Brown cafés

What’s in a name?

The name “brown cafés” comes from the dark but cosy wooden interiors and the nicotine-stained walls and ceilings. Even though the indoor smoking ban means that most café’s shouldn’t really be getting any browner, some of the newer hangouts are carefully decorated to achieve this lived-in look. Whether you read the newspapers over your daily cup of coffee, meet a friend for lunch, or knock back a few beers after work, for many people their local brown café is an extension of their living room.

Traditional haunts

Several brown cafés claim to be the oldest café in Amsterdam, and while there is no hard historic evidence to indicate a clear winner, there are some that can trace their roots back to the early 1600s. Brown café In ’t Aepjen, located at Zeedijk 1, is simultaneously one of the city's oldest and newest brown cafés! Housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city dating from 1475, its annex was a tavern in the 17^th century, but the ground floor only became a café in 1990.

Food and drink

In general, brown cafés are laid-back and the fare is pretty simple. In addition to local and regional beers, soft drinks and coffee or tea, you can also sip jenever – a Dutch spirit similar to gin. Light meals and snacks (hapjes) are also usually on offer. A typical Dutch pub snack is bitterballen (breaded and deep-fried balls with a ragout filling), often served with mustard.

Unique character

Every brown café has its own character and even type of clientele. Some are have a working-class clientele, while others are frequented by students or young professionals. The décor varies too, but in general brown cafes are down-to-earth establishments, known for being charming and cosy - what the Dutch call gezelligheid - rather than having trendy interiors.

For a true Amsterdam experience, duck into a brown cafe for an honest drink and a friendly ear!