10 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars in 2026

Posted on: January 10, 2026

The Tailor cocktail bar. Picture by: Roï Shiratski

10x Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars

Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars often disappoint—crowded, pricey, confusing. Skip stress; follow our 2026 top-10 routes.

Last updated: 24 March 2026

Top 10 bar profiles

Below are the ten bars you asked to feature. Each profile gives simple, scannable tips so you know what to expect. Use the quick table to plan your route and budget.

Short lines mean more time with friends. If a spot looks packed, try a nearby bar first, then circle back. Everything here is within a short walk.

Quick-glance table

Micro-profiles (what to expect)

• The Tailor: Elegant cocktails, skilled bartenders, calm soundtrack. Best for a refined first round.

• Excalibur Café: Rock decor, lively crowd, stick-to-your-table fun. Good energy before midnight.

• Belushi’s: Big screens, upbeat staff, bar food. Great for match nights and social groups.

• Het Elfde Gebod: Warm wood, Dutch beers, chatty locals. Slow down and enjoy.

• Dirty Nelly’s Inn: Friendly Irish spirit, singalong vibes, easy mixers. Solo-friendly.

• Mata Hari: Canal views, balanced drinks, relaxed pace. Pick a window perch.

• Winston Kingdom: Dancey, colorful lights, late close feel. Hit earlier to dodge the queue.

• Café De Pool: Simple, welcoming, steady pours. A quiet breather between hotspots.

• Temple Bar: Reliable pints, upbeat chatter, room to mingle. Good meet-and-go base.

• Café Remember: Classic café charm, gentle music. Wind-down nightcap spot.

Avoid bad bars and avoid bad experiences. Discover this useful list with the ten Amsterdam Red Light District bars and cafe’s according to visitors who’ve already been here and left their reviews at Tripadvisor!

1 | The Tailor

First on our list is hotel bar The Tailer of the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. The Tailer actually received the best hotel bar award for 2017. The bar is located on Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam. Online reviewers state that the personnel there have a true passion for their craft and that the bar has a great ambience.

The interieur of The Tailor cocktail bar.

2 | Excalibur Café

If you’re in for some hard rock music the Excalibur Café is a place you should definitely visit. The café also has pool tables at the top floor if you want to do more than drink beer and listen to music.

3 | Belushi’s

A great place to eat some hamburger and have some drinks. The drinks here are better prized compared to other similar bars in the area.

4 | Het Elfde Gebod

A typical Dutch café where you can have a drink and a chat (the music isn’t too loud). The beer lover should definitely check this place out because they have a huge selection of beers. One negative: they don’t serve food.

Our local guides took this picture of the cosy and warm interieur of Het Elfde Gebod.

5 | Dirty Nelly’s Inn

Another hotel bar on our list of 10 best red light district bars. This one offers cheap drinks. Located on the Warmoesstraat – in the Red Light District – it’s great place to start off a (party) night in Amsterdam!

6 | Mata Hari

This “bar, restaurant and living” is named after the famous Dutch spy and femme fatale; Mata Hari. Don’t expect any James Bond stuff though, just a good atmosphere, food and drinks at a great location. It’s situated on the main canal of Amsterdam’s Red Light District and has a nice view on the back of the Zeedijk street. Cocktails are delicious here!

The original Mata Hari, not the restaurant though 😉

7 | Winston Kingdom

The Winston Kingdom is a mix between a club and a bar. It’s a great little venue with live music and good dj’s. Winston is located on the oldest street of Amsterdam and it attracts mostly tourists. As one reviewer put it: “The bar might be small but they know how to throw a party.”

8 | Café De Pool

According to many reviewers this is great place for a short stop to eat some food,. The price for a high quality burger with fries is just € 7,50. This is great value for money by Amsterdam standards. The bar also has a good selection of beers.

Great looking and tasting burgers at Café de Pool. Picture by Marta H.

9 | Temple Bar

A great place for (Dutch) drinks and to feel like an Amsterdammer. Besides drinks they also have some finger food. The location of the bar makes it perfect for watching people go by.

10 | Café Remember

A true Dutch parry café that has fair prices for their drinks! The staff is great; expect the DJ to play party music like 90’s cheesy dance music. The bar also has a smoking area so no one needs to go outside whilst having a blast.

More Red Light District Bars Worth a Stop

The ten above are our top picks, but the district and neighbouring Zeedijk are packed with characterful bars. Here’s how to find your kind of night.

Historic brown cafés

A bruin café (brown café) is the traditional Dutch pub — dark wood, low light, decades of tobacco stains and a local crowd. The most famous here is Café In ’t Aepjen on Zeedijk, set in one of only two surviving wooden houses in central Amsterdam, built around 1519. Nearby, Café de Bekeerde Suster brews its own beer, while Café Stevens, Old Nickel and Café Remember pull a mixed local-and-visitor crowd on the edge of the windows.

Karaoke & party bars

Zeedijk is the district’s karaoke strip. San Francisco and Casablanca keep the microphones going late, and Poco Loco and Del Mondo on Nieuwmarkt spill onto the square in summer. For more, see our guide to the best karaoke bars in Amsterdam.

