You are spoilt for choice when it comes to gay bars in Amsterdam. Most can be found in Amsterdam two main gay areas:
Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amstel & Kerkstraat – home to a great choice of bars & cafés.
Warmoesstraat & Zeedijk – ground zero for Amsterdam leather bars and cruise clubs.
The gay nightlife is not confined to these two areas. Some of the best gay bars, such as Prik, are located in other districts. Also scroll down for a short list of ‘coffee shops‘.
Amsterdam’s dance clubs & parties and cruise clubs & saunas are listed on separate pages.
Soho
Reguliersdwarsstraat 36 map
weekday - 17:00 - 01:00, weekend - Fri-Sat 17:00 - 04:00, Sun 17:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music, Dancing
Updated: 01-09-2013
English-style gay bar that hosts regular parties with DJs. Dance floor on the ground level and smokers lounge on the second floor. Check website for daily happy hours.
Taboo
site Facebook
Reguliersdwarsstraat 45, Tel.+31 (0)20 775 3963 map
weekday - 17:00 - 03:00, weekend - 17:00 - 04:00
Bar, Music, Free Wi-Fi
Updated: 01-09-2013
Intimate gay bar located on the city’s main gay street. Taboo has a outdoor terrace, a large smoking area and offers an extensive drink menu, monthly specials and free WiFi. A great place to hang out after work or before/after clubbing. Daily happy hours from 6 – 7pm and again from 1 – 2am. On Fridays Taboo serves up hot snacks to kick start the weekend. On Wednesday, they have a special cocktail night with a live DJ and reduced prices on selected cocktails. Extended happy hour on Sundays, 6 – 8pm.
Reality
Reguliersdwarsstraat 129, Tel.+31 (0)20 639 3012 map
weekday - 20:00 - 03:00, weekend - 20:00 - 04:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 05-31-2012
Reality is a popular hangout for black men and their friends. Plenty of upbeat Latin music gets the party going most nights, particularly during happy hour (8:30 – 10pm).
Bar Ludwig
site Facebook
Reguliersdwarsstraat 37 map
weekday - 18:00 - 01:00 (Wed/Thu) 03:00 (Fri), weekend - 18:00 - 03:00 (Sat) 01:00 (Sun)
Bar, Music, Dancing
Updated: 01-10-2013
Popular bar with a decent terrace area at the front. The club section at the rear of the bar opens later in the evening. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Exit Café Après Chic
Reguliersdwarsstraat 42 map
weekday - 23:00 - 04:00 (Wed-Thu) 05:00 (Fri), weekend - 23:00 - 05:00 (Sat) 20:00 - 04:00 (Sun)
Bar, Music, Dancing
Updated: 01-10-2013
A relatively small but popular gay dance bar that plays a great selection of house music from Wednesday to Sunday nights. Arrive early and squeeze in! Daily happy hour between 01:00 and 02:00.
Amstel Fifty Four
site Facebook
Amstel 54, Tel.+31 (0)20 623 4254 map
weekday - 17:00 - 01:00, weekend - 17:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 01-09-2013
Amsterdam’s historic gay bar with nightly sing-alongs and occasional drag shows. On the weekends, the crowd spills over to the street by Amstel River. The vibe here is laid-back and tends to attract a mature crowd. Best on the weekend after 11pm.
Montmartre
site Facebook
Halvemaansteeg 17, Tel.+31 (0)20 625 5565 map
weekday - 17:00 - 01:00, weekend - 17:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 06-04-2012
Popular gay bar with a noisy but fun atmosphere featuring Dutch pop and Schlager music. Packed on weekends. Happy hour from 6 – 8pm every day. Winner of best gay bar in Amsterdam for many years.
Hot Spot
site
Amstel 102 map
weekday - Mon 21:00 - 03:00, Tue-Thu 20:00 - 03:00, weekend - Fri-Sat 20:00 - 04:00, Sun 20:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 02-01-2013
Located right next to Hotel Amstelzicht on Amstel River, this small gay music bangs out one disco hit after another. Draws a younger, mixed crowd. Occasional shows and special party nights.
As of February 1, 2013, the website is not working.
-
“HotSpot-cafe is world famous in Amsterdam! Also famous becaus we play every song with a videoclip! Every Wednesday there is a bingo presented by Miss Dita!! Open 7 days a week! www.hotspot-cafe.nl”
Lellebel
site Facebook
Utrechtsestraat 4, Tel.+31 (0)20 427 5139 map
weekday - 20:00 - 03:00, weekend - Fri-Sat 20:00 - 04:00, Sun 20:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 02-01-2013
Amsterdam’s most famous drag show bar. This relatively small venue is the place for transvestite, transsexual and their friends to meet in a relaxed and friendly environment. Needless to say, expect regular shows and monthly special events. Fun, lively atmosphere. Karaoke on Tuesday nights.
