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Amsterdam is a city many people visit for its ‘special coffee shops’. But it is also full of great cafes for caffeine lovers.
Because Amsterdam is an expensive city most of the cafes in town are quite small. But they can be a cozy place to escape the cold on a rainy day.
What I love about Amsterdam’s coffee culture is that many cafes source and roast their own beans, turning drinking coffee into an experience.
So check out our list to find out all the best cafes in Amsterdam and enjoy some delicious specialty coffee and typical Dutch pastries ☕️🥐🥮
Price: Expect to pay around 4 euros for a cup of coffee in Amsterdam. Plant-based milks are widely available for an additional fee. Most cafes are card-only!
1. Sango Specialty Coffee
- Best for: Speciality coffee, beans, workshops
- Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm daily
- Location: Stromarkt 15, Amsterdam Centrum (Google Maps)
- Website: Sango Specialty Coffee
Sango is my favorite cafe in Amsterdam because it does everything well. The coffee is beautifully roasted and the Americano I ordered was full of flavor.
The coffee at Sango is all sourced sustainably from individual farms. The owners also roast their beans so you will be guaranteed to get a high-quality coffee here.
One of my favorite things about Sango was that you got a mini stroopwafle with your coffee! I am not even a big fan of this traditional Dutch treat but it was awesome for the experience.
The interior of Sango is nicely decorated and it is a cozy little spot to relax with a coffee. They also have a shop, workshops, and wholesale which you can all find on their website.
The location of Sango is great as it is close to the city center. So it is a great place to grab a coffee before going out sightseeing.
Overall I thought Sango was an awesome cafe and the best cafe in Amsterdam in my opinion.
Tip: Place the stroopwafel on top of your coffee cup to let the caramel filling melt between the crispy waffle layers – just like the locals do! You can also learn how to make your own in this Stroopwafel workshop 🧇
2. Monks Coffee Roasters
- Best for: Speciality Coffee, beans, barista classes
- Hours: 8 am–4 pm daily
- Location: Bilderdijkstraat 46H, Amsterdam West (Google Maps)
- Website: Monks Coffee Roasters
Monks is another cafe that focuses on sourcing ethical, sustainable beans and roasting them in-house.
We tried two different batch brews based on the recommendation of the barista and they were excellent.
You can really taste all the different flavours of the beans and it was clear that it was not from a mass-produced product.
Monks is a fairly small cafe but has a nice little seating area inside. We walked past twice and saw people standing outside and thought it was full when it wasn’t. So make sure you look inside! There might be seats available.
Monks also offers coffee classes where you can learn to make the perfect cup of coffee at home. They have professional barista courses for those of you who want to make coffee a career.
Monks is one of the best cafes in Amsterdam if you love high-quality specialty coffee.
Tip: For an authentic Dutch experience and to visit all the cafes on this list, rent a bike for just 8 USD a day! 🚲
3. Gentle Place Coffee
- Best for: Coffee, local vibes, working
- Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm daily
- Location: Distelweg 409, Amsterdam North (Google Maps)
- Instagram: Gentle Place Coffee
Gentle Place is an awesome cafe located on Amsterdam’s North Shore. It is outside the main tourist zone but if you are in Amsterdam North I highly recommend grabbing a cup of coffee there.
The owners of the cafe are into sourcing high-quality beans and supporting the local community, creating a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy your coffee.
There are a lot of different seating areas which is a great change from most cafes in Amsterdam. Out the back, there is a large seating area with a big table if you are looking to do some work.
The flat white here was delicious and they also make really good kimchi toast. If you are hungry the baked goods are yummy here as well and a lot of them are home-baked by the owners!
You can also get strong cold brews, delicious matcha latte or real hot chocolate and choose from a variety of plant-based milks.
Keep an eye out for their workshops, in case you want to dive deeper into the art of making coffee.
Tip: Combine a visit to Gentle Place Cafe with exploring Amsterdam North: The arty area around Pllek, the Ijhallen fleamarket, the world’s largest street art museum or panoramic views from the A’DAM Lookout 🗼
4. Hummingbird
- Best for: Coffee flavor sampling, beans, cozy seating
- Hours: 8:30 am–5 pm daily
- Location: Spuistraat 217, Amsterdam Centrum (Google Maps)
- Website: Hummingbird
Hummingbird is one of the best cafes in Amsterdam located within the city center. Most of the city center is full of horrible touristy shops and restaurants. But Hummingbird is not one of them.
The inside of the cafe is beautifully decorated and on a nice day, there are small tables set up outside. So you can enjoy the sun if you are lucky enough to have a sunny day in Amsterdam! ☀️
Hummingbird likes to rotate through different coffee roasters so there are always different flavors available. Every month they have a new brand of coffee available at the cafe. So it is a great place if you like to sample different flavors.
Because of the convenient location, it is a great spot to have a morning coffee before exploring Amsterdam.
