As everyone knows, how to buy and consume cannabis it is legal in Amsterdam, it has been since 1976 and, since then, it has become a major tourist attraction for people from all over the world. Currently, there are more than 100 coffee shops distributed throughout the city where you can enjoy cannabis in a pleasant and safe environment.
If you want to discover more about the most famous coffee shops in Amsterdam, keep reading this article!
Difference between coffee shop and cafe in Amsterdam
If what you are looking for is to be able to enjoy a good breakfast and good coffee, what you are looking for is a koffiehuis, not a cafeteria. What is known as a coffee shop is a place where you can smoke cannabis while coffee houses are for drinking and enjoying coffee, cakes and food.
One way to easily identify that you are entering a koffiehuis or a coffee shop is that in the latter, a green and white sticker is included in the sales to indicate that that cafeteria has a license to sell marijuana.
Top 10 best coffee shops in Amsterdam
Boerejongens
The first that we want to comment on is Boerejongens, this one is one of the favorites of the citizens of Amsterdam. Currently, it has 4 stores distributed throughout Amsterdam and although all have a different decoration, they are easily recognizable thanks to their careful and elegant aesthetics with details of golden marble and wood. The best known and most frequented is the one located in Utrechtsestraat, right next to the Herengracht canal.
DampKring Coffee Shop
Is known for appearing in the Ocean’s Twelve movie starring George Clooney Brad Pitt. He is not only known for appearing in this movie but also because he offers the largest variety of cannabis in all of Amsterdam. It is a perfect place to enjoy whether you are a tourist, a local and a novice or experienced.
Green House United
Is a well-known coffee shop located in the Red Light District and is one of the most charming cafeteria. It offers one of the best herbs in Amsterdam and is a winner of 38 High Times Cannabis Cups. Is situated nicely in the red light district next to a canal.
The Stud
It was founded in 1981 and is another well-known and frequented place by the locals of Amsterdam, it offers a warm and safe atmosphere in an open environment. Thanks to this, it has achieved a very good reputation and was awarded in 2015 as the “best coffee shop in the Netherlands”.
The Bulldog
Is one of the best-known coffee shops in the entire city of Amsterdam and one of the main tourist attractions. It has become such a famous cafeteria that today it is a chain spread throughout the city. Amsterdam’s first coffee shop was The Bulldog No. 90 in 1974 when cannabis was still illegal. From that moment on, it became a benchmark for other cafeterias in the city. It is located in the heart of the Red Light District.
Amnesia
Is located along the Herengracht, it is a cafeteria with a very elaborate aesthetic based on dark red colors, with hanging red lights and soft music to create atmosphere. All this elegant décor makes Amnesia a perfect quiet place to relax.
Bluebird
Is located near Rembrandthuis, specifically, it is placed in a modern building on a very different street where the different coffee shops are located, this makes it a much more relaxed and basic cafeteria. It was founded in 1982 and offers a great food menu for you to enjoy and relax even more.
Grey Area
Is an iconic place as it has been publicized multiple times by Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson making it a very good reputation. This reputation is reinforced by offering an extensive selection of high-quality cannabis.
Abraxas
Has become one of the best tourist cafes in Amsterdam. It is a hidden coffee shop as it is located in a small alley near Damm Square, specifically on Jonge Roelensteeg street.
Baba
Is a curious coffee shop because it is decorated with oriental culture as a reference. It is considered to be one of the best-located cafeterias in the Red Light District.