Spijkerbar
site Facebook
Kerkstraat 4, Tel.+31 (0)20 620 5919 map
weekday - 16:00 - 01:00, weekend - Fri-Sat 16:00 - 03:00, Sun 16:00 - 01:00
Bar, Music, Dark Room
Updated: 06-04-2012
Traditional gay bar that attracts a local ‘jeans’ crowd in their thirties. Spijker features a pool table, a fireplace and TV showing hardcore gay action movies. Gets busy on weekends around midnight. Happy hour from 7 – 9pm. Smoking room and small dark room upstairs.
Café ’t Mandje
site Facebook
Zeedijk 63, Tel.+31 (0)20 622 5375 map
weekday - Tue 20:00 - 01:00, Wed-Thu 16:00 - 01:00, weekend - Fri-Sat 14:00 - 03:00, Sun 14:00 - 01:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 01-07-2013
Opened in 1927 by Bet van Beeren (a motorcycle riding lesbian), Mandje was the first gay and lesbian bar in Netherlands and considered as one of the first in the world. Mandje had closed in 1982 but was renovated, restored to its former glory and re-opened on April 29, 2008.
De Engel van Amsterdam
site Facebook
Zeedijk 21, Tel.+31 (0)20 427 6381 map
weekday - 13:00 - 01:00, weekend - 13:00 - 02:00 (Sat) 13:00 - 01:00 (Sun)
Bar, Music
Updated: 01-09-2013
Gay bar in Amsterdam Red Light District with music and drag performances. Engel attracts a mixed crowd of all ages and styles. In the summertime, the terrace and tables along the canal are great for people-watching as the boats pass through. Three-minute walk from Central Station.
De Engel Next Door
site Facebook
Zeedijk 23-25, Tel.+31 20 427 6381 map
weekday - 13:00 - 01:00, weekend - 13:00 - 01:00
Bar, Cafe
Updated: 01-10-2013
A relatively new addition to the Zeedijk. This gay bar/café is located next to De Engel van Amsterdam (from which it takes its name). Serves a wide range of cocktails, beers, coffees, cakes and snacks.
Queen’s Head
site Facebook
Zeedijk 20, Tel.+31 (0)20 420 2475 map
weekday - 16:00 - 01:00, weekend - 16:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 01-09-2013
Friendly gay bar owned by a drag queen and her partner. The Queen’s Head has a small terrace with a nice canal view. Features DJs on weekends and bingo on Tuesdays. Great place for drinks and conversations though the place gets busier as the night progresses. Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, Queen’s Head hosts Netherbears – a social club for bears, bearded men and their admirers.
Cafe De Barderij
site
Zeedijk 14, Tel.+31 (0)20-6225375 map
weekday - 16.00 - 01.00 / 03.00 (Fri), weekend - 16.00 - 03.00 (Sat)
Bar, Cafe
Updated: 01-15-2013
A very friendly, and very Dutch gay cafe / bar attracting a crowd of all ages.
Prik
site
Spuistraat 109, Tel.+31 (0)20 320 0002 map
weekday - 16:00 - 01:00, weekend - 16:00 - 03:00
Bar, Music
Updated: 01-25-2013
Very popular gay bar with a friendly atmosphere offering tasty snacks, drinks and an assortment of excellent cocktails (the staff are trained at the BOLS Acadamy!). Fresh, colorful décor and a nice sun catching terrace. Kitchen closes as 24.00 – earlier at the weekends when the DJ starts. Prik brings in DJ’s on the weekends to play a mix of electro pop, dance and funky tunes. Gets busy early. Voted ”Best Gay Bar” in the Amsterdam by Time Out in 2010 and officially “Best Gay Dance Cafe in Holland in 2011″ .
“Coffee shops” in the Netherlands are licensed venues within which the sale and personal consumption of cannabis is permitted by the local authorities. Most coffee shops also serve drinks and food. The minimum age for entry is 18. The following coffee shops are popular with the gay community.
The Other Side
site Facebook
Reguliersdwarsstraat 6 map
weekday - 11:00 - 01:00, weekend - 11:00 - 01:00
Bar
Updated: 11-27-2012
Popular coffee shop that attracts a mixed crowd of both gay and straight, male and female.
Betty, Too
site Facebook
Reguliersdwarsstraat 29 map
weekday - 15:00 - 24:00 (Tue-Thu), weekend - 11:00 - 01:00 (Fri-Mon inc)
Bar
Updated: 01-07-2013
Very friendly coffee shop that is popular with the gay community. Attracts both locals and an international crowd with a special selection of fresh drinks, teas and snacks. Betty’s movie nights show an eclectic variety of films, mainly from Japan. DJ and acoustic nights showcase a great selection of new music and emerging artists.
-
Amsterdam – Gay Dance Clubs
Amsterdam knows how to party. Check out our reviews of some of the best events.
-
Amsterdam – Gay Cruise Clubs & Saunas
Amsterdam’s cruise clubs and saunas are as wild as they get anywhere!
-
Gay Amsterdam – Hotels
After cruising the canals and clubs you will be ready for a good night’s sleep.
-
Essential Guide to Amsterdam
Just the essentials summarized for your travelling convenience.