Irish & sports pubs

For a pint and a match, the Warmoesstraat side has the Irish and British pubs. Sláinte, Molly Malones and Dirty Nelly’s are the reliable ones — busy at weekends and whenever there’s football on.

Jenever & hidden gems

To drink like a local, try jenever (Dutch gin) at a proeflokaal (tasting house). Wynand Fockink, tucked down an alley behind Dam Square since 1679, is the classic; Jajem keeps the tradition going closer to the windows. For a canal view, Café Aen ’t Water has one of the district’s best waterside terraces, and Café ’t Mandje on Zeedijk — one of Amsterdam’s oldest LGBTQ+ bars, opened in 1927 — is a piece of living history.

Easy bar-hop routes & map tips

Keep walks short and flows smooth with these loops. Start at a calm cocktail bar, then move to lively pubs, and finish at a party spot or a quiet café. Each loop ends near transit.

Arrive early at the busiest bar on your list. If there’s a line, swap the order and circle back. Pin your route so friends can catch up.

Suggested loops using the Top 10

• Class-to-Party Loop: The Tailor → Mata Hari → Winston Kingdom → Café Remember

• Pub Classics Loop: Het Elfde Gebod → Temple Bar → Dirty Nelly’s Inn → Café De Pool

• Game Night Loop: Belushi’s (match) → Excalibur Café → Temple Bar → Café Remember

Route snapshot

Map tips

• Save Dam Square and Nieuwmarkt as anchors

• Mark tram lines and metro exits

• Add a late-night snack pin near your final stop

Practicalities & etiquette

A smooth night is about small choices. Set a simple budget, know tipping norms, and follow local rules. You’ll have a better time and avoid stress.

Cards work almost everywhere, but a few euros help with small charges. Tipping isn’t required; round up or add 5–10% for great service.

Money & timing

• Plan for one premium cocktail + two pints each

• Peak is 21:00–01:00 on weekends—arrive before 21:00

• Keep €10–€20 cash for cloakrooms or restrooms

Do’s and don’ts

Late-night eats near routes

• Dam Square fries stands

• Zeedijk noodle spots

• Nieuwmarkt bakeries for quick bites

Final reminders

• Respect staff and other guests

• Plan your last round before closing

• Share your pinned route so the group stays together

ALSO DISCOVER:

5 Bars On Amsterdam Dam Square

15 Things To Do In Amsterdam Red Light District

10 Sex Shows in Amsterdam

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best bars in Amsterdam’s Red Light District?
For traditional atmosphere, historic brown cafés like In ’t Aepjen; for a party, the Zeedijk karaoke bars San Francisco and Casablanca; for a quiet pint, the Irish pubs on Warmoesstraat. Our top ten above covers the standouts.

Can you drink alcohol on the street in the Red Light District?
No. Drinking alcohol on the street is banned across the district and carries an on-the-spot fine. Buy and drink inside the bars and cafés instead.

What’s the oldest bar in the Red Light District?
Café In ’t Aepjen on Zeedijk, in a wooden house dating from around 1519 — one of only two left in central Amsterdam. It has been serving sailors and locals for centuries.

What’s the drinking age in Amsterdam?
18 for all alcohol. Bars can ask for ID, so carry a passport or driving licence, especially on Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat.

Are the bars in the Red Light District expensive?
Mostly no — the brown cafés and Zeedijk bars charge normal Amsterdam prices. The exception is the bars with hosts pulling tourists in on the main window canals, which mark up drinks.

Where can I do karaoke in the Red Light District?
San Francisco and Casablanca on Zeedijk are the classic karaoke bars, open late every night. See our full guide to karaoke bars in Amsterdam for more options.

Is there a gay bar in the Red Light District?
Yes — Café ’t Mandje on Zeedijk, opened in 1927, is one of Amsterdam’s oldest LGBTQ+ bars and a protected piece of the city’s history.

What is a brown café?
A bruin café is a traditional Dutch pub, named for its dark wood and tobacco-stained walls. They’re cosy, unpretentious and the best place to drink like a local.

Where can I try jenever near the Red Light District?
At a proeflokaal (tasting house). Wynand Fockink, down an alley off Dam Square since 1679, is the most famous; Jajem is a good option closer to the windows.

Are the Red Light District bars safe?
Yes. The area is busy and well-policed in the evening. Use normal city-centre caution with your belongings in crowds; the bars themselves are as safe as anywhere in the centre.

How late do bars in the Red Light District stay open?
Most run until 01:00 on weekdays and 03:00 at weekends, with the karaoke bars often the last to close.

About the author — Martijn, Amsterdam guide

Martijn has guided hundreds of tours through Amsterdam’s Red Light District and De Wallen over the past years. He writes from first-hand experience — the shows he has seen, the bars he knows and the streets he walks every week — and his tours and photos also feature on TripAdvisor. Everything here is checked against what he and our local guides see on the ground.

• Experience: years guiding Red Light District & De Wallen tours in person
• Standards: first-hand, checked on location, useful for real visitors
• Transparency: some links are affiliate links (no extra cost to you)

Based in: Amsterdam, Netherlands  ·  Meet our guides →

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