SkyLounge
Award-winning SkyLounge is not only one of the best hotel bars in Amsterdam, it is also one of the best rooftop venues in the city. Set on the 11thfloor of DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station hotel, it offers panoramic views and makes a perfect retreat from the busy city below. Open every day, 11am until late, it is particularly renowned as an evening venue, with DJs giving SkyLounge a busy, party vibe. Enjoy a range of top cocktails from sweet Tropical Smash to aptly named Dancing in the Sky, made with citron vodka, lime juice, rose syrup and cranberry juice. Those looking to eat here will be impressed by the food choices, which range from bites such as burger sliders to sushi platters.
SkyLounge, Oosterdoksstraat 4, 1011 DK Amsterdam +31 (0)20 530 0875
Tunes Bar
Those looking for an elegant setting for a few cocktails should head to Tunes Bar in Conservatorium Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from many of Amsterdam’s top attractions. The magnificent hotel building was formerly a music school, hence the bar’s musical name. The hotel exudes a sense of relaxing luxury and Tunes Bar adds to this with contemporary appeal, with floor-to-ceiling windows and subtle lighting. It offers a select cocktail menu featuring classics such as Old Fashioned, Negroni and Manhattan. There’s also an impressive range of at least 20 varieties of gin and even a number of different sakis. Asian tapas dishes, including sushi and dim sum, are on offer for those feeling peckish.
Tunes Bar, Conservatorium Hotel, Van Baerlestraat 27, 1071 AN Amsterdam, +31 (0)20 570 0000
Pulitzer’s Bar
The bar at Amsterdam’s canal-side Pulitzer hotels is one of the most striking in the city. Designed to evoke a nostalgic sense of glamour, it has jewel-toned furniture, art deco-style features and plush seating. Grab an armchair by the fireplace and study the cocktail menu inspired from the life of Ernest Hemingway, or take up a seat by the window overlooking Keizergracht and opt for a classic cocktail such as Amsterdam Martini. Those wanting nibbles with their cocktail will be impressed with the selection of snacks based on Dutch delicacies.
Pulitzer’s Bar, Keizersgracht 234, 1016 DZ Amsterdam, +31 (0)20 523 5282
Twenty Third Bar
Located on the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, Twenty Third Bar offers top cocktails and a breath-taking view over the De Pijp neighbourhood. It is a perfect place for a night out or a top spot for an aperitif. Many of its cocktails have been inspired by Amsterdam, including the Zeedijk, named after one of the city’s oldest streets, and the Walk in the Vondelpark, crafted with puree of beetroot. Signature cocktails include From Amsterdam with Love, made with chocolate and raspberry, and Hortus Botanicus, with fig and clove puree. The menu of light bites presents tempting options such as blinis with caviar, and crispy chicken with kimchi and bonito flakes.
Twenty Third Bar, Hotel Okura Amsterdam, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH Amsterdam, +31 (0)20 678 7450
Momo
Taking its name from the Japanese word for peach tree and peach blossom, Momo is a modern bar and pan-Asian dining restaurant in Park Hotel Amsterdam. The glamorous setting ‒ think minimalist white elegance, geometric striped sofas and white leather bar stools ‒attracts Amsterdam’s fashion crowd, who come to share plates of sushi and seafood and to enjoy the top drinks menu. Cocktails include passion fruit Bellini and Ginger Forest, with tequila, ginger and blackberry. Momo lives up to all expectations and is one of the top hotel bars in the city.
Momo, Hobbemastraat 1, 1071 XZ Amsterdam, +31 (0)20 671 7474