below is a list of bars and cafes in Amsterdam. Increasingly, many of the bars listed are not "Brown Bars" at all but have a distinctive modern feel. The more traditional brown cafes are identified with a *. Enjoy!!!

De Zotte - Raamstraat 29.
A very nice bar located on a side street off the Prinsengracht not far from the Leidseplein. With friendly staff, a comfortable interior, and a very good selection of Belgian beer (their web site claims to have 130 "Belgische bieren"- trappists, dubbels, etc.), this establishment is definately worth a visit.

Brouwerij 't IJ - Funenkade 7.
Located at the base of a windmill, Brouwerij 't IJ offers excellent locally brewed beer at a reasonable price. On a sunny day in summer the terrace can get quite busy. Beer connoisseurs should try the Columbus (a 9% "amber with lots of hop and alcohol") or de Zatte (an 8% golden triple beer). Be warned: these beers are strong (almost three times the alcohol of a Bud Light)... before you know it, you could have quite a buzz. Great place to stop after an excursion to Amsterdam Oost (east) - after visiting the Borneo Sporenburg neighborhood, for example.

‘t Smalle *- Egelantiersgracht 12.
One of my very favorites- this brown café, located in the Jordaan, has a friendly staff, beautiful, predominantly wood, interior and a nice canal level balcony out front. No music as to facilitate conversation. Check out the cosy back room upstairs.

Het Molenpad - Prinsengracht 653.
Another nice bar. Convenient, as its not too far from the Leidseplein on the Prinsengracht. With all the features of your typical brown café, and some nice artwork on the walls.

In de Wildeman - Kolksteeg 3.
A paradise for beer drinkers with “17 beers” on tap and “at least” 200 beiren op fles (in the bottle. Beautiful interior and again mo music. Sample one of the many wonderful varieties of Belgian, Dutch and German beers here. No music. Ask the friendly staff for a recommendation, or see my list of favorite beers here.

Gollem - Raamsteeg 4.
Another beer paradise, this small bar can often get quite busy with a mix of locals and tourists. Check out the map of Belgian beers in the cozy back room, and order a Kwak with its interestingly shaped glass. Update: I recently discovered that there is another Gollem on Daniel Stalpertstraat 74 in De Pijp neighborhood!

Cafe Belgique - Gravenstraat 2.
The third of the beer paradise. This very small bar often is too busy to sit, good thing there are benches in the narrow alleyway outside (that will come in very handy, I guess, when the nationwide smoking ban goes into effect in July. Belgique has a smaller collection of Belgian beers (dubbels, rapists, etc.) than In de Wilderman or Gollem, but the selection is still very good.

Cafe Papeneiland *- Prinsengracht 2.
Drink your beer inside a work of art (the exterior of which I myself have drawn many times). Peopled mainly by locals, the bar also has a gorgeous, classic interior (several artworks of the Papeneiland and its neighboring buildings over the years adorn the walls).

Vergulde Gaper - Prinsenstraat 30.
(on the Prinsengracht) Very classy bar, located in a nice neighborhood with an nice view of one of the most attractive stretches of canal in the city. The kind of place (like many of the others listed here) where a coffee can be ordered without hesitation while you friend drinks a beer.

De Tuin - 2e Tuindwarsstraat 13.
Very nice family café in a residential area of the city (on a side street away from most of the tourists). In the evenings (6pm-ish) you will often see children and/or dogs here.

Chris *- Bloemgracht 42.
With an antiqued feel this bar, populated mostly by locals. Tastefully decorated with ceramic mugs over the bar, and, of course, wood everywhere. One website (because everything you learn on the internet is true) claims that this is the oldest continually operating bar in Amsterdam... Chris opened its doors in 1624. The aforementioned web site says that it was built as a ‘lunch facility’ for the builders of the Westertoren

Soundgarden - Marnixstraat 164- 166.
The dust, grime, graffiti, and rotting wood, just adds positively to the atmosphere of this bar. One for the alternative crowd, the Sound Garden's excellent terrace offers a pleasant view of the canal behind the joint. The drinks are less-pricey than most Amsterdam establishments, the music's on the more rockin' side, and a well-worn pool table, and foosball table await.

