Think you know Amsterdam’s café and bar scene? Think again. From spots that twist tradition to places that make you do a double-take, the city is full of surprises. These five weird and unusual cafés and bars hangouts in Amsterdam prove that your next drink could come with a side of the unexpected.
Café de Schreierstoren
Perched on the edge of Amsterdam’s canals, Café de Schreierstoren sits inside a 15th-century tower that once formed part of the city’s medieval defenses. Named for the tearful farewells of sailors’ wives, the tower mixes history with a slightly eerie charm. From its thick stone walls to rustic, time-worn décor, you will love it. Grab a drink or lunch and soak in the canal views. It’s a place where legend, history, and a touch of the unexpected collide.
📍Location: Prins Hendrikkade 95, 1012 AE Amsterdam
Ripley’s Lounge
Ripley’s Lounge offers a bird’s-eye view of Dam Square paired with an attic-themed café vibe. After exploring the museum’s unbelievable collection—from shrunken heads and a massive car-part robot to record-breaking fingernails and microscopic sculptures, all veryyyy weird—you can relax here with Dutch and American bites while recounting the day’s oddities. It’s a spot where jaw-dropping curiosities, mind-bending exhibits, and cozy comfort collide, making it one of the most weird and unusual bars around!
📍Location: Dam 21, 1012 JS Amsterdam
Cafe ‘t Papeneiland
Tucked at the corner of Prinsengracht and Brouwersgracht, Café ’t Papeneiland dates back to 1642 and still hints at its secretive past, with a hidden tunnel that once led to a clandestine Catholic church. Inside, creaky floorboards, a central pot stove, and a Delft-tiled bar preserve the charm of 17th-century Amsterdam. Famous for its homemade apple pie—once sampled by Bill Clinton—this café blends history, legend, and old-world coziness in every corner.
📍Location: Prinsengracht 2, 1015 DV Amsterdam
Café In ‘t Aepjen
Housed in one of Amsterdam’s last remaining wooden buildings, In ‘t Aepje dates back to 1475. It is event officially the city’s oldest brown bar. Legend has it that sailors once paid their tabs with pet monkeys from the Far East! It then gave the café its cheeky name (“In the Little Monkey”), while its monkey-themed décor and quirky staircase that leads nowhere keep the story alive. With a lively atmosphere, a wide selection of Dutch gins and beers, and centuries of history underfoot, it’s a place where past and present collide in the heart of the Red Light District.
📍Location: Zeedijk 1, 1012 AN Amsterdam
Hill Street Blues
Right in the heart of Amsterdam, Café Hill Street Blues is a grungy, underground hideout where locals, expats, and tourists mingle amid walls covered in ever-changing customer artwork. With DJ nights, live graffiti sessions, and a laid-back, anything-goes vibe, this café-bar feels like stepping into a creative playground. Affordable drinks, chaotic charm, and a rebellious spirit make it a spot where the city’s free-spirited energy comes alive! Always a little messy, a lot unforgettable.
📍Location: Warmoesstraat 52A, 1012 JE Amsterdam