15 Best Cafes in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city many people come to visit the ‘special coffee’ shops. But it is also full of great cafes for caffeine lovers too. 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. So check out our list to find out all the best cafes in Amsterdam to enjoy some delicious specialty coffee.
Prices 💰 in Amsterdam expect to pay around 4 euros for a cup of coffee
1. Sango Specialty Coffee
Sango Specialty Coffee 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 own 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 stroopwaffle with your coffee! I am not even a big fan of stroopwaffles but it was awesome to get a mini one to snack on with the coffee.
The interior of Sango is also nicely decorated and it is a cozy little spot to relax with a coffee.
The location of Sango is also great as it is quite 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.
2. Monks Coffee Roasters
Monks Coffee Roasters is another cafe that focuses on sourcing ethical, sustainable beans and roasting their own beans.
We tried two different batched 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 Coffee Roasters is a fairly small cafe but has a nice little seating area inside. We walked past twice and saw people sitting outside and thought it was full. 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 also have professional barista courses for those of you wanted to make coffee making a career.
Monks is one of the best cafes in Amsterdam if you love high-quality specialty coffee.
3. Gentle Place Coffee
Gentle Place Coffee is an awesome cafe located on Amsterdams North Shore. It is quite a long way from the main tourist sites in Amsterdam. So is probably too far for most visitors to Amsterdam.
But if you are in the North of Amsterdam I highly recommend grabbing a cup of coffee at Gentle Place Coffee.
The owners of the cafe are really into sourcing high-quality beans and creating a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy your coffee.
There is a lot of different seating areas which is a 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.
4. 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 Cafe is not one of them. The inside of the cafe is beautifully decorated and on a nice day, there are small tables so you can sit outside in 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.
5. 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 the west of Amsterdam. It has a large outdoor seating area that is lovely on a sunny day.
The other location close to the center is also nice but gets very busy. Both times I visited it was packed which shows how popular it is.
6. 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 East Amsterdam.
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.
7. 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 was delicious and something that you have to try. You can also get a savory Bougatsa if you do not want 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 pig out on some delicious pastries then head to Kafenion.
8. AO Bar
AO Bar is a cool little coffee spot in Amsterdam West with excellent vegan banana bread.
The cafe is painted baby blue and has a nice relaxed atmosphere. As well as banana bread they also have excellent croissants.
The coffee is very good and they also make an excellent cup of matcha. So there are a lot of great options at AO Bar.
9. Priesthood
Priesthood is a unique cafe that is the best cafe in Amsterdam if you want your coffee with a view.
The coffee at Priesthood is very good and the staff were also 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 for some reason is only open from 11 am to 5 pm. So if you want your coffee early it is not a good option.
10. Friedhats Fuku Cafe
Friedhats Fuku Cafe is another specialty coffee store that sources and roasts its own beans.
It is located in West Amsterdam so is more of a local spot as it is away from the main tourist spots.
The coffee at Friedhats is excellent and it is a great spot if you like high-quality specialty coffee.
Personally I ranked the cafe a little lower because it is quite a small cafe with minimal seating. But if you are in Amsterdam West it is a great local spot for a high-quality coffee.
11. The Block
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 is an excellent option.
The interior has a nice minimalist modern design and is a great place to get some work done.
At The Block, you can get very good specialty coffee with a variety of different preparations. They also make excellent matcha if that is your thing.
12. Clay Coffee
Clay Coffee is a unique cafe that has a pottery studio attached. So you can learn to make pottery with 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.
13. 4850
If you are looking for a fancy high-end cafe then you should check out 4850.
At night 4850 serves upscale cuisine that is a bit pricey. But during the day it is an excellent cafe with tasty cinnamon buns.
The flat whites and drip coffee at 4850 is very good and you have to try their cinnamon buns.
14. 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 cafes.
I stopped in at Latei cafe while wandering around China Town as I was attracted by the quirky decorations.
Latei also 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 in the center of Amsterdam.
You will not find any specialty coffee at Latei but the food looks great and the atmosphere in the cafe is great. It is one of the best cafes in Amsterdam close to the main tourist hotspots.
15. Luuks Coffee
Luuks Coffee is a small cafe that is popular for people to grab a quick coffee to go. It has very good reviews on Google. But to be honest it does not quite live up to the reviews.
Compared to other cafes on the list the coffee at Luuks is not super high quality. But if you are close by it is an alright cafe to grab a quick coffee.
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Now You Know All The Best Cafes In Amsterdam
Have fun checking out all the best cafes in Amsterdam. The weather in Amsterdam is can be cold and rainy at all times of year. So it is a good idea to have a list of cafes to escape the cold with a nice cup of coffee.
Amsterdam is a beautiful city and I am sure you will enjoy your time there. If you are travelling to more countries in Europe then check out some of our other articles below!
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Hi, I am Allan, a travel, health and fitness fanatic from New Zealand. I'm a former lawyer who turned into a full-time nomad in 2020. For the last 4+ years I've been traveling the world. I'm always on a hunt for good food, activities on a budget and workouts on the go. I hope you find my tips helpful and get inspired to travel more!
