10 Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars in 2025

Posted on: octubre 1, 2025

The Tailor cocktail bar. Picture by: Roï Shiratski

Table of Contents

10x Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars

Best Amsterdam Red Light District Bars often disappoint—crowded, pricey, confusing. Skip stress; follow our 2025 top-10 routes.

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

#	Bar	Vibe	Best For	Pro Tip
1	The Tailor	Classy cocktails	Date nights	Ask for a house special
2	Excalibur Café	Rock pub energy	Live-ish vibes	Grab a table early
3	Belushi’s	Lively sports bar	Big groups	Check game times
4	Het Elfde Gebod	Cozy brown café	Local feel	Try Dutch beers
5	Dirty Nelly’s Inn	Irish pub fun	Singalongs	Friendly for solo travelers
6	Mata Hari	Stylish canal spot	Small groups	Window seats = views
7	Winston Kingdom	Party bar/club	Late nights	Expect a line on weekends
8	Café De Pool	Low-key local	Chill rounds	Good warm-up stop
9	Temple Bar	Irish pub vibes	Casual pints	Easy meet-up point
10	Café Remember	Classic café	Unhurried chats	Great last stop

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.

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

cafe in amsterdam

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.

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

Route	Distance	Best Time	Why pick it
Class-to-Party	~2.5 km	20:00–00:30	Starts refined, ends lively
Pub Classics	~2.0 km	19:00–23:30	Steady pints, easy chats
Game Night	~2.2 km	Match nights	Screens + high energy

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

Do	Don’t
Keep voices low on narrow lanes	Photograph window workers
Queue without blocking doors	Bring drinks onto the street where banned
Ask before shifting chairs	Haggle with staff
Use licensed cabs or rideshare	Litter near canals