Café de Dokter

A must visit historic café in Amsterdam. It is the smallest, I believe! Met the owner, it has been in his family for generations! Loved it!

Petite bar in a very busy tourist area. The bartender was extremely friendly and seemed to have some regulars. Do checkout the bathroom while there… it’s an adventure to get up to it.

While this was on my guide book inspired list of stops in Amsterdam, I chanced upon it completely by accident. That’s the pleasure of a small city: you can be walking along and go, «Hey! That’s where I wanted go later!» Since I was freezing my ass at the time, I was literally going to duck into the next shop, no matter what it was. Happily, it was this one! (True story, this last December was really cold, even by Dutch standards. I literally found myself wondering what they would charge me in the Red Light District just to warm up for a second!)
This is a ‘brown café,’ a café with walls so stained by years of tobacco smoke that they are now brown. It has been in the same family for something like six generations as a pub. Its previous life had been that of a doctor’s office, hence its title.
This place couldn’t possibly have more character. The dust has dust on it, but in the best way possible. When you’re there, you think, «I must soak every amazing second up, and remember how wonderful it is.» Classic jazz albums fill the air. The incredibly personable proprietor chats with his friends and you, if you like. The only food served here is cheese, so don’t come here hungry, but do come. You won’t regret it.