Bars and Cafes in Inner City West/De Jordaan (Amsterdam)

Damsteeg

This lovely French restaurant is hidden away in the Reestraat. It's a nice and intimate place that comes with a small bar where you can have a drink before you move into the Art Deco restaurant. This French restaurant with a pinch from all over, offers some interesting combination on the menu, with a lot of attention to game. They import their own wines from the Sancerre in France, after which the restaurant is named and it's all very classy.

Alcantara Cervejaria

Alcantara is a Portuguese restaurant and tapas bar, located in the Jordaan. The building was originally a cinema, still recognizable because of the projection room above the entrance hall. Alcantara serves Portuguese dishes from the cuisine bourgeoise - a substantial cuisine with influences from Catalonia and France. The courses are spiced compared to traditional Portuguese cuisine, but are not particularly exotic. A wide variety of Portuguese drinks are also available.

Hostaria

Hostaria, situated in the Jordaan, is a taste of the real Italy. It certainly isn't your typical tourist-trap pizzeria. The decor is, predictably, authentically Italian: images of La Loren, Ferrari and the Pope merge together, with a singing cook in the background. The cooks are inventive yet the cuisine is based on original Italian family recipes. The pastas are always fresh (made the same day) and the soups and salads are tasty.

Mediterranee

This establishment is located opposite the cinema The Movies on the Haarlemmerdijk, near the Haarlemmer square. Items on the menu include a variety of delicious Arabian bread and coffee: Mediterranian pie, lemon pie, fruitcakes, Turkish coffee, croissants and other home-made delicacies. You won't find these at a normal bakery! Prices are fair and the service is very good.

De Twee Zwaantjes

Located in Jordaan, this is a real old school café. The Jordaan is a neighborhood renowned for its love of music and especially the old Dutch favorite the "smartlap"-these songs are real tearjerkers and the best comparison is probably Country-Western in America. Be aware of the sing-along, especially on the weekends, and don't be surprised if accordion players start appearing from nowhere. The accordion is the instrument mostly used to accompany these songs. If the singing gets overwhelming, you can always sit on the terrace that overlooks the Prinsengracht.

Café Nol

You have not seen kitsch until you've paid Café Nol a visit. The Jordaan is a neighborhood famous for many things, but when it comes to kitsch it has no equals. This authentic bar shows of all the best and worst of what it means to be a Jordaan neighborhood resident. Visited by a lively and vivacious crowd, café Nol sums up the spirit of the neighborhood. Lots of singing—good and bad—lots of beer and an interior that should come with a "Could induce epileptic fit" warning sign.

Papeneiland

In this old brown pub Tiel and Henny provide the ambience of an ideal family. Their children? Yups, VIPs and artists (no papists!) from the famous canal belt mingle easily with the original populace. Papeneiland is small, the bar has just a couple of small stools. Around four tables and chairs serious conversations are carried on unhampered by loud music. On sunny days Tiel puts some chairs outside, there is no real terrace. Heineken and delicious snacks are served.

De Tuin

Between the glut of trendy little shops and boutiques selling fashion, jewelry, trinkets, art objects, and so forth, the place known as 'The Garden' is ideal to have a cappucino with some apple pie and another good look at your purchases. Simple furniture rests on a bare wooden floor and the bar has place for about six people. The kitchen's strong point is its many types of soup. There are tosti's, nacho-chips, a meat ball, cheese, and the normal aperitif snacks. The visitors are mainly young. Amstel on draught and many brands of special beer in bottles are available.

Café de Koe

De Koe (The Cow) is a real bovine bonanza! Pictures of cows, sketches of cows, cow statues, and other assorted cow objects are abound. In order to keep it fresh, the paintings on the ceiling change sporadically showcasing new artists. For cocktails or beer, you can head straight upstairs to the bar, or dine in a small, comfortable setting downstairs. The food ranges from hot dishes, to pastas and salads. As locals and tourists alike frequent this restaurant for it s bubbly atmosphere, friendly service and tasty food, expect to wait upstairs at the bar before dining. Live bands play on the weekends.

Cafe De Doffer

When coming here, you can choose from two separately operated restaurants. Have a delicious sandwich made by Chef Jan-Willem at the “Brown Bar” or the game soup at the adjoining restaurant. With a cozy atmosphere and friendly service, this is the perfect place to relax and exit the high-stress tourist world. The atmosphere may even make you reminiscent of past summers spent at your grandmother’s house.

Tapas Cafe Duende

This eatery, located in Jordaan, is known for the tapas it serves. The interiors are plain but pretty. There is a bar serving drinks, and in summer you can grab a seat in the outdoors. Inquire about the dance studio where you can learn the fine art of flamenco dancing. It might be a good idea to attend a class and then have a meal with your friends here—that way you can enjoy the food, and show off your skills!

Lux

This is one of the coolest bars in Amsterdam; it has people streaming in even when sunrise is just a few hours away. With a great combination of designer interiors, funky music, lots of beer and friendly service, you cannot get a better deal. There's a greater chance of you enjoying yourself at Lux if you happen to belong to the artsy crowd, who love flaunting their unique sense of fashion here. If you're not, a television above the bar counter will ensure that you don't feel lonely or left out.