Tip: Dutch people love their cheeses! Learn all about the home of cheese like Gouda and Edam in this Cheese Tasting Experience close to Hummingbird’s Cafe 🧀
5. Back to Black
- Best for: Speciality coffee, beans, vibes
- Hours: 8 am–6 pm daily
- 2 Locations: Amsterdam Centrum | Amsterdam West
- Website: Back to Black
Back to Black is one of the most well-known cafes in Amsterdam that imports and roasts its own beans. They have two locations in Amsterdam and both are great places to have a good quality coffee.
If the weather is nice I recommend visiting the Back to Black in Amsterdam West. It has a large outdoor seating area that is lovely on a sunny day.
The other location close to the city center is also nice but gets very busy. Both times I visited it was packed which shows how popular it is.
Tip: The Back to Black busy city center location is close to the famous Heineken brewery. You can reserve your skip-the-line ticket for the Heineken Experience here 🍺
6. Five Ways Coffee Roasters
- Best for: Speciality Coffee, Brunch, Food
- Hours: 8 am–5 pm daily
- 2 Locations: Amsterdam East | Amsterdam West
- Website: Five Ways
Five Ways is an Australian-owned cafe with two locations in Amsterdam. Both cafes serve very good coffee but I preferred the location in Amsterdam East.
It has a much larger outdoor area and the inside was much cosier as well. If you are hungry Five Ways is an excellent place to have brunch.
The Shakshuka looked delicious so you can grab more to eat than just pastries and croissants, which is usually the case in Amsterdam cafes.
Tip: If you’re a foodie like us, check out this food tour that combines city highlights with Dutch staples like kibbeling (fish), stroopwafel (caramel waffle) and bitterballen (meatballs) 🇳🇱
7. Kafenion
- Best for: Pastry, Vibes, Coziness
- Hours: 8 am–7 pm daily
- Location: Bloemgracht 49, Amsterdam Joordan (Google Maps)
- Instagram: Kafenion
Kafenion is an awesome cafe located on the lower floors of a beautiful old building. The cafe has a really cool vibe and they serve delicious bougatsas.
A bougatsa is a traditional Greek pastry that is filled with custard. We are not usually pastry eaters but the bougatsa is something that you have to try.
It came fresh from the oven and was delicious! You can also get a savory bougatsa if you do not feel like something sweet.
The coffee at Kafenion is also good but it is not a specialty coffee store. If you are looking for high-quality specialty coffee then head to other cafes on this list.
But if you want to indulge in some delicious, unique pastries and experience a different Amsterdam cafe vibe then head to Kafenion.
Tip: Kafenion is around the corner of the famous Anne Frank House. If you want to learn more about her life and this period I recommend checking out this Anne Frank walking tour.
8. AO Bar
- Best for: Brunch, local vibes
- Hours: 8 am–4 pm daily
- Location: Van Hallstraat 97, Amsterdam West (Google Maps)
- Website: AO Bar
AO is a cool little coffee spot in Amsterdam West with excellent vegan banana bread and other delicious pastries.
It’s also a popular brunch place in Amsterdam with a solid menu of healthy breakfast options such as matcha or coconut yogurt bowls and hearty toasties which are grilled sandwiches Dutch people love.
The cafe is painted baby blue and has a nice relaxed atmosphere. We saw many people working or writing in their journals, despite the small-sized tables.
The coffee is very good and they also make an excellent cup of matcha. So there are a lot of great options at AO.
❗️Update: Unfortunately, the AO Bar closed in December 2024. It remains unclear if they will reopen at another location, which is why it’s still listed here. Updates will be made on their Instagram and on this page.
9. Priesthood
- Best for: Views!
- Hours: 11 am–5 pm, weekends closed
- Location: Prins Hendrikkade 51, Amsterdam Centrum (Google Maps)
- Instagram: Priesthood
Priesthood is a hidden coffee lover gem and the best cafe in Amsterdam Central if you want your coffee with a view.
The coffee at Priesthood is very good and the staff who are volunteers were very friendly. But the best part of Priesthood cafe is the views from the second floor.
After ordering your coffee head up the stairs for awesome views across to Amsterdam Central Station. There are only a few seats upstairs but if you get one you will have an amazing view to enjoy your coffee.
Priesthood is only open from 11 am to 5 pm. So if you want your coffee early it is not a good option.
Tip: From Priesthood Cafe you can jump into a boat to cruise Amsterdam’s beautiful canals. We were on boots several times during our visits and always loved it! 🤩
10. Friedhats Fuku Cafe
- Best for: Speciality Coffee, local vibes
- Hours: 8 am–4 pm daily
- Location: Bos en Lommerweg 136H, Amsterdam West (Google Maps)
- Website: Friedhats Fuku Cafe
Friedhats is another specialty coffee store in Amsterdam that sources and roasts its own beans. You can order any style of coffee you can think of, including V60s.
It is located in Amsterdam West so it’s more of a local spot as it is away from the main tourist zone.
The coffee at Friedhats is excellent and it is a great neighborhood cafe if you like high-quality specialty coffee. The baristas were also very friendly.
Like many other Amsterdam cafes, Friedhats is quite a small place with minimal seating. But its huge coffee selection written on the wall makes up for it!
