Amstel Fifty Four

Amstel 54 from 16.00 hours

This is one of the old and trusted establishments in the Amsterdam gay scene: open to public since 1964. It has been restyled in the summer of 2007, to make it more open and light than it used to be. The public is a mix of Dutch gay men (on average somewhat older public), who like to sing a long Dutch popular music. Maybe a little bit noisy, but good fun.

Bar Bump

Kerkstraat 23, from 20.00 hours

Voted best Gay & Lesbian Venue by Time Out readers and we completely agree. Set up by the owners of Prik, it attracks more or less the same crowd - only more of them. It is big and cozy at the same time, with a modern interior without getting too stylish. It brings back gay & lesbian life in the once very gay Kerkstraat. The staff must be the nicest and friendliest in town. We love it!

Bar Sultana

Reguliersdwarsstraat 21 from 19.00 hours

New arrival: an Arab/Turkish gay bar, with Oriental food and waterpipes. We will have to check out this one!

Cafe De Barderij

Zeedijk 14 from 16.00 hours

Brown cafe with mixed clientele, rather middle aged and Amsterdam originals. Loud sing-along-music with Dutch and gay classics. Unique selling point is the little niche - the "tickle room" - in the back, with view on several canals and a sluice. Modest prices.

Cafe Reibach

Brouwersgracht 139

Cafe Rouge

Amstel 60 from 17.00 hours

Spotless interior, dominated by red wallpaper, autographed tidbits and an unnatural big bouquet of roses. We were not impressed by the atmosphere, despite the valiant attempts of the dj to make it a party. Good place if you are with a group of friends and wanna make a fun night by yourself.

Camp Café

Kerkstraat 45 from 15.00 hours

A bar or a restaurant? Difficult to classify. Anyway, a bar where you easily can start your evening out. On late summer afternoons you can start with a drink on the terrace, continue with a dinner (reasonbly cheap, decent quality) and have some after dinner drinks before you go off to other places. Crowd mainly tourists.

Club Stereo

Jonge Roelensteeg 4 From 15.00 hours

Is it a bar or a (mini)club? In any case, there is a small dance floor, there are performances and DJ’s. The crowd is mixed, but mainly gay men.

Cosmo Bar

Kerkstraat 42 from 24.00 hours

Downtown

Reguliersdwarstraat 31 from 10.00 till 20.00 hours

This is your ordinary gay coffeeshop (no pot here!). The coffee is okay and so are the drinkers. The apple pie doesn't meet Grandma's standard and isn't the main point of interest. Maybe you want to focus on the magazines, maybe on the other guests. A nice place to see and be seen.

De Engel van Amsterdam

Zeedijk 21 From 13.00 hours

Small café with small terrace along the Oudezijds Kolk. Nice easy atmosphere with mixed crowd. We like this one!

De Engel Next Door

Zeedijk 23-25 From 13 till 01.00 hours or 03.00 in the weekend.

Recent next door addtion to De Engel van Amsterdam. With occasionaly diners, shows, brunches and always snacks & cocktails.

Entre Nous

Halvemaansteeg 14 from 20.00 hours

Don't come too early, but wait for the crowd late at night. Mostly Dutch sing-a-long music, but don't let that frighten you off. It really is very easy going.

EVE - recentely opened

Reguliersdwarsstraat 44 from 10.00 hours

Formerly known as ARC. Review will follow soon.

Exit Après Chique Café

Reguliersdwarstraat from 23.00 hours

It used to be Exit Café and quite popular. Now it looks like a ski-hut (so far for the chique, even if it is après) and still is popular. We will review this one in depth soon.

Getto

Warmoesstraat 51 from 16.00 hours (Mo closed)

Bar with dj, food, special nights (women, bingo, tarotcards reading). It's trendy and hip for a very mixed crowd.

Habibi Ana

Lange Leidesedwarsstraat 4-6

The first Arabian gay bar in town! Small, but still light and airy interior, with Maroccan details. Not a typical set up for a gay bar: garden benches and small rattan stools, give it almost a lounge feel. On friday and saturday from 22.00 hours and on sunday from 18.00 hours a dj will play popular Arabian dance music. Mixed Arabian and Dutch crowd. A mediterranean pearl in the Amsterdam gay scene.

Havana

Reguliersbreestraat 17-19

It's an on-off story with this bar. Earlier this year it re-opened and we visited it once or twice. The bar looked somewhat cheaply redecorated (the cheaper DYI paint and so on) and the place was lacking a vibe. A few months later it closed down "temporarily" to re-assess it's strategies and look for additional financial backing. So closed for the moment.

Het Wapen van London

Amstel 14 from 16.00 hours (Mo closed)

Friendly staff and friendly prices. Slightly confusing place: the name might suggest a British pub, but it's more a hangout for the Czech colony in Amsterdam.

Hot Spot

Amstel 102 from 20.00 hours

This must be a nice bar, provided you're 18 or so, not really out and you want to go for a drink with your schoolmates. The staff is definitely gay, that's nice, most of the visitors are gay, that's nice too, the music is loud and campy, we like that, but still we can't tell you what's hot in this bar..

