- On January 1, 2024
- In Places to visit Tips for travellers
8 Tips For A Good Beer Garden in Amsterdam
Beers and sunshine. Is there even a better combination? Discover this selection of the finest Amsterdam beer garden options in the city center. The best places to get your drink and tan on. Discover below!
Café Fonteyn
At Amsterdam’s Nieuwmarkt – just next to the Red Light District – we find two iconic, classic beer terraces. Sun-worshipers post themselves on the east side at Café Fonteyn, where you, in their own words, “cannot dine, but you can sob extensively and snack on the right level.”
All this combined with an effective (inter) national beer selection that takes alcohol and gluten-free beer into account. This cafe has an great view on The Waag, Amsterdam’s 2nd oldest building, which is located in the middle of the Nieuwmarkt square. Cafe Fonteyn is perfect for people watching as well.
Address: Nieuwmarkt 13-15
Lokaal ‘t Loosje
Anyone who attaches a little less value to a sunbath and appreciates a more exciting choice of beer will find everything the heart desires on the terrace at Lokaal ‘t Loosje. A well-stocked terrace with a neighborhood atmosphere and above all well-tapped and donated beers: eight on tap, more than two handfuls on the bottle menu.
Address: Nieuwmarkt 32
Aran Irish Pub
Forget the Leidseplein – that is indeed one large terrace, but as someone once aptly put it “with the atmosphere of an abattoir”. We park that for a while: on the nearby Max Euweplein, the sun-drenched terrace of Aran Irish Pub has been on display for years. You don’t go here for controversial beers, but with a good pint of Guinness or sturdy pot lager it is so wonderful to watch passers-by that they could almost ask for extra money just for that.
Address: Max Euweplein 73
Waterkant
People literally hang ‘with their legs outside’, above the water of the Singelgracht. Waterkant offers a Caribbean atmosphere against the backdrop of what is a pretty ugly parking garage. Amsterdam’s oldest brewery Biri was brewed for this ‘nice and loose in the hips’: modeled after the Surinamese Parbobier, a drinkable Caribbean lager.
You will also find more than forty beers from all over the world, like the delicious IPA from Brewdog. But also amazing local beers, like the ones from Gebrouwen door Vrouwen – Dutch beers made by Amsterdam women.
The Surinam food is really nice here! Try the tasty roti or go for the exquisite fried bakkeljauw.
The only downside of the Waterkant is that they don’t have waiters. Here you have to go inside and order your drinks and food yourself.
Address: Marnixstraat 246
Café Soundgarden
Without a doubt the most underrated terrace in Amsterdam is a bit further away, hidden on the Singelgracht. Café Soundgarden is reminiscent of the village of Asterix and Obelix: ‘a cafe that boldly resists powerful’, whoever that may be. Inside you’ll find various pinball machines, a tasty contrary choice of music and an almost perfect beer menu. Worth knowing: they serve Dunkelweiss beer from the world’s oldest brewery, the German Weihenstephan, a rarity.
Address: Marnixstraat 164-166
Pension Homeland
On the Marineterrein, next to the Maritime Museum, we find the terrace, the bar and the restaurant of Pension Homeland. Inside is the brewery of the same name, which supplies a good selection of ‘classics with its own twist’. It sports one of the nicest views in the city. This Amsterdam beer garden offers everything you could wish for as a sun-loving beer lover – in a completely relaxed atmosphere.
Address: Kattenburgerstraat 7
Gollem Aan Het Water
Gollem Aan het Water is the youngest offspring of this typically Amsterdam beer empire – and it boasts a wonderfully quiet terrace overlooking Artis. The adventurous beer lover will be as well catered for here as everyone else. The beer selection is very generous and the wait staff can talk about it thirsty.
Address: Entrepotdok 64
Hannekes Boom
Full steam ahead to the Oosterdok to claim your spot at Amsterdam beer garden Hannekes Boom. Skippers are allowed to moor at the jetty and can then relax on the large sunny waterfront terrace. Non skippers are also welcome. There is a changing weekly menu serving fresh and sustainable dishes. The new menu is on their Facebook every week.
Address: Dijksgracht 4, Amsterdam.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a place to relax and take in the Dutch culture, beer gardens are definitely the way to go. With plenty of outdoor seating and chilled-out vibes, you can easily spend an afternoon or evening enjoying a cold one (or two) in Amsterdam. And if that isn’t incentive enough, most beer gardens also have great food options available. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore some of Amsterdam’s best beer gardens! Do you have any favorite spots we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
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