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The terrace of La Tertulia coffeeshop in Amsterdam
Photograph: FaceMePLS / Flickr

The 14 best coffeeshops in Amsterdam

This city's love affair with cannabis is well-documented, so settle in at one of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam

Written by
Derek Robertson
,
Tom Coggins
&
Callum Booth
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Amsterdam is well-loved for its great food, scenic cycles and poppin’ nightlife, but often, its USP is its uber-cool, uber-chill and completely unique coffeeshops. And for those who aren’t yet familiar, we’re not talking about trendy croissants and latté art in the shape of little seahorses. Sure, they’ve got coffee in Amsterdam. But when we talk about coffeeshops, we mean licenced cannabis cafés, where you can choose from extensive marijuana menus.

And they’re more than that, too – these joints are social hubs, creative spaces, and they often have great food menus for your munchies too. One thing to note, though, is that a few of Amsterdam's coffeeshops are really famous, and it's to their own detriment... These spots are now inescapable tourist traps, and we wouldn't recommend them (you won't find Smokey and Bulldog the First on here, for example). But if you want to visit a proper good one? Read on, friends. These are the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam.

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📍 The best things to do in Amsterdam
🍷 The best bars in Amsterdam
🍴 The best restaurants in Amsterdam
☕ The best cafés in Amsterdam

This guide was recently updated by Callum Booth, a writer based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Top Amsterdam coffeeshops

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This is Amsterdam’s most iconic coffeeshop, largely owed to welcoming some seriously star-studded guests over the years (notorious cannabis lovers Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg, to name a few). Grey Area was founded by two guys from the US who are passionate about all things marijuana, and its selection is extensive. This is a small, intimate, and a must-try experience in Amsterdam.

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Boho-chic in all the right ways, this homely coffeeshop draws in smokers and non-smokers alike due to its artsy vibes and living room-like atmosphere. There’s plenty of space to just chill out: walk through the roomy, art-filled smoking lounge, or the sun-soaked terrace and find yourself a comfy spot to while away the hours. It’s a perfect spot to explore de Pijp from, a picturesque neighbourhood on the southern side of Amsterdam’s canal belt.
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  • Restaurants
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One of the big trends in recent years in Amsterdam coffeeshops is the emergence of Cali weed. These strains, often imported from the US, are stronger and more expensive than traditional Dutch flowers. While there are a range of coffeeshops pushing things forward on this front, one the flavour-seeker’s favourites is The Plug. Based on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in the centre of the city, The Plug is an ideal place for people looking to smoke the best weed available in the Netherlands.

  • Restaurants
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Recently refurbished and housed in an old stable with ties to Amsterdam’s fire department, this down-to-earth coffeeshop could easily be mistaken for a neighbourhood café, given its welcoming ambience and unassuming location. Catering to stoners who prefer quality over quantity, Paradox usually stocks around seven strains of weed alongside six types of hashish. The coffeeshop is well-known for its space cakes, too: they’re laced with a full gram of weed.

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5. Family First

Family First sits just off Rembrandtplein, meaning it attracts a fair number of tourists – but don’t let that dissuade you: this place sells some of the best weed in Amsterdam. The inside isn’t much to write home about – there are plenty of other, more vibe-y coffeeshops on this list you can hit up – but that isn’t really the point. Family First is all about flavours, and it has those in abundance. So, if you’re hunting for the strongest and most delicious strains in the city, you should spend a little bit of time at Family First.

6. Coffeeshop Siberië

Located in the heart of the city, but tucked away in a quiet street, Siberië is one of Amsterdam’s most relaxed coffeeshops. It’s unpretentious, featuring a mix of locals and tourists, and is a perfect place to kick back and take a breather from the hectic parts of the city. There’s a down-to-earth wholesomeness in spending time at Siberië, with the walls hung with the work of local artists and people eager to have a chat with you.

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  • Restaurants
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  • Waterfront and North
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One of the most well-respected cannabis dispensaries in Amsterdam, this award-winning coffeeshop balances quirky aesthetics with first-rate weed and service. Set inside the ground floor of a 16th-century building, Barney’s Coffeeshop is a picture-perfect backdrop for smoking sessions. With Barney’s Uptown — a smoker-friendly bar — just across the street, this is an ideal location to visit if you’d like a beer with your joint.

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  • New Side
This super-central yet secluded coffeeshop stands on a small alleyway due south of Dam Square. Given its spacious layout, Abraxas feels considerably larger than most other coffeeshops in the centre, giving patrons space to breathe (or spark up). The two-level smoking lounge is fitted with carved wooden furniture and mystical motifs, plus a couple of desktop computers hooked up to the web.
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This cosy family-run place has a New Age vibe thanks to a plethora of plants, an indoor waterfall and a ‘crystal garden’. Naturally, the buds are all bio, and they also have an assortment of bongs, vaporisers and water pipes. Sandwiches and toasties are on hand for anyone with the munchies, and the upstairs space – normally drenched in sunlight – is a beautiful spot for canalside people-watching. 

  • Restaurants
  • Coffeeshops
  • New Side

A mainstay of Amsterdam’s coffeeshop scene, Original Dampkring epitomises the friendlier side of cannabis culture. Famous for its sculpted wooden décor, knowledgeable staff and on-point cannabis selection, the venue has plenty to offer both seasoned and novice stoners. There’s enough space for groups of four or five in Original Dampkring’s smoking lounge, but given the spot’s enduring popularity, expect a short wait for seats during peak hours.

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