Lounge bars and nightclubs

Over the last ten years, an emergence of design cafés and lounge bars has made their mark on Amsterdam’s nightlife. Smaller versions of nightclubs in a way; with the latest DJs, trendy crowds and the best cocktails. Most lounge bars stay open until 01:00; some until 04:00.

Amsterdam’s nightlife is as varied as the city’s residents themselves. The city offers everything from night theatre, art parties and live music from well-known and up-and-coming international bands, to packed clubs with the best DJs spinning everything from R&B and house to hard rock and hip-hop. You’ll have plenty of time to take it all in, as most nightclubs stay open until 04:00, with some extended to 05:00 or 06:00 on weekends.

The night life in Amsterdam is renowned around the globe for being so hot, people often find it necessary to postpone ending their visit and stay a while longer, because in many ways, everything a night on the town in Amsterdam offers, simply isn’t readily available in most cites around the planet.

Here are the most popular clubs:

This is a very open minded establishment with some truly refreshingly original alternative music choices that make your experience a “one of a kind” clubbing event. The club is actually two interconnected rooms, so it is can host two totally different events at the same time. Decently price food and snacks, this place is a lot of fun and every night is something different.

Open weekly from Thurs through Sunday from 10pm till 4am and Friday and Saturday from 10pm till 5am.

This place is HUGE, three stories tall and each level has its own uniquely distinct feel and style to it. The club is actually set up like a home, where you enter into the “Living Room” with its homey feeling fireplace, and bookshelves. The first floor is called “The Bedroom” and is a comfortable lounge area where you can kick back and relax, or decide to go downstairs to “The Basement” which holds the main dance floor and houses the club’s live DJ'.

Open Thursday through Sunday from 11pm till 4am.

This is Amsterdam’s first “Super Club,” capable of serving the reveling needs of more than 5,000 simultaneous dancers. This club is on the outskirts of town, out in an industrial zone near the “Amstel “station. The club has “NO door policy or tipping allowed. It is large, spacious and comfortable with a huge dance floor, a second story lounger area called the “Comfort Zone,” and a variety of music that will appeal to almost everyone. This place is absolutely AWESOME!

Open just Friday and Saturday from 11pm till 5am.

Amsterdam's only hip-hop club, this is where rap and hip-hop beats are bumping and thumping throughout the night for the and a crowd that loves the urban sounds with a beat that won’t stop drumming. There occasionally is LIVE music available during the weekends.

Open Thurs through Sat from 8pm till 4am.

This is more of a “night theatre,” where you can enjoy a very relaxed atmosphere and moderate priced drinks while absorbing some powerful poetry readings, live music, DJ monitored dance music and various artistic performances, with the early show being a stage performance piece and the late show being a vast variety of music and dance.

Open daily except for Tuesday, from 9 pm till 4am.

If you are a part of the “Goth” scene or simply looking for a variety of alternative punk-rock and grunge rock, welcome to Korsakoff. Be sure to check out the live music every Wednesdays.

Open daily 10pm-3am and till 4am on weekends).

A hot, spacious “theatre-club located right in the vicinity of “Centraal Station,” this club offers excellent music with a live DJ's as well as the occasional live musical performance of local talent and touring acts. Stylistically, Bitterzoet tends to cater to a more sophisticated crowd who enjoy the jazzy sounds and world music. With a very relaxed attitude and atmosphere, the cover charge is extremely fair and the drinks are absolutely awesome and reasonably priced.

Open daily from 9 pm till 3 am / Sat & Sun from 11pm till 4am.

Housed in a former newspaper printing factory, this very down to the brass tacks, basic, no frills club offers some of the hottest “Progressive Electronic” pumped through one of the finest sound systems you will ever have the privilege or pleasure to hear. The club includes a great restaurant that serves up a delicious blend of what it calls “Street Food” for really reasonable prices.

Open Friday & Saturday from 10 pm-5 am. Restaurant opens Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 pm till 11pm and till 2 am on Saturdays.

Modern tech meets ancient Hong Kong in this amazingly well lit club where the color scheme is black and dark and the music is mixed to perfection. Black leather sofas and comfy seats are the furnishings of choice, along with the traditional opium table that you might want to cozy on up to. This place is famous for being very picky about who gets in, so try your luck and we wish you much of it, but if you’re not already “on the guest list” then be sure to have a back-up plan, because this highly selective door policy leaves most people out in the street!

Open from Thurs through Sun, 11pm till 4am.

A small, very relaxed and mellow club with a totally cool, laid back staff, great music and a killer sound system. Did we mention that this club is SMALL, awesome, but small, so it gets literally gets “HOT” when things start to get hot! It’s the coolest hot club around!

Open on Weds through Sun from 11pm till 5 am.

This is one of Amsterdam’s largest and most popular clubs, but it quite rented out for events, so be sure to check to see what’s happening before you just show up at the door. This place can easily accommodate 2,000 + partiers, but there is still likely to be a line to get in and an extremely meticulously doorman who decides who gains entrance into Paradise and who can go to... Well, you get the picture. Think “New York’s very famous “Studio 54” and you’ll know what we’re talking about.

Open from Thursday through Sunday from 11pm till 4am.

This is a very popular DJ bar, just a short walk from Leidseplein. It isn’t one of their biggest clubs in Amsterdam, but it certainly is one of the most respected and renowned, with excellent music played seven days a week.

Open daily from 6 pm till 4 am.

Mostly a popular hang-out for those who like “World Music,” this club has a ton of live performances, is extremely laid back and relaxed and very “youth friendly!”

Times greatly vary as to when the club opens, so be sure to call ahead!

This is Amsterdam’s “Student Club” and you must have a valid student ID to gain entrance. It’s a place where the kids can be kids and not have to worry about dirty old men or hungry cougars scamming on young flesh. They play a very wide variety of from disco and pop to techno house music. Up stairs is a quieter, more relaxed bar for casual conversation and downstairs is the main dance floor. Happy Hour is every night from 11pm till -midnight. A great place for students to chill, there are “No” dress restrictions.

Open daily from 11pm to 4am (weekends 5am).

This club is primarily popularly known for its live musical performances, but during the weekend it often becomes a club nights with local and international DJ's.

Times greatly vary as to when the club opens, so be sure to call ahead!