Amsterdam doesn’t just eat well, it drinks exceptionally. From mezcal-forward kitchens to velvet-lined hotel dining rooms, the city has quietly mastered the art of pairing serious food with properly made cocktails. This guide is for those places where the bar matters as much as the kitchen, and where a great drink is never an afterthought.

ARCA

Portuguese soul, Amsterdam polish. Tucked inside the art-heavy Art’Otel but very much doing its own thing.

There’s a low-key elegance to Arca, not loud, not flashy, but assured. The kind of place that looks like a hotel restaurant from the outside and then slowly, confidently proves it’s much more than that. Think Lisbon via London: sharp drinks, warm service, bold flavours, all with a chef’s table level of attention to detail, minus the theatre.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You appreciate a dining room that doesn’t need a DJ to feel alive. You like depth in your dishes and structure in your cocktails. And you know that “hotel restaurant” is sometimes just code for “best-kept secret.”
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Arca Negroni. House-made port reduction, barrel-aged gin, just enough bitterness to wake you up. A twist on a classic that’s thoughtful, not gimmicky.
This is the dish that gets it right – The piri piri chicken thighs. Charred, spiced, unapologetically bold. The kind of dish that sticks with you longer than the check does.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Midweek dinners feel like a treat. Bring someone who doesn’t need convincing to share small plates, or who’s smart enough to order their own and ask for bites.
What they quietly get exactly right – Temperature control. From the cocktails to the room to the pacing of dishes, everything arrives just when it should, just how it should.

BISOUS

A late-night classic in the making. Bisous moves effortlessly between polished cocktail bar and full-throttle night spot — without ever losing its footing.

There’s an easy confidence to Bisous. The room hums, the bar team knows exactly what they’re doing, and the menu walks a fine line between familiar and playful. Come early and it feels refined. Stay late and it turns electric. Either way, you’ll probably linger longer than planned.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You appreciate classics, but only when they’re done with intent. You like a bar that can cater to purists and thrill-seekers alike, and you’re perfectly happy staying for “one more” when the atmosphere starts to shift.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Strawberry & Cream. A dead-on liquid homage to the Chupa Chups of your youth, nostalgic, creamy, deceptively fresh. It eases you in gently, before the menu nudges you toward bolder territory.
This is the dish that gets it right – The Joop’s Steak Tartare. Yes, that Joop Braakhekke recipe. Rich, spiced, unapologetic. Add extra Tabasco and pair it with the Luigi’s Margarita: Patrón Reposado infused with spice, rounded out by passion fruit. It shouldn’t be this good, but it is.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Two perfect windows: early evening, between 16:00 and 20:00, for a calm cocktail and a bite before the city kicks off, or late, after 23:00, when the DJ’s on, the bar is packed, and the bartenders are fully in their element. Bring fellow cocktail people. Or turn someone into one.
What they quietly get exactly right – The transition. Bisous shifts from refined bar to buzzing late-night destination without ever feeling forced, a rare skill, executed with confidence.

CATUA

A Latin speakeasy tucked inside a brutalist box, Catua is one of those places that rewards curiosity — and cocktail fluency.

This isn’t the place for your Aperol comfort zone. Catua leans hard into South American flavours – cachaça, corn, fire, smoke – and pairs them with a room that’s dark, tactile and made for slow evenings. The crowd knows. The bartenders know better.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You lean toward the back of the menu. You’re not afraid of a drink with bite. You like bars where you can actually hear the person across the table.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Yaguareté. A smoky mezcal-and-mate number that shouldn’t work but absolutely does, especially when you’re two sips in and the bass line drops.
This is the dish that gets it right – sadxasdas
Best time to go — and who to bring – Late dinner into cocktail hour. Bring someone who knows their pisco from their Patrón, or someone you’d like to impress with the difference.
What they quietly get exactly right – Mood lighting. It flatters everyone, softens everything, and makes every drink feel like a late-night secret.

COBA

Far from the centre, Coba delivers Mexico City realness in a raw space with sharp detail and sharper mezcal.

You come for the tacos, but you stay for the restraint. The kind of place where nothing is overdone, overlit, or oversold. The tortillas are hand-pressed. The cocktails are mezcal-forward. The staff? Cool without trying. You’ll want to stay longer than you meant to.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You care about the right kind of heat. You don’t need tequila to shout. You appreciate a menu that fits on one page and delivers on all of it.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Mezcal Margarita. Clean, punchy, a little salty, and way too easy to order a second.
This is the dish that gets it right – The taco de lengua. Slow-cooked beef tongue that melts like butter, paired with a bright, biting salsa that wakes everything up.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Go on a Sunday, when the city slows down and tacos feel like the most important thing. Bring someone who isn’t in a rush.
What they quietly get exactly right – Their tortillas. Thick, fresh, deeply corn-forward, the kind that make every filling feel like an afterthought.

CUE

A vinyl bar disguised as a dining room, or maybe the other way around. Either way, it’s a place where the needle drops, the lights dim, and everything slows down just enough for the evening to unfold properly.