Tip: Combine a visit to Friedhats Cafe with a stroll through Amsterdam Westerpark where you’ll find markets and events on weekends. If you like art, check out this unique 3D art center with Dutch artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt.
11. The Block Coffee
- Best for: Speciality Coffee, local vibes
- Hours: 8 am–5 pm daily
- Location: Gaasterlandstraat 401, Amsterdam South (Google Maps)
- Website: The Block Coffee
The Block is a sleek modern cafe located in the south of Amsterdam. It is quite far from the center so is not the best option if you are on a short trip to Amsterdam.
But if you are in Amsterdam for longer and explore the south, The Block Cafe is an excellent option.
The interior has a nice minimalist modern design and it is a great place to get some work done.
You can get very good specialty coffee here with a variety of different preparations. They also make excellent matcha and Dutch toasties if that is your thing.
Tip: Amsterdam is full of unique experiences. For example, you could combine the 25-minute walk from The Block through Amsterdam’s hippest area De Pijp with this perfume-making workshop 🧑🔬
12. Clay Coffee
- Best for: Coffee to go, pastries, pottery
- Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm, Sundays closed
- Location: Hemonylaan 6A, Amsterdam De Pijp (Google Maps)
- Website: Clay Coffee
Clay Coffee is a unique Amsterdam cafe that has a pottery studio attached. So you can learn to make a cup or fish bowl for your coffee if you like.
But even if you are not interested in pottery, Clay Coffee is worth a visit. The coffee is excellent and they also have great pastries.
There aren’t many seats so get prepared for a coffee to go or to share the bench with other coffee lovers.
If you’re in the mood for a great matcha latte, you’ll find that at Clay Cafe as well.
Tip: Clay Coffee is close to a unique food experience we did ourselves and loved. Enjoy a 3-course dinner in the dark! It will sharpen all your senses and give you a higher understanding of how blind people navigate life ✨
13. 4850
- Best for: Speciality coffee, cinnamon buns
- Hours: 9 am–3 pm weekdays, 9 am–6 pm weekends
- Location: Camperstraat 48-50 Amsterdam Oost (Google Maps)
- Website: 4850
If you are looking for a high-end cafe that also functions as a wine bar then you should check out 4850.
Later in the day, 4850 serves sandwiches and on weekends a big selection of wines. But in the morning it’s an excellent cafe with freshly baked tasty cinnamon buns.
The baristas are super friendly and there are lots of seats inside and outside the cafe.
You can choose beans from different origins and if you order a drip coffee or batch brew it comes in a beaker which makes it a cool coffee experience.
Flat whites are also very good at 4850 and, I repeat, you have to try their cinnamon buns! 🙂
Our tips help you out? Say thanks with a virtual coffee! 💛
14. Latei
- Best for: Coziness, food, local vibes
- Hours: 8 am–6 pm daily
- Location: Zeedijk 143, Amsterdam Centrum (Google Maps)
- Instagram: Latei
Latei is a colorful cafe full of old lamps, brightly colored tables, and decorations. It is a big change from the modern minimalist designs you find in most other Amsterdam cafes.
I stopped in at Latei cafe while wandering around Amsterdam’s Chinatown because I was attracted by the quirky decorations.
Latei was filled with locals which is not something you find often in the center of Amsterdam.
There was also plenty of seating inside so it is a great place to stop for a coffee and something to eat.
You will not find any specialty coffee at Latei but the food looked delicious and the atmosphere in the cafe was great.
It is one of the best cute cafes in Amsterdam close to the main tourist hotspots.
Tip: Latei is very close to the meeting point of this top-rated Amsterdam Red Light District Tour run by a local. I loved exploring this part of town with a tour guide as it will give you all the interesting facts you’d otherwise miss 👯♀️
15. Luuk’s Coffee
- Best for: Coffee to go, pastries
- Hours: 7:30 am–4:30 pm daily
- Location: Westerstraat 3, Amsterdam Joordan (Google Maps)
- Website: Luuk’s Coffee
Luuk’s is a small cafe that is popular for a quick caffeine fix or coffee to go as there are only. a few seats inside.
It can get very busy, especially on the weekend, when Saturday’s farmers market (Noordermarkt) is happening.
They have many vegan milk options including pea milk which is a cool change to oat milk. You’ll also find a small but tasty selection of pastries to have with your coffee.
Considering it’s more of a takeaway cafe you can still get your coffee in a ceramic cup. I always find it frustrating when coffee shops only have paper cups, so that’s a big plus.
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Enjoy Amsterdam’s Best Cafes!
Have fun checking out all the best cafes in Amsterdam – we sure did.
The weather in Amsterdam can be chilly year-round, so it’s a good idea to have a list of great cafes where you can escape the rain with a nice cup of coffee.
Amsterdam is a beautiful city and I am sure you will enjoy your time there. For local insider tips and hidden gems, check out our 2-Day Amsterdam Itinerary.
If you are traveling to more European countries, browse through our other articles below.
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