's philosophy centers on making the impossible possible through craft cocktails and impeccable hospitality.

Kevin Bacon Bar is hidden inside Hotel Not Hotel in Amsterdam's De Baarsjes neighborhood and specializes in cocktails infused with Thai botanical elements. The bar features creative signature drinks and classic cocktails incorporating unique ingredients like kaffir lime, ginger-infused alcohol, and chili flakes, complementing dinner offerings from the adjacent Thai kitchen and creating a fusion of tropical and aromatic flavors.

Bar The Tailor is a sophisticated cocktail establishment within Amsterdam's Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, creatively blending the craft of tailoring with mixology. The intimate venue features bespoke design where tailoring themes permeate the space—from cocktail names inspired by fabrics like cotton and velvet to ribbon-made light fixtures and artfully stitched carpeting. The tailor-made cocktail menu, developed in collaboration with Dutch distillery Wynand Fockink, features homemade infusions, liqueurs, and signature elements like tobacco bitters. Live jazz performances twice monthly on Sundays, a heated year-round terrace, and premium cigar-cocktail pairings complete the refined experience.

Bar The Tailor occupies the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam's city center, voted the best classic hotel bar in Amsterdam in 2025. The establishment honors founder A.W. Krasnapolsky's tailoring trade through "tailor-made cocktails" served in an interior rich with tailoring accents, including fabric references and ribbon-made lighting. Developed collaboratively with Dutch distiller Wynand Fockink, the cocktails feature homemade infusions and specialized ingredients, complemented by live jazz performances and a heated terrace.

Freddy's Bar at Hotel De L'Europe is a gentleman's pub named after Alfred "Freddy" Heineken, the brewery heir who frequented the establishment, blending historic charm with contemporary hospitality. The bar celebrates Freddy's multifaceted legacy as a gathering place where locals and visitors socialize, connect, and enjoy live jazz performances. Open daily with accessible hours, Freddy's serves premium Heineken beer and classic cocktails in an atmosphere reflecting Amsterdam's golden-era refinement, welcoming walk-ins and offering tailored catering for private events.

Bar TwentySeven, located on Amsterdam's Dam Square in Hotel TwentySeven, introduces the concept of "Fine Drinking" inspired by fine dining principles, where sophisticated cocktail creation pairs with elegant design and impeccable service. Positioned on the third floor, the bar features signature cocktails designed to "amaze, surprise and astonish" with unprecedented flavor combinations, complemented by curated selections of exclusive whiskeys, wines, and champagne. The refined yet approachable atmosphere combines breathtaking design, international aesthetics, and panoramic views of Amsterdam's city center.

Sins of Sal is a playful Latin-inspired cocktail bar in Amsterdam's Westerstraat neighborhood specializing in creative twists on classic cocktails and natural wines. The venue serves signature drinks including sinful versions of classics alongside palomas and margaritas, paired with house-made sangrias and Latin-inspired shareable plates. With an irreverent aesthetic centered around indulgence and rule-breaking, Sins of Sal creates a social atmosphere designed for those wanting to give in to creative cocktails and Latin-American flavors.

LuminAir Amsterdam is an elevated sky bar on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station, awarded Best Hotel Bar 2025. The venue creates an ever-changing visual experience through cloud-shaped installations and luminous projections reflecting the mood of the sky above. Featuring a curated cocktail program called the Menu of Colors inspired by light refraction and developed with Dutch artist Lynn Spoor, LuminAir offers DJ sets, themed events like Oysters & Champagne, and VIP table experiences in a space designed to see and be seen.

Bluespoon is an innovative restaurant and cocktail bar located in Amsterdam's Jordaan district, housed in the Andaz hotel and led by head bartender Martin Eisma. Every cocktail on the menu is a house creation using local ingredients within a no-waste framework, transforming typically discarded kitchen items into spectacular signature drinks. The bar received a nomination for Best Cocktail Bar in the 2018 Dutch Food Bloggers Awards. Signature offerings include Mrs. Bluespoon Blossom in the Snow, symbolizing spring's emergence. The venue pairs its handcrafted cocktails with European cuisine featuring sustainable practices and locally sourced ingredients throughout.

Café Panache is a creative grill and cocktail bar in Amsterdam's Ten Katemarkt district, designed to evoke New York's Meatpacking District aesthetic with abundant wood, colored tiles, bird cage lampshades, and vegetable boxes adorning the walls. Located in Amsterdam West at Ten Katestraat 117, the venue serves international dishes cooked over a central charcoal-fired grill using locally sourced products. A simple three-course market menu is available daily for thirty euros. The warm, market-inspired interior combined with seasonal cocktails and approachable pricing creates a homely yet sophisticated drinking and dining destination.

De Tulp is a vibrant bar and restaurant located at Marie Heinekenplein 33 in Amsterdam's De Pijp neighborhood, decorated as an urban jungle with tropical aesthetics and an eclectic vibe. The venue offers an extensive cocktail menu featuring fresh coconut and ginger beer creations, with drinks priced between €8 and €10, alongside unusual and strong original cocktails with Eastern influences including sake options. De Tulp celebrates a fusion of international and European cuisines in a cozy atmosphere. The venue hosts a Salsa evening every Tuesday called 'de Tulp goes Latin,' adding an interactive entertainment element to its cocktail-focused programming.

