Amsterdam Brown Cafés: If you want to discover real Amsterdam, add a visit to some of the city's 'Brown Cafes' , Bruine cafes. Brown cafes are where Amsterdam’s people of all ages meet for a few beers after work, play the odd hand of cards, and quite often debate, ventilate, share their wisdom, gossip or tell stories. These relaxed pubs are truly local - but in the spirit of Amsterdam, all you need to do once you step in to be welcome is break the ice with conversation, or even better, a funny comment. Even if you don't understand a word of Dutch, Amsterdam’s people like This true experience is a friendly 'proeflokaal' dating back to 1679 and their jenever concoctions have theatrical names such to talk, and laugh, and they are happy to do this in another language: most locals are pretty fluent in English and German, and sometimes Spanish or French. How to Recognise a Brown Café These characteristic pubs, with their picturesque dark interiors Brown Cafés do have a few characteristics in common: the walls and ceilings have turned brown from age and cigarette smoke and a few antique gems - such as art deco, enamel posters, or old pictures of the city - are usually placed as decoration. At the brown cafes are the places where one can find the true meaning of the Dutch word Gezelligheid. Our recommendation • Café Chris Bloemstraat 42 Tel: +31 (0)20 624 59 42 • Café Eijlders Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 47 020 - 624 2704 • Café van Zuylen Torensteeg 8 • Café de Drie Fleschjes Gravenstraat 18 1012 NM Amsterdam tel +31 (0)206248443 • De Pilsener Club BEGIJNENSTEEG 4 T 020 623 17 77 • Cafe Kobalt Singel 2 • Hard Rock Cafe Max Euweplein 57-61 • De Zotte Belgisch Bierproeflokaal Raamstraat 29 • Cafe De Waard Leidseplein 14 • Cafe Toussaint Bosboom Touss Straat 26 1054 AS Amsterdam 020 6850737 • Cafe de Jordaan Elandsgracht 45 Apartments in Amsterdam: Visit Amsterdam > Basic Information > Amsterdam Cafes    & Restaurants > Brown cafés > Amsterdam canals    & waterways > Amsterdam    Museums > Camping > Hostels     in Amsterdam > Gay & Lesbian     Amsterdam > Coffee shops > Attractions in     Amsterdam > Tips for the visitor > Holland for kids > Amsterdam    Public Transport > Weather today > Parkings > Reservations    & enquires > Links > Home