De Admiraal Herengracht 319       +31 (0) 20 625 43 34 A 'proeflokaal' (tasting house) where you can sample the liquors of Van Wees, the last of Amsterdam's independent distilleries. Museum-like interior with lots of brewery utensils. Not exactly true to tasting house style, De Admiraal stays open until late in the evening, and if you stay that long you will be pleased to know there are comfortable sofas and armchairs. Wonderful outdoor patio. Open 4:30 p.m. - 12 p.m. - closed Sunday

Eik En Linde Plantage Middenlaan 22      +31 (0) 20 622 57 16 Archetypical Dutch 'brown' bar, a favorite among locals. The history of Eik en Linde goes back as far as 1858, and the walls are plastered with historical drawings and photographs. Beware of the clock behind the bar which runs backwards; although truly confusing this still might be considered a lame excuse. Open 11  a.m. - 1 a.m. - 2 a.m. -- 1 p.m. - 2 a.m. weekends   Hoppe Spui 18-20       +31 (0) 20 420 44 20 A famous Amsterdam institution, Hoppe consists of two adjoining properties. The part on the right has been a bar since 1670, the interior reflecting its rich history. The sand on the floor is refreshed daily, no music is played and there is standing room only. The left part is bigger and offers seating as well as music. Hoppe is a very popular bar with the crowd spilling out onto the sidewalk on summer days. During happy hour it fills up with expensive suits on the way home from the office. Open 8 a.m. - 1 a.m. -- 2 a.m. weekends   Int Aepjen Zeedijk 1      +31 (0) 20 626 84 01 One of the oldest bars in Amsterdam, housed in the only remaining 15th-century home, heavily decorated with old toys and advertising materials. 'Aepjen' means monkey, which refers to the time this was a sailors lodging house. A guest couldn't pay his bill, and he supposedly brought back a monkey on the next trip. No music, but a accordionist during weekends to guide the regulars during their sing-a-longs. Open 3 p.m. - 1 a.m. -- 3 a.m. weekends     't Loosje Nieuwmarkt 32-34         +31 (0) 20 627 26 35 Very old brown bar with a lot of character on the edge of the Red Light district. The interior features beautiful tile tableaux dating from the beginning of this century. Attracts a mixed public during daytime, but caters mainly to students during the evening. Outside terrace with a good view of the Nieuwmarkt square. Open 9:30 a.m. - 1 a.m.  --  2 a.m. weekends Het Molenpad Prinsengracht 653      +31 (0) 20 625 96 80 Archetypical 'brown' cafe, with a bit of an arty atmosphere, maybe due to Amsterdam's main library being just around the corner. Pretty decent kitchen serves lunch and dinner, and lovely snack plates to go with your appetizer. Beautiful canal side terrace with limited space though, so you might have to wait it out a bit. Open daily noon - 1 a.m. -- 2 a.m. weekends       Nol Westerstraat 109        +31 (0) 20 624 53 80 Very popular bar in true over-the-top Jordaan style: red lights, crystal chandeliers, floral wallpaper and of course loud Dutch evergreens, which the crowd sings along to at the top of their voices. Always packed, especially during weekends. Popular with locals and boisterous students alike. Open 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. -- 4 a.m. weekends

De Pieper Prinsengracht 424         +31 (0) 20 626 47 75 One of the oldest brown bars in town dating back to 1665, and with lots of the original furnishings still in place, like the stained glass windows and the sand covered wooden flooring. Lovely but smallish outside terrace overlooking a beautiful part of Prinsengracht canal. Open daily 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. -- 3 a.m. weekends   Reijnders Leidseplein 6       +31 (0) 20 623 44 19 One of the best bets in the tourist Leidseplein area is this authentic brown bar. It used to be the literary centre of the Leidseplein, together with the neighboring cafe Eylders. Elegant, high-ceiling interior and waiters clad in traditional black-and-white. The glassed-in front opens during the summer to create a sunny outside terrace. Open daily 9 a.m. - 1 a.m. --  3 a.m. weekends

't Smalle Egelantiersgracht 12       +31 (0) 20 623 96 17 A former 'proeflokaal' (tasting house) for the nearby Hoppe gin distillery dating from 1786. The beautifully restored interior certainly makes this bar worth a visit, but the main attraction has to be the large waterside terrace on the relatively quiet Egelantiersgracht canal. Possibility to moor your boat, if you're so inclined. Open daily 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- 2 a.m. weekends   Thijssen Brouwersgracht 107      +31 (0) 20 623 89 94 Large bar in the Jordaan, catering to young locals. Though of more recent date then the neighboring bars, it already has managed to acquire a nice 'brown' patina. The large windows provide a good view of one of the most beautiful parts of the Jordaan. Gets crowded during evenings. Open 9:30 a.m.  - 1 a.m.  -- 3 a.m. weekends     De Tuin 2e Tuindwarsstraat 13      +31 (0) 20 624 45 59 Popular Jordaan bar frequented by young locals. Pretty much your basic brown bar, but with a friendly and laid-back atmosphere, in a nice mellow part of the Jordaan.   Open 10 a.m. - 1 a.m. -- 2 a.m. weekends

Twee Prinsen Prinsenstraat 27    +31 (0) 20 624 97 22 Brown Jordaan bar with a friendly and lively atmosphere. Light interior with large windows and a beautiful mosaic floor. Twee Prinsen has a heated outside terrace, which is perfect for colder nights. Open 10 a.m. - 1 a.m.  --  3 a.m. weekends     De Twee Zwaantjes Prinsengracht 114    +31 (0) 20 625 27 29   De Twee Zwaantjes (The Two Swans) is one of the better known Jordaan bars. Caters mainly to a local public on weekdays, but during the weekend an enthusiastic crowd sings along to old songs from the Jordaan and the occasional opera piece. The bar has a canal side terrace. Open 3 p.m. - 1 a.m. -- 3 a.m. weekends  -- closed Wednesday Wijnand Fockink Pijlsteeg 31     +31 (0) 20 639 26 95 Tasting house formerly belonging to the distillery of Wijnand Fockink, founded in 1679. Closed in 1990 but was reopened in 1993 by a Dutch entrepreneur who distills his own liquors in the Pijlsteeg. Most of the interior remains in its original state, and true to form the 'proeflokaal' has no chairs or tables and no music is played. Open 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.

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