The Brown Cafes of Amsterdam
Going by the name you’d think that these places were simply in need of a good scrub. But no, the ‘Brown Cafes’ of Amsterdam are similar to British pubs (minus the TV screens) and are named after their dark wood furniture, low lighting and generally cosy, congenial ambiance.
They are located in all the neighbourhoods, and I love nipping into these places on a cold afternoon and having a small glass of local beer. Food tends to be limited, but you can always find a cheese sandwich or help yourself to some free hapjes (snacks) of olives, nuts or
Coffee Shop hour in Amsterdam
bitterballs (meat croquettes). On a really cold evening you could have a shot of jenever, a Dutch spirit similar to rum.
One of the most famous brown cafes in Amsterdam is the Three Sisters (Rembrandtplein 17, Tel. 020 6275660 www.driegezusters.nl), which has its original moulded ceiling, and leather sofas, which curve into circular conversation areas, making it an ideal place to go for an intimate evening with small group of friends. If you get hungry, there is a steakhouse upstairs.
Another one is Arendsnest, or ‘The Eagle’s Nest (Herengracht 90 1015BS Amsterdam, 020 421 20 57 www.arendsnest.nl) which sells over 100 types of Dutch beer from the country’s 50 local breweries. Proost!
Update – make sure to enter the brand new Travel Writing Competition to win a Free Weekend in Barcelona. New Amsterdam Travel Guides also online.