There’s an effortless cool to the room, warm wood, soft corners, the low thump of carefully selected records. It’s intimate without being precious, stylish without trying, and the kind of spot where the cocktails feel just as curated as the music.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You’re into places with good taste, literally and figuratively. You appreciate craftsmanship, respect the room, and like your evenings with a soundtrack.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – Their twist on the Tequila Sour: parsnip, cabbage sauerkraut, manzanilla sherry, elderflower distillate. Sharp, silky, unexpected: the kind of drink that tells you the bar team thinks in layers.
This is the dish that gets it right – The truffle pecorino “tosti” on Japanese milk bread with pickled plums. Comfort meets finesse; simple on paper, indulgent in practice.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Early evening, before the room fills and the record player warms up. Bring someone who loves good food and better music, ideally someone who won’t talk through a guitar solo.
What they quietly get exactly right – The ambiance: a seamless blend of vinyl, cocktails, and Japanese-inspired cooking. Everything in harmony, nothing overpowering anything else.

THE DUCHESS

Old-world glamour with new-world confidence. Come for the chandeliers, stay for the cocktails and the whisper-quiet service.

Duchess is theatre, but the kind where the velvet is real, the caviar is cold, and the bill arrives like a love letter. It’s dressed to the nines without feeling stiff. The kind of place where an afternoon tea somehow turns into late-night martinis.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You don’t mind a little ceremony. You believe indulgence is a virtue. And you’ve always liked your meals with a side of gold leaf.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The French Duchess. Champagne, gin, lemon, elderflower, effervescent and just the right amount of flirtatious.
This is the dish that gets it right – The beef Wellington. It’s a classic for a reason, and here, it’s treated like royalty. Flaky, rich, and plated with quiet pride.
Best time to go — and who to bring – A Friday late lunch that effortlessly slips into early evening. Bring someone who owns a dinner jacket, or should.
What they quietly get exactly right – Pacing. You’ll never feel rushed, but your glass is never empty. It’s the kind of timing that makes everything feel inevitable.

FIKO

Mediterranean comfort with a sharp edge. Fiko is casual on the surface, precise underneath — the kind of place that turns “just one drink” into dinner.

Set in the Jordaan, Fiko blends southern European warmth with Amsterdam ease. The room is relaxed but well-considered, the menu built for sharing, and the cocktails quietly ambitious. It’s neighbourhood dining done properly, no theatrics, just very good instincts.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You like places where plates land in the middle of the table and no one keeps track of who ordered what. You appreciate food that’s rooted in tradition but isn’t stuck there. And you believe a good cocktail bar doesn’t need to announce itself.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Fiko Negroni. A house twist that leans Mediterranean — bright citrus, herbaceous depth, perfectly cold. Familiar enough to trust, different enough to remember.
This is the dish that gets it right – The veal meatballs. Slow-cooked, deeply savoury, unapologetically comforting. The kind of dish that disappears faster than expected, usually followed by an order for bread “just in case.”
Best time to go — and who to bring – Dinner, around 7, when the room fills with locals and the kitchen hits its stride. Bring friends who like to share — or a date who won’t pretend they aren’t eyeing the last bite.
What they quietly get exactly right – Ease. Nothing feels rushed, nothing feels precious. It’s the kind of place that makes you relax without realising you needed to.

HASTA LA VISTA, BABY

An 80s fever dream dialled up to eleven — neon, nostalgia and nachos, but with cocktails good enough to stop the snark.

What looks like a kitschy concept bar is, on closer inspection, a lovingly curated tribute to bold flavours and bold choices. Sure, there’s a Terminator statue and VHS tapes on the wall, but the mezcal is serious and the kitchen’s got range.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You like your cocktails with a side of chaos. You’ve never said no to a theme night. You understand that camp doesn’t mean careless.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – No. 11 – Raul. A cocktail served from the slushy machine. Icecold yet tropical with tequila, watermelon and kurkuma. It’s a vibe.
This is the dish that gets it right – the Mb9+ Wagyu ‘Lusitano’. Rich, juicy, indulgent — then topped with Iberico Bellota, just in case you thought Wagyu couldn’t flex any harder.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Friday nights, when the crowd is buzzing and the playlist leans into its synth-pop sweet spot. Bring your most up-for-it friend.
What they quietly get exactly right – Balance. Behind all the neon and nostalgia, there’s a sharp eye on quality — from sourcing to seasoning.

LOLO

Seduction by design. Lolo is moody, low-lit, and full of playful contradictions — part Italian trattoria, part velvet-lined speakeasy.

There’s something theatrical about Lolo, but not in a try-hard way. The kind of place where the lighting does half the flirting for you, and where the negronis are just bitter enough to keep you coming back. Sexy, but not sleazy. Intimate, but not intimidating. And yes — the pasta is worth the whisper.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You appreciate a little drama with your dinner. You believe pasta should be handmade, and that every great night starts with a bar stool and eye contact.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Dirty Bellini. Peach, prosecco, a touch of brine, it shouldn’t work, but it does. Like most good stories.
This is the dish that gets it right – The truffle tagliolini. Rich, slippery, perfectly restrained. Enough to silence any table, in the best way.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Weekend days, when the lights are low and the energy shifts. Bring a date, or someone who might become one.
What they quietly get exactly right – Sound design. You can hear your dinner partner without shouting, even when the room is full, which it usually is.

