Brown Cafés - Amsterdam Tourist Information

Many of Amsterdam’s 1200+ bars and cafés are known as so-called ‘Brown Cafés.’ This is in reference to their dark but cozy interiors: woody surroundings framed by nicotine-stained walls and ceilings. Even some of the newer pubs are carefully decorated in this – “we’re older than other caf&#233s” – style.

Amsterdammers see their local bar (‘kroeg‘ in colloquial Dutch) as an extension – or sometimes even replacement – of their own living room. Whether you read the newspapers over your daily cup of coffee, meet a friend for lunch or a quick bite, or imbibe a few beers after work, for many people their favorite bar inevitably becomes a home away from home.

The best way to find a brown café is to simply walk around and pop into the nearest place that looks like it would fit the description.

Some personal favorites, in no particular order, include:

• Café van Daele
• Café Karpershoek
• Café Hoppe
• Café De Tuin
• Café Kalkhoven
• Café De Prins
• Café Chris
• Irish Pub The Tara (well, yes, technically an Irish pub, but brown as brown can be).

Anton Hein

Publisher at DutchAmsterdam | Website | + posts

Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.

Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.

Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 43 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.