Krokodil

Now known as Mon Ami (see futher down).

Lellebel

Utrechtsestraat 4 from 20.00 hours

Small cozy bar with stage annex dance floor, drag queen contests, karaoke, jazz nights and wonderfull authentic art deco lights. Before entering check the Barbi & Ken collection in the window.

‘t Dwarsliggertje

Reguliersdwarsstraat 105 From 17.00 hours

New arrival

Ludwig II - recently opened

Reguliersdwarsstraat 37 from 14.00 hours

For many years this was the home of the famous April bar. New management (from the locally famous Jimmy Woo club), new staff and a dramatic overhaul have resulted in a new bar: Ludwig II. The interior is great, it resonates today’s design and is very welcoming. Ludwig II offers an outside area, a bar to have a drink and an area with a dj. Music could be a bit loud for a chat. Ludwig II is not as sensational as Neuschwanstein and the bar probably not as legendary as the Bavarian king, but that shouldn’t spoil your night out.

 

‘t Mandje

Zeedijk 63 From 17 (during the week) or 14.00 (weekend) hours

Reopened after 25 years this oldest gay/lesbian bar tries to revive the times of its legendary first owner, Bet van Beren. If this will work or not, it is worth visiting as it has been restored to its original interior. 

Mankind

Weteringstraat 60 from 11.00 hours

Mix Café

Amstel 50 from 20.00 hours

Small, sparsely decorated bar (with a distinctive highschool party feel). This is the bar where you can take your straight friends to for a fun night out. Predominantly gay public mixes with the open minded straight people. Loud and energetic music, drinks that make you drunk quickly and energetic, professional people behind the bar will make your night here uncomplicated fun.

Mon Ami

Amstelstraat 34 from 16.00 hours

Formerly known as the Krokodil, this bar know attracts a slightly younger audience and is not the hang out of grey gays any more. In the same unashamedly old fashioned, kitsch interior gay men of Amsterdam gather in a friendly atmosphere. On Sunday afternoons this bar is at its best

Montmartre

Halvemaansteeg 17 from 16.00 hours

Younger version of the Amstel. Styled as a mock French café, this pub is extremely busy on Friday and Saturday nights. The crowd around you will join the mix of Europop/-vision music and try to shout some words to each other. Repeatedly voted the best gay bar in Amsterdam.

Music Box

Paardenstraat 9 from 20.00 hours

The Paardenstraat is the old rent-a-boy street of Amsterdam. In the past closet gay men and employees from surrounding offices would come down to see if they could fullfill their dream in exchange for a 'little' money. The heydays of this business have gone, but the remnants are still there. The street, close to a square where young straight people celebrate their weekend, still has a seedy feel. The Music Box is one of the last surviving bars there. This is the more descreet of those bars.

Prik

Spuistraat 109 From 16.00 hours

Relaxed mixed crowd, thirty-something, alternative crowd, women friendly although mainly gay men. They serve kinky cocktails and sexy snacks and have white and pink bubbles on draught. We really like this bar.

Queen's Head

Zeedijk 20 from 15.00 hours

The Queenshead is not your standard Gay Bar. It's located on the Zeedijk, not far from the famous bar Het Mandje, once owned by Bet van Beeren, on number 63. Don't forget to take a look there! The bar hase been closed since 1983 but nothing has changed. Enough history. The Queenshead is a luxeriously decorated bar with old fashioned seats in the back and a remarkeble view on one of Amsterdams canals. The public is mixed, but mainly gay man of all sorts. Don't forget to visit the toilet downstairs!

Reality

Reguliersdwarsstraat 129 from 20.00 hours

A bar with the explicit aim to integrate gay men from all the different ethnic groups who live in Amsterdam. The emphasis is more on men from the Caribbean Isles and Suriname. The atmosphere reflects this crowd and has a party/carnaval feel. 

Soho - opened again

Reguliersdwarsstraat 36 from 23.00 hours

Interior like a grand English gentlemen's club. Popular hang out in the evening for the cruising young gay men. The choice of music is ecclectic, the service lousy and the enormous bar (three floors) is surprisinly smokey. In short: we don't like it. 

Taboo Bar

Reguliersdwarsstraat 45, from 18.00 hours

We expected this bar more along the Amstel area with its heavy reds and retro wallpaper, but we liked it: it seems easy going and if there is nothing more interesting to observe, there are a lot of giant plasma screens with video clips to took at.

Vrankrijk

Spuistraat 216 every Monday from 22.00 hours on

Gay and Lesbian Night at the headquarters of the Amsterdam squaters scene.

Wapen van Amsterdam

Amstel 202 From 11.00 hours

Saarein

Elandstraat 119 Tuesday through Thursday from 17.00 - 01.00 hours, weekends till 02.00 hours

Saarein is located in the Jordaan, one of the most interesting areas of Amsterdam. It’s a bar with a long history, going back to the 19th century, according to the owners. We know for sure it’s history goes back to 1978 when a group of 10 women founded Saarein as a women-only bar. After a long successful period a change of management led to Saarein as we currently know it: a cosy bar, welcoming to everybody, couples or singles alike. Every third Sunday of the month as of 5 pm Saarein welcomes transgenders. Saarein offers an internal smoking area, nicely separated from the main area. We enjoyed our drinks, sitting on the split level balcony, over looking the bar and two typical Jordaan streets.