NAZKA

Where Peru meets precision. Nazka serves up fine Peruvian cuisine with the swagger of a modern cocktail bar — and the restraint of a very good tailor.

Nazka isn’t trying to be cool — it just is. The ceviche is electric, the lighting is soft, and the cocktails have real backbone. There’s something satisfyingly confident about the place: from the minimal interior to the maximal pisco pours. It’s dinner with altitude.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home –You care about craftsmanship. You’ve Googled “what is achiote?” before. You believe great cocktails should come with proper glassware and zero apologies.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Nazka Sour. Pisco, citrus, and just enough spice to surprise you, a classic, but sharpened and tailored.
This is the dish that gets it right – The octopus anticucho. Smoky, tender, and plated like a sculpture. A quiet showstopper.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Midweek, when the staff has time to chat, and the music feels curated just for you. Bring someone who eats with curiosity and orders with confidence.
What they quietly get exactly right – Acidity. In the food, the drinks, even the playlist. It keeps everything bright, sharp, and moving forward.

Nazka’s bartender Javi most likely shaking a Pisco Sour – by Mister Cocktail

OAXACA

Oaxaca is what happens when mezcal culture grows up, dresses well, and still knows how to party.

Everything here leans into flavour, the cocktails, the food, the atmosphere. It’s loud in the right ways, intimate in the others. A place where dinner doesn’t signal the end of the night, but the best part of it.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You believe smoky isn’t just a flavour, it’s a mood. You don’t mind elbowing through a packed bar for a great drink. And you’re on a first-name basis with at least one agave spirit.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Mezcal, bitters, agave syrup, orange peel, classic form, rebellious soul.
This is the dish that gets it right – The cochinita pibil tacos. Braised to oblivion, lifted with citrus, nestled into soft tortillas like they never want to leave.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Dinner, around 7 or 8, when the tables fill up and the place hits its stride. Bring someone who knows good mezcal, or someone curious enough to fake it convincingly.
What they quietly get exactly right – Their mezcal shelf. It’s curated, not crowded — and the staff actually know what they’re pouring.

SALMUERA

Part Argentine parrilla, part Latin speakeasy, Salmuera does smoky, sultry and just a little dramatic, in all the right ways.

Tucked into a narrow Jordaan street but wide in ambition, Salmuera is for those who want dinner with heat and we don’t just mean the grill. The cocktail list pulls from Peru to Patagonia, and the service walks that fine line between laid-back and laser-focused.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You like your meals with edge and your steak with story. You know good lighting can save a bad date. And you believe mezcal deserves proper glassware.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Penicillin. A layered blend of whisky and mezcal, infused with palo santo and rooibos, rounded out with local honey, ginger and lemon thyme. Smoky, warming, quietly complex and a perfect snapshot of how seriously the bar takes its craft.
This is the dish that gets it right -The ceviches, especially the spicy tiradito. While steaks may be the obvious choice, Salmuera was one of the first places in Amsterdam to serve ceviche at this level: bright, precise and unapologetically bold.
Best time to go — and who to bring -Dinner, early or late. Or simply stop by for a drink and a bite. Both make equal sense here. Bring someone who understands that not every great meal needs a main course.
What they quietly get exactly right – Range. Salmuera lets you move effortlessly from cocktails to raw fish to fire-grilled dishes without ever feeling like you’re ordering against the grain.

SELVA (& SONORA)

Think jungle rhythms meet desert vibes — Selva and Sonora are two sides of the same coin, delivering wild flavours and cooler-than-cool cocktails.

Selva offers a verdant, tropical escape with dishes that pack heat and heart, while Sonora channels dry, smoky northern Mexico with its own distinct style. Both spots share a love for mezcal and meticulous detail, making them essential stops for anyone who thinks cocktails should come with a story.

Here’s why you’ll feel at home – You’re curious, adventurous, and happy to let your palate roam a little off the beaten path. You appreciate boldness but respect balance. And you secretly love places with a sense of humor.
Start with this cocktail — trust me – The Jungle Bird at Selva – rum, pineapple, Campari – bright, bitter, and just the right amount of cheek. Or the Sonora Old Fashioned – mezcal, agave, and smoke, with a twist.
This is the dish that gets it right – Selva’s prawn aguachile – razor-sharp and refreshing, a perfect contrast to the lush drinks. Sonora’s smoked beef brisket — tender, smoky, and unapologetically generous.
Best time to go — and who to bring – Early evening when the mood is still mellow but the cocktails have already begun their work. Bring someone who likes a good story with their food, or who won’t mind a little spice.
What they quietly get exactly right – The way natural warmth meets refined style: lush greenery and rich wood tones blend effortlessly, creating a space that’s both inviting and impeccably curated. It’s a cocktail lounge with soul and substance, where every detail feels thoughtfully placed.

No restaurant paid me for this article. In some cases I was invited to try the food and drinks. I tried to find all the ribghtful owners of the images I found online, contact me if any credits need to be added.