Cocktail bars in Amsterdam: our 4 hotspots

As true Amsterdam and cocktail lovers, we know where you can sip the best cocktails in the city and present you with our top 4 cocktail bars in Amsterdam.

Whether shaken or stirred – a cocktail is simply part of the crowning glory of a successful day in Amsterdam. Want more than just a sweet drink with colourful umbrellas and cheeky fruit? Then you’ve come to the right place in Amsterdam, because the Amsterdam bartenders focus on “class instead of quantity”. That’s why there’s no classic happy hour as we know it from home, but the cocktails here are worth every cent.
Cheers, lovelies!

Cocktail bars in the centre of Amsterdam

Directly on Dam square: The Tailor

Who run the world? Girls! We are not surprised that the “Best Female Bartender Worldwide 2015”, Tess Posthumus, mixes fabulous cocktails behind the bar at The Tailor.
The Tailor is located right on Dam Square in the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Not only is the location exquisite, but so are the cocktails. Every cocktail here is traditionally customised. This goes back to the history of the bar, which was originally opened as a café in 1866 by the tailor Krasnapolsky. Clearly there’s no question that this classic bar is one of the five best cocktail bars in Amsterdam.
Be inspired by the modern surroundings and enjoy your fabulous cocktails in the centre of the city. A “Tailor Martini” is the perfect way to round off your red light tour.

The Tailor
Dam 9
Mon – Sun: 17.00 – 01.00 hrs

In the city centre: The Flying Dutchmen Cocktails

1st class cocktails in sight! Welcome aboard the Flying Dutchman Bar, where the bartenders will take you on a journey into the golden age of cocktails.
The bar staff know how to mix up classic cocktails: with more than 800 spirits, they have access to the largest “back bar” in the Netherlands. The incredibly tasty house cocktail in particular knocks us off our feet. If you fancy going on a voyage of discovery yourself, you can simply use the in-house cocktail compass to find the perfect cocktail.

The atmosphere here is relaxed and this cocktail bar is a great place to wind down and enjoy a drink. If you want to plunge into Amsterdam’s nightlife after your evening drink, the Flying Dutchmen is the place to be, because in addition to the cocktail bar, you can also dance the night away in the adjoining club.

Flying Dutchman Cocktails
Singel 460
Mon – Sun: 17 .00 – 04.00 hrs

The best cocktail bars in the trendy neighbourhoods of Jordaan and de Pijp

Cocktail bar on the edge of the Jordaan: Vesper Bar

Vesper is a modest little bar where cocktail culture is written in capital letters. In true James Bond style, you can enjoy cocktails on a grand scale here, because it’s not for nothing that the place is named after 007’s original favourite cocktail, the “Vesper Martini”.
There is a great range of exciting cocktails on offer here. Your evening is guaranteed to be one to remember. The house cocktails also change according to the changing seasons.
The Vesper Bar is cosy and without a lot of frills, so you can sip a cocktail (or two or three) in a “cosy” atmosphere. Vesper Bar is located in Haarlemmerbuurt, on the northern edge of the beautiful Jordaan neighbourhood.

Vesper Bar
Vinkenstraat 57
Tue – Thu: 18 :00 – 01:00
Fri – Sat: 17 :00 – 03:00

Cocktail bar in the heart of de Pijp: Calle Ocho

A little piece of Cuba in the middle of Amsterdam’s trendy neighbourhood. First things first: this place serves the best frozen margarita in town!
At Calle Ocho cocktail bar right next to Albert Cuypmarkt, you can enjoy fruity cocktails paired with street food from Miami. The guys behind the bar are happy to shake your cocktails and are always up for a nice chat. It’s not just the cocktails that are colourful here, but also the clientele. Calle Ocho even scores points for price: The cocktails are reasonably priced by Amsterdam standards and taste great. At Calle Ocho you can get cocktails from just €7.50.

Calle Ocho
Albert Cuypstraat 226I
Sun – Thu: 18 .00 – 03.00 hrs
Fri – Sat: 18.00 – 04.00 hrs

Have these best cocktail bars in Amsterdam whetted your appetite? We hope you enjoy drinking cocktails and that our cocktail bar tips give you a “happy hour” in the truest sense of the word.

Love, your Incredible Amsterdam team ❤️