Me and my friends love having a beer in Oorlam. The offical name is ‘De Doelen’ but nobody calls it that way. It says Oorlam on a sign above the door, so Oorlam it is. It is a pub located in the center of Amsterdam, on the Kloveniersburgwal 125. You might pass it on your way from the Rembrandplein towards the red light district.

What is so special about Amsterdam pub De Doelen?

Eh nothing really…. I mean, I love Oorlam because it just feels right. The atmosphere is nice, it is relaxed, a pub like a pub should be. An Amsterdam bar with a nice mixture of young and old people, locals as well as some tourists.

Nice to know about Amsterdam cafe De Doelen

The Dutch movie, ´Alles is Liefde´ has partly been recorded here (a romcom, Love Actually alike). In this pub a regular beer is served in a glass wthey call an ´oortje´. But you can just order a normal beer and you´ll get this glass. If you order half a liter of beer you identified yourself as a tourist. Which is fine by the way. It is a non smoking bar. But you can join the staff having a fagg at the entrance.

The terrace of Oorlam is my #1 favourite terrace.

Location of Cafe De Doelen

Kloveniersburgwal 125, Amsterdam.

2. Festina Lente

Festina Lente is a place I probably shouldn’t even tell you about. It is more a ‘huiskamercafe’, a ‘living room bar'. There’s a couch, it just feels cosy. There are many regular customers there, which (to me) it seems like a lot of them know each other. It is kindof an artist place. A place where poets get together. The food is quite allright and the prices are very reasonable.

What is so special about this Amsterdam pub?

It feeld like a way of living. A place where you just go alone, bring your book or pen and paper and start writing. It feels like a small cultural cosy island. Or maybe it is just my imagination…

Go and find out for yourself. It is quite close to the Leidseplein.

3. Cafe ’t Loosje

Cafe ’t Loosje is a so called ‘bruin cafe’. Which translated means ‘brown bar’. I guess they call it like that because it tends to be quite dark and the walls are not that white any more. You might as well call it a yellow bar then huh but well never mind. Anyway, cafe ’t Loosje is located at the Nieuwmarkt. A square you definitely will like to be at night. There are a lot of good pubs around. And if you need some fresh air you can take a nice walk through the red light district which about starts here. Don’t worry about safety by the way, the square is perfectly safe. Both Young and old people feel at home here.

What is so special about this Amsterdam pub?

It is an excellent way to experience being in a Dutch bruin cafe without being dragged into a tourist spot which has become more of a museum than a place where people actually drink beer and have a good time. It is quite spacious and they have excellent beers on draft. The interiour has got some classic old Amsterdam characteristics.

Location of Cafe 't Loosje

Nieuwmarkt 32, Amsterdam