Vivelavie

Amstelstraat 7 from 15.00 hours

The mostly female audience is self-assured, modern dressed and of all ages: hip youngsters, steady adult couples and lazing singles. It's a place for entertaining chats, everyday small talks and just enjoying each others company. No use trying to show off with heavy psychological or political debates. Hottest times on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Club Church

Kerkstraat 52

From Wednesday-Sunday. Wednesday - Thursday from 20.00 hours Friday and Saturday from 22.00 hours. Every second and last Sunday from 14.00 hours.

Club for the cruising man, with every night different themes

Club Havana

Reguliersdwarsstraat 17-19

Recently opened and unfortunaltely immediately closed.

Club Fuxxx

Warmoesstraat 96, open Thursdays - Sundays from 23.00 hours

This used to be the Cockring. Then it was closed and now it opened again as Fuxxx. The darkroom is still there.

Club Roque

Amstel 178

From Wednesday – Saturday from 21.00 hours

Situated in the former lesbian club YOU II, this is now a trendy club for both gays and lesbians.

Exit -  closed since April 6 2010, but opening again this summer

Reguliersdwarsstraat 42

From 23.00 hours

The all gay nightclub. Recently refurbished, it has a traditional pub on the ground floor, a not too big dancefloor on the first floor, a modern bar on the second floor and a (popular) dark room on the third floor. Expect entrance fee and door policy on busy nights.

De Trut

Bilderdijkstraat 165

Su from 23.00 hours (door open 23.00 - 24.00 hours)

A local delicacy in the clubscene. Queue well before openingtime to get in and be prepared for a strict doorpolicy: no they won't look at your clothes, the policy is 'gay, lesbians and their friends only'. The entrance fee is modest and in support of good causes. A nice dancefloor is the stage for a youngish, 'alternative' crowd which dances on a mix of the latest club hits and golden oldies.

De Brug - Akhnaton

Nieuwezijds Kolk 25

21-23.00 Ballroom dancing - 23-02.00 disco

Every 1st Saturday of the month dancing for lesbians and bisexual women of 35 and older. Younger women introduced by an older one are welcome!

Getto

Warmoesstraat 51

Tue from 19.00 hours 'Getto girls - women only night.'

Club Roque

Amstel 178

From Wednesday – Saturday from 21.00 hours

Situated in the former lesbian club YOU II, this is now a trendy club for both gays and lesbians.

Argos

Warmoesstraat 95 from 22.00 hours

Amsterdam oldest leatherbar and still going strong. Spacious ground floor bar. Illuminated dick points the way to its main attraction: the darkroom in the cellar. Crowd is of all ages and a mix of all the kinky subgroups in the gay scene.

Club Church

Kerkstraat 52 From Wednesday-Sunday. Wednesday - Thursday from 20.00 hours Friday and Saturday from 22.00 hours Every second and last Sunday from 14.00 hours

Club for the cruising man, with every night different themes

Cuckoo's Nest

Nieuwezijds Kolk 6 from 13.00 hours

Rough wood interior gives the bar on the ground floor a western feel. This bar is popular with office workers on the way from work to catch the train home (around 17.00 hours) and with the Amsterdam leather and kinky scene (from around 23.00 hours). It's main attraction: the darkroom downstairs, supposedly the biggest in Europe. A tip for men over 6ft2: you'll have to spend your time in the darkroom on your knees!

Dirty Dicks

Warmoesstraat 86 Fr/Sa from 24.00 hours

Cozy & sleazy bar with a typical Warmoesstraat crowd: leather and jeans. Easygoing and with darkroom, famous for its watersports (and we don't mean sailing).

Eagle

Warmoesstraat 90 from 22.00 hours

After its legendary owner died it was closed, but it will reopen again on April 18th.We expect it to be crowded with men clad in leather and jeans of all ages. Friendly and easygoing; darkroom present.

Spijker

Kerkstraat 4 from 13.00 hours

Pub off the beaten track, but well worth the visit. Located in the cellar of a 17th century building, with pool table and open fire place. De Spijker has a mixed, mostly local crowd leaning towards the leather scene and friendly staff. Next to the pool table are the stairs leading to the toilets (mirrored!) and a small, very dark darkroom.

The Web

St. Jacobstraat 6 from 14.00 hours

Just off the shopping street Nieuwendijk, this bar with high ceilings and a rough, industrial interior is visited by a mixed crowd of leather, rubber, skin, army and regular gay men In the bar they check each other out; upstairs there is the action in it's surprisingly airy darkroom. The real surprise of this bar is its rooftop terrace. When the temperature is right the rooftop terrace is open for the horny men who want to do it under the sun or the moon (George M. check this out!).