THE BEST COCKTAIL BARS IN THE NETHERLANDS
While fine dining has its Michelin stars, the cocktail scene gets a similar shot of collective anticipation – and nerves – from the yearly release of World’s 50 Best Bars. Created by hundreds of renowned bartenders, consultants, drinks journalists, and cocktail experts who put in their votes, World’s 50 Best Bars lists the bars deemed the best and most influential by the industry itself. Alongside the global ranking, several regional lists have been introduced in recent years.
This June, 50 Best Bars took over Amsterdam to launch the first edition of its European top 50. And while Athens proved itself the current #1 cocktail destination once again, the hosting city cemented itself as a must-visit for the cocktail-minded as well. The team of Super Lyan came in at #42, earning the title ‘Best Bar in the Netherlands’. But it’s not just this brightly coloured neighbourhood cocktail bar that finds itself receiving international recognition. These 4 bars prove, once again, that Amsterdam is a city you shouldn’t sleep but sip on.
SUPER LYAN
In 2019, celebrated cocktail entrepreneur Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known as Mr Lyan, opened his first bar outside London. In a historic 17th-century canal house, he and local bartenders created a colourful love letter to Amsterdam. In a bar filled with vibrant 1950s design and neon lights, Super Lyan has proven that wildly inventive cocktails can be just as technical and innovative as they are fun. Super Lyan was one of the first bars in Amsterdam that dared to serve cocktails on draft. Every cocktail on the menu is a playful reinvention of a classic, with a generous splash of love for the city. The most recent menu, ‘Boroughs of Amsterdam’, celebrates Amsterdam’s most iconic neighbourhoods with cocktails like the 020 Martinez and the Nieuwe-tini.
SINS OF SAL
At Sins of Sal, sinning is sacred. Tucked away in a narrow, dimly lit bar in the Jordaan, this Latin food and cocktail place does everything Latin American cuisine has ever forbidden. Both on the plates and in the glasses. Late into the night, Martin Eisema serves hyper-creative cocktail guilty pleasures alongside deliciously sinful Latin street food. Cocktails like the KFC Daisy or the flip-flop margarita prove once again that brilliant innovation never has to take itself too seriously. These sins are nothing to be ashamed of, because Sins of Sal built a name for itself both nationally and internationally in just four years. Sins of Sal is one of those true bartenders’ bars, where the industry loves to hang out themselves. And who knows better than them? Sins of Sal has twice been named a Regional Honoree in the Best International Restaurant Bar category by Tales of the Cocktail. And was added as a 50 Best Bars Discovery just this month. Sometimes being bad is so good.
FITZ’S BAR
A visit to Fitz’s Bar feels like stepping back in time. Award-winning bartender Nick Vrielink and his team bring the seductive cocktail scene of the 1920s to life at Oosterpark. Fitz’s Bar draws its inspiration from historical cultural movements and influences from the 20th century, where classic cocktails flirt charmingly with modern techniques and unexpected ingredients. It’s this approach that earned Fitz’s Bar the title ‘Cocktail Bar of the Year’ from Gault&Millau in 2026. Every menu is crafted around one central theme that offers inspiration not just for the drinks but weaves a thread through the entire evening. In his latest menu, ‘Aromas of the World’, Fitz’s Bar explores scents from around the world. Cocktails are based on prominent aromas from England, Turkey, Mexico, and Japan, and guests sniff their way through a trolley of house-made perfumes to choose their cocktail based on scent alone. A classic teacup filled with the fruity Agatha’s Trap? Or the complex Dashi-(T)ini? Whatever they may choose, the cozy bar of Fitz’s, with its velvet seating and dark wood interior, is a journey back in time to a decadent past, every single sip.
SHAKERATO
Eric van Beek began his career in Amsterdam before making a name in Mexico City with Handshake Speakeasy. His innovative speakeasy was named the best cocktail bar in the world in 2024 and currently holds the #2 spot in World’s 50 Best Bars. But great news for the cocktail-lovers of Europe: earlier this year, Van Beek opened the long-awaited Shakerato in Amsterdam. A dream come true for a bartender who was so driven to build something new in the city where it all began. A visit to Shakerato feels like the liquid equivalent of fine dining. Every detail has been carefully considered, well beyond the rim of the glass. Cocktails are elegantly creative, without getting too complex to just sip and enjoy. Shakerato takes its name from the classic Italian iced coffee made by shaking up strong espresso with some ice and sugar syrup. The bar embraces Italian living with an endless love of flavour and a razor-sharp eye for the smallest details. In the light and open bar space, you can drop by throughout the day for a drink. Sip one of the mini cocktails while you decide on your next order, best paired with the bites made by Michelin-starred restaurant Showw*.
Editor’s note – not for publication
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Press information and images:
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Super Lyan
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 3
1012 MB Amsterdam
Sins of Sal
Westerstraat 86
1015 MN Amsterdam
Fitz’s Bar
Mauritskade 61
1092 AD Amsterdam
Shakerato
Stadshouderskade 7
1054 ES Amsterdam
