Café’s Centrum Amsterdam – Bruin

   

De Admiraal Brown
Herengracht 319 (625 43 34).
A ‘proeflokaal’ (tasting house) where you can sample the liquors of Van Wees, the last of Amsterdam’s independent distilleries. Museum-like interior with lots of brewery utensils. Not exactly true to tasting house style, De Admiraal stays open until late in the evening, and if you stay that long you will be pleased to know there are comfortable sofas and armchairs. Wonderful outdoor patio.
Open 4.30pm-11pm, closed Mon.

East Of Eden
Linnaeusstraat 11 (665 07 423).
True to its name, East of Eden has a distinct tropical flavor to it: yellowish walls, cane furniture, painted elephants behind the bar, and lots of light through the high windows. It has a large terrace with a good view of the nearby Royal Tropical Institute. East of Eden attracts a mixed crowd of locals and, during the day, visitors of the Tropenmuseum.
Open 11am-1am (2am weekends).

Eik En Linde
Plantage Middenlaan 22 (622 57 16).
Archetypical Dutch ‘brown’ bar, a favorite among locals. The history of Eik en Linde goes back as far as 1858, and the walls are plastered with historical drawings and photographs. Nowadays sometimes radio broadcasts are held in the upstairs room. Beware of the clock behind the bar which runs backwards, although truly confusing this still might be considered a lame excuse.
Open 11am-1am (2am Fri-Sat, Sun 1pm-2am)

Hoppe
Spui 18-20 (420 44 20).
A famous Amsterdam institution, Hoppe consists of two adjoining properties. The part on the right has been a bar since 1670, the interior reflecting its rich history. The sand on the floor is refreshed daily, no music is played and there is standing room only. The left part is bigger and offers seating as well as music. Hoppe is a very popular bar with the crowd spilling out onto the sidewalk on summer days. During happy hour it fills up with expensive suits on the way home from the office.
Open 8am-1am (2am weekends).

Int Aepjen
Zeedijk 1 (626 84 01).
One of the oldest bars in Amsterdam housed in the only remaining 15th-century home, heavily decorated with old toys and advertising materials. The name means ‘In the Monkey’, which refers to the time this was a sailors lodging house. When someone couldn’t pay his bill he supposedly brought back a monkey from their next trip. No music, but a accordionist during weekends to guide the regulars during their sing-a-longs.
Open 3pm-1am.

‘t Loosje
Nieuwmarkt 32-34 (627 26 35).
Very old, brown bar with a lot of character on the edge of the Red Light district. The interior features beautiful tile tableaux dating from the beginning of this century. Attracts a mixed public during daytime, but caters mainly to students during the evening. Outside terrace with a good view of the Nieuwmarkt.
Open daily 9.30am-1am (2am weekends).

Nol
Westerstraat 109 (624 53 80).
Very popular bar in true over-the-top Jordaan style: red lights, crystal chandeliers, floral wallpaper and of course loud Dutch evergreens, which the crowd sings along to at the top of their voices. Always full, especially during weekends. Popular with locals and boisterous students alike.
Open 9am-3am (4am weekends).

Reijnders
Leidseplein 6 (623 44 19).
One of the best bets in the touristic Leidseplein area is this authentic brown bar. It used to be the literary centre of the Leidseplein, together with the neighbouring cafe Eylders. Elegant, high-ceilinged interior and waiters clad in traditional black-and-white. The glassed-in front opens during the summer to create a sunny outside terrace.
Open daily 8.30am-1am (2am weekends).

Thijssen
Brouwersgracht 107 (623 89 94).
Large bar in the Jordaan, catering to young locals. Though of more recent date then the neighboring bars, it already has managed to acquire a nice ‘brown’ patina. The large windows provide a nice view of one of the most beautiful parts of the Jordaan. Gets crowded during evenings.
Open 9.30am-1am (3am weekends).

De Tuin
2e Tuindwarsstraat 13
(624 45 59).
Popular Jordaan bar frequented by young locals. Pretty much your basic brown bar, but with a friendly and laid-back atmosphere, in a nice mellow part of the Jordaan.
Open 10am-1am (2am weekends).

Twee Prinsen
Prinsenstraat 27 (624 97 22).
Brown Jordaan bar with a friendly and lively atmosphere. A light interior with large windows and a beautiful mosaic floor. Twee Prinsen is famous for its heated outside terrace, which is perfect for colder nights.
Open 10am-1am (3am weekends).

De Twee Zwaantjes
Prinsengracht 114 (625 27 29).
De Twee Zwaantjes (The Two Swans) is one of the better known Jordaan bars. Caters mainly to a local public on weekdays, but during the weekend an enthusiastic crowd sings along to old songs from the Jordaan and an occasional opera piece. The bar has a canalside terrace.
Open 3pm-1am (3am weekends), closed Wed.

Wijnand Fockink
Pijlsteeg 37 (639 26 95).
Tasting house formerly belonging to the distillery of Wijnand Fokkink, founded in 1679. Closed in 1990 but was reopened in 1993 by a Dutch entrepreneur who distills his own liquors in the Pijlsteeg. Most of the interior remains in its original state, and true to form the ‘proeflokaal’ has no chairs or tables and no music is played.
Open 3pm-9pm.
http://www.wynand-fockink.nl/

De Gieter
Leidseplein buurt