Hoppe *- Spui 18/20.
Allegedly Amsterdam’s oldest bar - established 1670. Though others have argued that this honor belongs to Café Karpershoek 1629(?), or even Cafe Chris 1624(?). All the traditional embellishments one would expect to find in a brown café. You literally can imagine yourself back in time here. No music.

Cafe Tabac - Brouwersgracht 101.
One of the cooler establishments in town, this bar (across from the Papeneiland on one of the most beautiful canal corners in the entire city), has a hip young clientele, and is great fun in the summer - when you can sit out on the cushioned stoop on the street, and sit back, relax, and sip beer.

't Spui - Spuistraat 318.
This cozy and friendly bar is entertaining for its Sinatra memorabilia all over the walls, and the grumpy old men from the Muppets in the opera box above the bar door. Not far from the Spui square in the center of town.

Cafe de Eland *- Prinsengracht 296.
Another classic bar next to the Johnny Jordaanplein. Mostly populated by locals. Very attractive interior. Three-dimensional maps of Amsterdam over the tables in the back room are quite interesting.

Harlem Eetcafe - Haarlemmerstraat 77.
With its young (and often quite attractive crowd), this popular bar, in a elegantly designed corner house, is also one of my favorites. Located on the increasingly hip Haarlemerstraat. A great place to sit outside on a warm summer day.

Dante's - Spuistraat 320.
This very large bar, with its impressive collection of liquor bottles stretching high over the bar. Dante's is very, very popular, with a trendy crowd (packed on weekend nights). Elegant interior design. With the artwork of Dutch musician/hero Hermann Brood (1946-2001) throughout, and his “playroom” upstairs.

Absinthe - Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 171.
A below-street level night bar that closes later than most, housed in a old secret chapel (or something like that). And yes you can try the namesake there (I take no responsibility if you choose to do so).

Getaway - Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 250.
A trendy, young 'international' crowd. Funky music and a busy crowd on weekends.

Wolvenstraat 23 - Wolvenstraat 23.
Trendy, more modern, bar on a shopping street, in a nice neighborhood.

Wynand Focking - Pijlsteeg 31.
A very nice Jenever tasting bar (where you can also get beer- not to worry) located in an alley off the Dam. No seats and no music. Be sure to slurp the super-topped-up Jenever while it sits on the bar before attempting to pick it up. Don't gulp in one shot either. The bartender will tell you to sip it, savour it: "too good for that".

Schuim - Spuistraat 189.
Nicely decorated large bar. Interesting crowd and very large liquor collection. Close to the Dam square. Some of my friends have complained about the clientele there though.

Cafe de Jaren - Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22.
Great for coffee, beer and food. Right smack-dab in the center of Amsterdam, this very large and popular cafe with its hip young, or buisiness-like crowd (it's near the university) and beautiful decor (tiled floor, paimtings, etc.), is the single establishment I go to more than any other. Rather than buy the Herald Tribune, or hike to the library- read it here for free. In the summer, don't miss an opportunity to sit out on the terrace in the back. The wonderful view of the Kloveniersburgwal/Amstel confluence is a must see.

De Balie - Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10.
Great for its wireless internet (which unfortunately is no longer free), and nice spacious interior. Between the Leidseplein and the Paradiso. De Balie also holds events (films, music, and other such 'cultural' things).

Cafe Luxembourg - Spui 24.
Nice large cafe. Sit and read an English newspaper here for free in the atrium overlooking the Spui square (pronounced more like "Ow! with a "sp-" in front of it). Great for coffee in the morning too.

Van Puffelen - Prinsengracht 377.
With its elegant interior (marble top bar with flowers, old posters on the walls, red lampshade chandelier lighting, beautiful writing on its windows, etc.) and family atmosphere (come in the afternoon and you will see kids and/or dogs- though this is true in most of the bars listed here.

Please notify me here if you have any suggestions or find any inaccuracies on this page.