bars - magnushouse

Bars

Straight bars

Two of the best bars are Lux and Weber in the Marnixstraat, around the corner from Leidseplein. Easy-listening and lounge-feeling. Another favorite, however a bit more stiff/quite is the winebar Bubbles & Wine in the Nes. The same goes for the other good wine bars in town, Vyne.

A popular bar in only a few streets away is Chocolate bar but avoid this bar on a Friday or Saturday night - too busy. For some really nice interior have a cocktail at the College Hotel, also just minutes away from my house.

If this is too posh for your taste, take a beer at Gambrinus just outside my door. A popular hang out for students and locals with a nice terras and simple but ok food.

A must when in Amsterdam is to visit one of the many 'brown cafés', genuine Amsterdam cafés. In the outskirts of the Red Light there are some of the nicest and oldest. In de Olofspoort is one of three old bruincafés in the oldest part of Amsterdam, serving a wide range of jenevers and liqueurs.The other two are In 't aapje en de Ooievaar. I really think it is a must to have an afternoon coffee in one of these places adding a glass of 'heaven on earth' or 'parrot's food' with it.

If you are into beer, there are many places in Amsterdam serving all beers you've ever heard of and some that will be new to you. My recommendation is to go to the windmill in the East. This is a small brewery, Brouwerij 't Ij, making some really delicious beers. Their bar might look shitty but have some of their Belgium Trappist cheese with and a beer. Mind the opening times - they close at 20.00.

Gay bars:

There are three areas in town catering for three tastes. In de Halfmansteeg by Rembrantplein are the sing along bars, schlager. Jolly, tacky and friendly. The most famous is Café Montmartre and probably this is the most funny, in both meanings of the word. Then there are a string of other bars with the same kind of audience. The oldest of these bars used to be Amstel Taveerne - now called Amstel 54.

A few hundred meters away is Reguliersdwarsstraat. This is the streeet where the 'pretty' boys go. Think any gay bar in any major European city. There are three gay bars in the street. ARC, April and Soho - all with the same owner and the same crowd.

The third district is in and around the Red Light District. In the Warmoestraat the leatherboys go out to play. Eagle, Cockring, Argos are popular leatherbars.

A really nice straight friendly restaurant/bar in the same street is Getto. A bit kitch but homey and friendly. Be aware, Elvis - the white cat, is certainly not a nice cat.

One street further there are a few more bars, mostly for the men that have passed their forties. Engel van Amsterdam and Queen's head are two of them.