DO YOU KNOW THESE COCKTAIL BARS IN AMSTERDAM ALREADY? TIPPED BY MR. COCKTAIL!
Until March 12 it’s Amsterdam Cocktail Week and you can try the best cocktails in more than 50 hotel bars, restaurants, and cocktail bars. An initiative from Albert van Beeck Calkoen, aka Mr. Cocktail, and that’s why we thought it was about time to find out what he thought were the most surprising cocktailbars in Amsterdam. Handy if you, just like us, always end up going the good old HPS and Vesper, but want something else for a change!
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5 x SURPRISING COCKTAILS BARS IN AMSTERDAM
The restaurantbar – Salmuera
On the Rozengracht you’ll find Salmuera, where South American cuisine is celebrated in a really authentic way: Peruvian ceviche, Argentinian open-fire roasted pig, and a special Mexican empanada menu. It goes perfectly with their extensive mezcal collection, the smokey, rebellious brother of tequila. Here they play around with flavors and make cocktails with delicious South American “attitude”, but served in a typical old Amsterdam establishment.
Signature cocktail during the ACW – Pepino Salade, a cocktail with Nuestra Soledad Mezcal.
The neighborhoodbar – Razmataz
“One of the first bars that’s a bit out of the center that seriously started to make cocktails was Razmataz. They were the first in Amsterdam to have a gin menu with more than 50 kinds of gins, which each have their own tonic, and that’s how they were at the forefront of the G&T revival. Throughout the city there are lots of new, cool bars, with especially out of the center there’s a huge upgrade from the brown cafe.
Signature cocktail during the ACW – the Ne-Gro-Ni-What?! – a unique twist with Carpano Antica Formula.
The speakeasy – Porem
“The return of the speakeasy bar (secret bar) has worldwide added to the current Cocktail Craze. Think of PDT and Mil & Honey in New York, or Nightjar and 69 Colebrook Row in London. In The Netherlands it was Door 74, also a speakeasy bar, that discovered the revolution. No other bars really opened their doors then, until two years ago when Porem opened, which was then still hidden behind the emergency exit of Japanese restaurant Geisha. Now the entrance is more visible, but you still need to look for it a bit. The work Porem is typical Amsteerdam, so their cocktail menu is based on a few prominent Amsterdammers.”
Signature cocktail during the ACW – Rum Old Fashioned – with the Venezuelan rum, Diplomático.
The hotelbar >> The Tailor
“During the prohibition in America the hotelbars in London, Paris, and Santiago de Cuba really thrived. Rich Americans travelled to these cities to be able to party there, in which the hotelbar because the central point of the cocktail world. In the following years this started to fade, and the hotelbar was covered in a layer of dust. Thankfully that layer is gone now and we’ve seen some great hotelbars pop up in Amsterdam these past 4 years. Last year The Tailer in the Krasnapolsky opened as a completely new bar: a new team, a great menu with delicious bar bites. The theme of the bar is the old craft from the owner of the hotel, who used to be a tailor in Amsterdam.”
Signature cocktail during the ACW – Whattup Punk?! – with Amsterdam IPA beer and Abuelo Rum
Thee newest bar >> De Bajes
“A real street art bar on the Rembrandtplein, that’s something that founder Sven Toering had dreamed of for a long time. Before that he worked in Feijoa en was the man behind the pop-up bar Swych, and he also has a cool bar in Groningen. And now, there’s Bajes, Restaurant and hotspot. The long bar is painted by some of the most famous street art artists at the moment: The London Police, D*Face, and Laser 3.14. The concept is really complete: food, drinks (15 gins and of course cocktails), dancing and art!”
Signature cocktail during the ACW – Rubus Genus, with Damrak Gin, soda, citrus and berries.
Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>
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