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The Best Bars in Amsterdam

Amsterdam hosted the first edition of Europe's 50 Best Bars in June 2026, and its scene runs deeper than that list suggests. The best bars in Amsterdam sit mostly in the old center, from Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal to Spui, with one more in Oost. Super Lyan, Ryan Chetiyawardana's 1950s-style futuristic diner in a 17th-century house, was the city's only entry, at No. 42 and The Best Bar in the Netherlands. Its Boroughs of Amsterdam menu turns the city's neighborhoods into drinks. Fitz's Bar, in the Pillows Hotel on the edge of the Oosterpark, was named Cocktail Bar of the Year 2026 by Gault&Millau, and on its Aromas of the World menu guests smell edible perfumes before they choose. Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, run by Tess Posthumus, Rosa Moolenaar and Alina Lucia, was No. 93 on The World's 50 Best Bars 51-100 list in 2021. Tales & Spirits was No. 18 on The World's 50 Best Bars in 2016, and Law & Order covers its walls in graffiti. Super Lyan takes no reservations: walk in. These are the bars we would start with.

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  1. Super Lyan
    EUROPE'S 50 BESTCocktail Bar

    Super Lyan

    Super Lyan opened in spring 2019 as the first international venue from Ryan Chetiyawardana, known as Mr Lyan, whose team also runs Lyaness and Seed Library. It fills a round, neon-lit corner of a 17th-century house at the Kimpton De Witt on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, styled as a 1950s futuristic diner in turquoise leather and chrome. Each drink on the Boroughs of Amsterdam list draws on a part of the city, from the 020 Martinez to a Three Sisters Hi-Ball after the Westpoort docks, and the espresso martini uses rye bread kvass instead of coffee. It is No. 42 on Europe's 50 Best Bars 2026 and The Best Bar in the Netherlands. It takes no reservations except for groups of more than eight.

    Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 3, 1012 RC Amsterdam
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  2. Tales & Spirits
    50 BESTCocktail Bar

    Tales & Spirits

    A multi-level cocktail bar and restaurant in a historic building in central Amsterdam, furnished with antiques and known for a humorous, extensive cocktail menu alongside food served late into the evening. It has been recognized repeatedly on the World's 50 Best Bars lists.

    Lijnbaanssteeg 5-7, 1012 TE Amsterdam
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  3. Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
    50 BESTCocktail Bar

    Flying Dutchmen Cocktails

    An acclaimed cocktail bar on the Singel owned by Tess Posthumus, Rosa Moolenaar and Alina Lucia, holding the largest back bar in the Netherlands with over 900 unique spirits. It focuses on classic and neo-classic cocktails, runs educational workshops and a guest-bartender program, and stays open until 4am seven nights a week.

    Singel 460, AmsterdamDaily 17:00–04:00
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  4. Door 74
    50 BESTSpeakeasy

    Door 74

    A hidden speakeasy on Reguliersdwarsstraat and one of the Netherlands' oldest and most prolific cocktail bars, with over 15 years of history. Known for theme-based rotating menus, innovative cocktails and personalized service, with seat-only reservations and a 21+ policy.

    Reguliersdwarsstraat 74, 1017 BN AmsterdamSun–Thu 20:00–03:00, Fri–Sat 18:00–04:00
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  5. Fitz's Bar
    Cocktail Bar

    Fitz's Bar

    Fitz's Bar opened in 2022 in a Pillows hotel by the Oosterpark in Amsterdam-Oost, and takes its cue from F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Roaring Twenties, with dark wood and warm tones. Gault&Millau named it Cocktail Bar of the Year 2026. Bar manager Nick Vrielink, who won gold in the Pre-Dinner category at the 2023 World Championship, built the signature Essence No. 5 around Chanel No. 5. On the Aromas of the World menu guests smell an edible perfume before they pick a drink; its destinations change every six months and now run through England, Turkey, Mexico and Japan. It is walk-in, with bookings on Friday to Sunday for up to eight.

    Mauritskade 61, 1092 AD Amsterdam
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