I’m a regular at neighborhood record shops and spend too much time debating the best fries in town. Always up for a night of live music or a spontaneous canal-side hangout.
Café Brandon has occupied the ground floor of a 17th-century corner house since 1626, making it one of the oldest bars in Amsterdam. You’ll find it at the intersection of Keizersgracht and Leliegracht, with a distinctive 19th-century ojive façade that sets it apart from its neighbors. The location is on the way to the Anne Frank House, but the bar itself remains a fixture for locals. The interior is a perfect example of a traditional brown café, with dark wood and walls and ceilings browned from decades of smoke. This isn't a design choice – it's a genuine preservation. After the previous owners ran it for 40 years, they retired to the apartment above and simply sealed the bar, leaving it untouched for 18 years. When it was finally reopened, the new owners kept everything as it was, from old photos of the Dutch Royal Family and the Ajax football club to other assorted curiosities. Inside, the seating is extremely limited. The real action is often outside, where people stand with their drinks on the busy corner to talk and watch the city go by. It’s a popular spot for an after-work beer, and it gets especially crowded on Friday nights. On some weekend evenings, the few tables and chairs are pushed aside to clear a space for dancing. The bar serves a straightforward selection of drinks, with Hertog Jan pilsner and a few Belgian beers on tap, plus spirits and sparkling wine – but no coffee. The music is always eclectic, jumping from old rock and roll to techno.
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