Door 74 is a hidden speakeasy in Amsterdam's historic center, specializing in refined seasonal cocktails designed to intrigue and satisfy every palate. Operating for over 15 years, this intimate venue maintains a seat-only reservation policy to ensure guests can relax in comfort with personalized, laid-back service. Every cocktail on the menu comes with a story and accompanying artwork, and the bar offers expert mixology workshops for groups and corporate events.

Flying Dutchmen Cocktails operates from Amsterdam's historic Odeon building, a 1662 Dutch national monument featuring protected ceiling paintings. Renowned for housing the largest backbar in the Netherlands with over 900 unique spirits, this educational-focused bar emphasizes mastering classic mixology before exploring modern innovations. Operating daily from 5 PM to 4 AM, it offers consumer workshops, professional training programs, and has earned Esquire's Best Cocktailbar award and Top 10 European recognition.

Louie Louie is a bar and eatery on Linnaeusstraat in Amsterdam combining casual café vibes with vibrant nightlife energy. The retro-modern venue transforms on weekends with DJs performing on Fridays and Saturdays, turning dining into dancing. The kitchen fuses South American flair with eastern flavours, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner alongside cocktails, wine, and snacks in a relaxed, chill ambiance.

NJOY is Amsterdam's original cocktail bar, operating since 2004 as a premium establishment specializing in crafted cocktails with artistic mixology. Award-winning bartenders who are two-time winners of the World Class Competition Netherlands create signature drinks and seasonal offerings, with a diverse menu featuring classic cocktails, craft creations, champagne cocktails, non-alcoholic options, and bar bites. The venue emphasizes quality and passion with masterclass training available at apprentice and advanced levels.

Pulitzer's Bar is a sophisticated cocktail lounge within the iconic Pulitzer Amsterdam hotel, nestled on the city's picturesque Keizersgracht canal. The venue combines Art Deco elegance with contemporary design, featuring an impressive cocktail bar and intimate seating around a warming fireplace. Drawing on partnership with fragrance house DS & Durga, the bar crafts specialized cocktails that blend mixology with aromatic elements, using botanical distillates and rare spices. Canal-view vistas complement the refined, shelter-like atmosphere ideal for those seeking an escape embodying "the glamour of long-lost times." Table reservations are recommended.

Rosalias Menagerie is a distinctive cocktail bar and boutique inn established in 2017 along Amsterdam's historic canals, drawing inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age tradition of trade and distilling. The intimate principal-floor bar specializes in bespoke cocktails and locally-made spirits, complemented by carefully curated international rare products. Its concept echoes 17th-century Dutch menageries where "the exotic and unknown meets the local," creating a welcoming space for sophisticated drinkers. Hidden behind a speakeasy-style secret door, the venue also operates six personalized hotel rooms, merging the identities of a refined drinking destination and distinctive lodging option in one of Amsterdam's most charming neighborhoods.

Super Lyan is a casual yet accomplished cocktail bar occupying a historic 17th-century Dutch building in central Amsterdam, recognized as the number-one bar in the Netherlands and listed among Europe's 50 Best Bars. As the first international venue from Mr Lyan, it offers curated seasonal menus organized thematically—such as the "Boroughs of Amsterdam" collection—alongside craft beers from Dutch breweries and European wines. The warm, welcoming service pairs with creative bar bites available until 10 PM, from deviled eggs to fish tacos. Walk-in service operates Wednesday through Sunday from 5 PM to midnight, with private spaces and full-venue hire accommodating groups up to 120 guests.

Rosalia's Menagerie on Amsterdam's historic canals is a sophisticated cocktail bar and boutique inn established in 2017, drawing inspiration from Dutch heritage and centuries of trade and distilling traditions. The principal floor houses the bar, serving bespoke cocktails alongside unique locally-made spirits and extraordinary products from abroad. Behind a secret speakeasy door lies Rosalia's Inn Upstairs, offering six personally styled boutique hotel rooms, creating a complete destination where craft drinks and immersive cultural hospitality converge.

Bar Oldenhof is a secretive, high-end cocktail bar hidden in Amsterdam's trendy Jordaan neighborhood, identifiable by thick velvet curtains and no signage. The warmly elegant interior features dark-wood paneling, plush armchairs, and soft lighting that evokes the roaring twenties while delivering contemporary precision. Expert bartenders craft elevated takes on classics like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan, alongside seasonal and film-themed signature cocktails, creating an atmosphere of quiet sophistication for those seeking authentic, old-fashioned refinement.

Twenty Third Bar sits atop the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, offering panoramic views of the city skyline alongside an elegant, sophisticated atmosphere. The bar specializes in expertly crafted cocktails created by bar manager Markus Vennemann, plus an extensive champagne selection featuring both classic and signature drinks. Guests can pair beverages with gourmet appetizers prepared by Michelin-starred chefs from the hotel's Ciel Bleu restaurant. With a smart casual dress code and hours typically from 5 PM to midnight, it serves as a refined escape where visitors experience Amsterdam from above.

Dutch Courage Cocktail Bar at Zeedijk 12 in Amsterdam celebrates genever—a traditional Dutch spirit—featuring 150 different genevers and a wide variety of genever-based cocktails. The venue houses the world's first cooled kopstootjes-automatiek vending machine, alongside classic Dutch bitterballs with homemade mustard and pickles. Operating daily from 5 PM with extended weekend hours, it blends historical tradition with modern mixology by highly trained bartenders in a gezellig (cozy, convivial) Dutch atmosphere.