A night out in: West

Culture

Museums galore at Westergas Cultural District

A hub of institutions congregate in Westerpark at the Westergas Cultural District that include the soon-to-be-open Museum Villa, plus Fabrique des Lumieres and Het Meterhuisje. A walk around here is a chance to discover a broad range of cultural sights, depending on your mood, plus it's not far from options for terrace drinks in the sun afterwards.

Pre-drinks

Sunshine wines at De Willem / Alt cool at Checkpoint Charlie

Depending on the season, we’ve got two picks for you in Amsterdam-West. In the summertime, De Willem’s grand exterior is all ruse – its terrace a lovely, lowkey spot just on the water that was meant for golden hour drinks. If the weather turns or it’s autumn, head just down the road to Checkpoint Charlie. Named after the very same spot in Berlin, this bar is a nod to the German capital with beers galore and a range of bar games and live music that’ll get the juices flowing. 

Food

Bistro finery at Café Restaurant Amsterdam

This cafe-restaurant, situated in the former engine room of a 19th-century pumping station, is one of Amsterdam’s most iconic dining rooms and almost note-perfect for groups. For such a lofty interior – complete with monumentally high ceilings and gargantuan windows – the Parisian bistro-inspired menu is surprisingly well-priced. Choose from rillettes, steak tartare, cassoulet and a great range of fresh seafood - or burgers and pasta for the little ones – and get the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. You won’t regret it. 

Cocktails

Global cool at Bar Bario

Bario, meaning neighbourhood in Papiamentu – the language spoken across the Dutch Antilles – is a queer and POC-centred bar and creative hub. It’s an inclusive environment for marginalised communities, with a packed agenda featuring visual artists, spoken word poets, and panel discussions. But they do great cocktails too with some of the city’s most creative names (we’ll let you discover those for yourself) on the menu. It’s become as much a spot to meet with friends for a drink as it is to get a taste of the local LGBTQI+ scene, from life drawing sessions to queer art fairs.

Music

Live bands at Cafe Pianist / Indie performances at De Nieuwe Anita

You’ll find live music weekly at Cafe de Pianist in Westerpark, starting with co-owner Rob on the piano. The night continues with jazz, jazz manouche, singer-songwriter duos and more. Keep an eye out for the lazy Sunday afternoon sessions and the Fun Fridays on the agenda: they will often have jazz, as well, and don’t miss the Jazz night every Thursday from 20:00 to 23:00. Alternatively, head south to De Nieuwe Anita’s living room-style bar, which often hosts intimate acoustic nights and live entertainment. The space even extends through to the back, where it opens out into a large, two-tiered venue for larger gigs, club nights and other events. 

Clubbing

Boutique techno at RadioRadio

For boutique, curated techno in the Westerpark area, RadioRadio is small but mighty. Over several refurbishments since opening in 2018, the Radio Radio team have honed this intimate space and premier sound system – attracting world-class DJs alongside their impressive roster of residents. Thursday–Sunday evenings offer cocktails with a killer soundtrack, while on Saturdays and Sundays, you can tune into live-streamed mixes or dance the night away.

Late-night food

Kebabs and kapsalon at Dönerland Eethuis

Nothing says after-hours food quite like a good döner. While Amsterdam isn’t quite Berlin in terms of sheer availability, there are plenty of excellent options still. Dönerland Eethuis has all the trappings of a late-night jaunt on the ever-thronging Kinkerstraat. Get stuck into a broodje döner, a kebab platter or the kip kapsalon; loaded fries topped with chicken döner meat, melted cheese and salad.