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Open since 1670, this historic brown café, with its lefty past and church pews, was a regular haunt of radical journalists, writers and intellectuals in the Provo-fuelled 1960s.

The dark wooden interior and tang of cigar smoke in the air are the very essence of the classic “brown café”. Pink-faced old men enjoying one too manyjenevers , smart young professionals on the way home from work, friends meeting up for beer and a gossip, populate this cheery Amsterdam institution (see Hoppe).

A relaxed, stylish and friendly place, perhaps the service is a bit slow but that’0s part of its subdued charm. A perfect atmosphere for sitting back and spending a peaceful afternoon, especially on a sunny day when you can sit on the wonderful terrace overlooking tranquil Amstelveld. The food is New Dutch, mixing French and Eastern elements with traditional Dutch dishes (see Moko).

With its modern take on the brown bar style, this large bar is one of the best watering-holes in the Pijp. Imaginative world cuisine.

Sip a champagne cocktail on the canal-side terrace, or show off your latest designer wear to the fashionable crowd inside one of Amsterdam’s most popular cafés. Piles of magazines and intriguing artworks help while away the time (see Het Land van Walem).

Amsterdam’s infamous – and only – dragshow bar, the complete antithesis of the testosterone-fuelled Rembrandtplein nearby. At first glance it’s unremarkable, but when Shirley Bassey is turned up on the soundsystem, the bar staff perform quite some routine.

One of the hippest and friendliest bars in the area, yet decidedly unpretentious.

Split-level, late-opening designer bar. DJs spin every night.

This small, rather plain French-Moroccan bakery and coffeeshop, serves irresistable croissants and cakes.