A Stinger cocktail. Photo by Will Shenton. Wikimedia Commons.

Best Students Bars in Amsterdam


 

*Originally published by Diana C on June 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R on May 2023

Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands. The city hosts hundreds of universities and colleges that cater to higher learning. This is is because higher learning has been subsidized by the Dutch government. You will find very many students on the streets of Amsterdam.

A student bar is a nice way for students to hang out and unwind after classes or on the weekends. Amsterdam has one of the most thriving nightlife in the world. Students get to experience exciting student life.

Regardless of the kind of music you jam to, you will never lack a bar to club the night away in Amsterdam. Amsterdam never sleeps. Every night is a night to party in Amsterdam. That’s why we’re here to give you insights into the best student bars in Amsterdam. Here are the best student bars in Amsterdam.

1. Tales and Spirits

The storied Sazerac cocktail at Sazerac House, which opened on October 2, 2019. Photo by Carnaval. Wikimedia Commons.

Tales and Spirits is a cocktail bar with a restaurant located at Lijnbaanssteeg. Even if it might look a bit fancy at first glance, many students come to Tales and Spirits to get the party started.

If you want to go there during peak hours, you will likely have to book a table in advance. Otherwise, you will wait. However, this bar is worth waiting for. Customer service is just amazing – the bartenders are skilled and experienced and the waiters are nice and helpful.

You will not find many places in Amsterdam where such creative cocktails are served. A big plus for bartenders at Tales and Spirits! There are no barstools and sitting at the bar is not allowed.

It is located at Lijnbaanssteeg 5-7, 1012 TE Amsterdam, Netherlands.

2. Njoy

Njoy is located very close to Leidseplein. It is one of the trendiest spots in the city. It opens in the afternoon (around 4-5 p.m.) and closes around 3-4 a.m. Njoy is nothing but high quality, they serve quality drinks, really good dishes, and very good music.
There is a wide range of drinks on the menu.

They are made from premium alcohols, juices, and fresh fruit. The interior in NJOY is slick, fancy, elegant, and also feels like home. For those who want to deepen their knowledge, the bar hosts cocktail workshops and spirit tastings. The cocktails are to die for. Especially the signature cocktail.

3. Melkweg

Melkweg is one of the most popular pop bars in Amsterdam. It is always crowded. This is a perfect place to start a party evening. There are many events organized here, including film and club nights and theatre performances. What is worth mentioning about Melkweg, it hosts international musicians and DJs very often.

Melkweg is situated at Leidseplein. It used to be an old sugar factory, then the building was transformed into a milk factory. After a while, it was transformed into a bar. Currently, there are two concert halls, usually with the house and electronic music.

It is located at Lijnbaansgracht 234A, 1017 PH Amsterdam, Netherlands.

4. Waterkant

BlogHer Cocktail Party. Photo by The Dana Files from Plover. Wikimedia Commons.

Waterkant is situated very close to the canals. It is right below an enormous, spiral-shaped car park. The large car park is unique, it looks like two striped barrels which make Waterkant original and unforgettable.

The bar is open Sunday – Monday, between 11 a.m. and 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. on weekends. Waterkant serves decent meals you can enjoy in a casual atmosphere. There are also many local craft beers to choose from, like beers from Brouwerij’t IJ or Gebrouwen door Vrouwen.

The terrace surrounding Waterkant is big and there are many picnic tables so it is just a perfect spot in the summer. It looks so nice in the evening when Waterkant is illuminated by lights. The lights reflect amazingly in the canal and the view is just outstanding.

5. De Marktkantine

De Marktkantine is a theatre, a club, a restaurant, and a creative workspace in one. It is the perfect place to spend an unforgettable time. De Marktkantine has a small bar serving beer and cocktails. It is an extremely vivid place in which there is always a lot going on.

There are shows, concerts, and parties. Once a month (or two months) there is also a new series of nights with a live music show with duo Red Axes (DJ and producer) performing. At Marktkantine there is also a great restaurant, Graceland BAR-B-Q.

It is located at Jan van Galenstraat 6, 1051 KM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

6. Pllek

Pllek is located up in trendy Amsterdam Noord. It is a bar, beach, and restaurant that also hosts outdoor summer film screenings and live electronic music. Hop on the free ferry at Amsterdam Centraal to reach this throbbing hang out and settle in with a couple of beers or a glass of rosé on the sand.

When the sun goes down, retreat under the disco ball in the huge industrial-chic space with rows of windows overlooking the IJ river.

7. Bitterzoet

The Adios Motherfucker Cocktail, a variation on the Long Island Iced Tea made with blue curaçao and lemon-lime soda. Photo by Will Shenton. Wikimedia Commons.

Bitterzoet is a beautiful and diverse space to hang out in Amsterdam. Depending on the night, this slick, two-story nightclub has Afro-Cuban jazz fusion, funk jam sessions, hip hop battles, skateboarding performances, rock nights, or techno and house parties.

There’s a grand bar, stage, and dance floor on the ground floor while a calmer bar and theater podium is on the upper level. Bitterzoet draws a young, hip crowd. It is, simply put, a perfect spot for students.

It is located at Spuistraat 2 HS, 1012 TS Amsterdam, Netherlands.

8. Hanneke’s Boom

A relaxed gastro-bar on the water that’s furnished with recycled furniture. It is a very popular spot in the summer when it’s easiest to take full advantage of the sunshine. You can moor your boat in what was once a 17th-century guardhouse to get to Hanneke’s Boom.

Once there, grab a drink and dangle your toes from a waterfront terrace overlooking NEMO and the Amsterdam skyline.

It is located at Dijksgracht 4, 1019 BS Amsterdam, Netherlands.

9. Vesper

Vesper an elegant bar just off trendy Haarlemmerstraat. Classic and new cocktails are served up in this spot. Vesper is a sophisticated hideaway to romance a date on the edge of the postcard-perfect Jordaan. It is the perfect place for a reunion of students.

It is located at Vinkenstraat 57, 1013 JM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

10. Proeflokaal Arendsnest

Bar tender making a classic cocktail. Photo by Cultpsy. Wikimedia Commons.

Proeflokaal Arendsnest is a bar that proves there’s more to local beer than Heineken. This old-fashioned homage to Dutch brews offers more than 50 different beers on tap and 100-plus in bottles.

All the drinks are made in the Netherlands. Amidst wood-paneled walls, copper pipes, and gleaming beer taps, you can also sample Dutch ciders, liqueurs, whiskeys, and more than 40 varieties of genever, the Netherlands’ iconic spirit.

It is located at Herengracht 90, 1015 BS Amsterdam, Netherlands.

11. AIR

One of the most popular student clubs in Amsterdam is AIR. It is simply amazing, and it is situated right next to Rembrandtplein in the very heart of the city. It has been simply iconic when it first opened in 2010.

Famous Dutch architect Marcel Wanders created the club. On Fridays and Saturdays, it stays open until five in the morning. Students at AIR may have a great day out on the town in Amsterdam. Whatever type of music you prefer—house, techno, disco, or hip-hop—you will undoubtedly discover something intriguing.

 

12. Jimmy Woo

This is said to be one of Amsterdam’s most upmarket student hangouts. one of those where proper attire is expected. Jimmy Woo, a hip-hop and R&B nightclub, is located at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat. It is rich, global, and influenced by Asian culture. There are two completely separate floors, and the décor is really unique.

There are a lot of Chinese decorations, paintings and hardwood tables as well as Japanese screens which can feel a bit nostalgic if you’re either from China or Japan.  At the same time, it is considerably more contemporary in the underground. Other electronic elements can be found inside, and the dance floor changes colour while the music plays. You might not be aware that Jimmy Woo won a medal for the Netherlands clubs with the highest sound quality.

13. Paradiso

One of the most well-known clubs in Amsterdam is Paradiso, which is located in Weteringschans. It serves as both a club and a performance venue, and foreign DJs and musicians often go there. Hip-hop, soul, country, reggae, blues, and electronic music all exist in Paradiso along with other genres of music.

A unique feature of the club is that it is housed in an enormous dance floor that was once an 18th-century cathedral. Also, there are balconies and breathtaking cathedral windows. Paradiso is a favourite among all of the students in Amsterdam, so it’s constantly packed, especially on weekends.

 

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