The birds are chirping, you lost an hour of sleep last Sunday, and just like that, spring is here. With summer lurking around the corner, it can only mean one thing: the warm-up to our favourite sport has officially begun. Terracing.
Oh, how we love the sport. Racing through the city for that one golden sunlit table, blocking five chairs at once with jackets and bags like a pro, and the sheer adrenaline of waiting for a spritz at 17:30 on a random Tuesday.
We know we’re not alone. Someone still needs to explain to us how everyone in this city allegedly has a full-time job, yet scoring a seat at Twee Prinsen is harder than being first in line at the Laan sample sale. If you know, you know.
All this to say, like any good sport, terracing requires preparation, intel, and a solid Plan B. So we’ve updated our Amsterdam terrace guide, covering just about every corner of the city to act as your playbook for the months of frolicking ahead.
Scroll for our picks and as always, our DMs are open for your recs.
Guide by Awa Anne
Cover Visual by Anastasia Gviniachvili
Jordaan
Twee Prinsen
There is a reason why Twee Prinsen is a crowd favorite. Whether it’s a rewarding glass of orange wine after Noordermarkt, having a giggle with your friends, or kickstarting the daydrinking activities, it somehow always fits. It can be a hassle to find a spot sometimes, but more likely than not, one of your friends will already be there.
Kikkie van de Prinsensluis
What’s better than one terrace? Two terraces right next to each other! Consider Kikkies the street neighbor of Twee Prinsen, and the duo couldn’t be more perfect. You can bop around, order great food and drinks, and people-watch until your eyes are tired.
Café de Linden
Listen, Café de Linden has become one of my latest favourites and I would not miss it. If you’re ever wondering where to find me on a Saturday between 10:00 and 15:00, look no further. Think this: you’ll get sun (from around 11:30 to be precise), coffee is great, Bloody Marys are optional but sometimes necessary, and the chance of running into your crush or nemesis? High. Overall, an unmissable experience.
Amsterdam Centrum
Café Luxembourg
This spot is the best for people-watching in the center. You can spy on everyone who goes into Athenaeum and indulge in some maladaptive daydreaming.
Café Fonteyn
Sometimes all you want is a cult classic. Fonteyn is your spot ahead of a night out where you just want cheap yet good drinks and bump into your friends left and right.
De Pijp/Oost
Glouglou
Located in De Pijp, Glouglou is a little natural wine paradise. Whether for a first date, catching up with friends, or enjoying some mysterious solitude, it is the perfect spot to chat the night away. Big bonus: Massimo Gelato is right across the street, and there are few things more enticing than washing down your raspberry sorbet with a crisp white wine.
Turbo
Tucked right next to Oosterpark, Turbo toes the line between café, restaurant, and snackbar in the best possible way. There’s something about their Aperol Spritzes that feels inexplicably cute: maybe it’s the glassware, maybe it’s the sun, maybe it’s the fact that everything tastes better after a park stroll. Either way, it’s a no-brainer.
La Dilettante
Dilettante is a natural wine bar located on a little side street in De Pijp, away from the chaos. It has the coziest and cutest terrace with just a few tables.
Amsterdam Noord
Europizza
I don’t think a sunny terrace, delicious pizza, and wine need much convincing, so here you go.
Café Soleil
If you’ve retained even a fragment of your high school French, you’ll know exactly what draws us to this spot: our dear friend the sun. The second the UV creeps past a solid 0, my friends and I make it our mission to chase it, wherever it leads. Café Soleil is the ideal place to bask. Grab a glass of wine, enjoy some simple yet refreshing dishes, and choose between lounging on the terrace overlooking the water or diving headfirst into the bustle of Amsterdam Noord…
FC Hyena
FC Hyena is a boutique cinema and petit restaurant located on the banks of the IJ in Amsterdam Noord. They offer everything from film to food and wine, making it the perfect multipurpose summer hangout spot. Bonus: There is Kuuma Sauna right next door!
Café de Ceuvel
Café de Ceuvel is another Noord classic, located right by the water, and is the perfect sunset spot. P.S. Bring a swimsuit if you dare.
Amsterdam West
Bodega Restobar
Yes, the terrific trio plus chef Ciaran Patrick did it again and we’re very much here for it. Right on Hoofdweg, they’ve opened a bar and lovely restaurant side by side. Think natural wine, food that leans delicious every time, and you and your friends yelling into each other’s ears on their vast terrace. No notes.
Bar Centraal
In the same family as Glouglou, Bar Centraal is a charming natural wine bar with a great terrace in Amsterdam West. You can either enjoy one of their delightful natural wines or try the Yuzu Spritz.
P.S. Don’t skip on their delicious food
Café Restaurant Amsterdam
The terrace at Café Restaurant is small but mighty. Get there early, grab a spot, and treat yourself to a platter of oysters, artichokes, and wine.
Cantine de Caron
No offence, but no one does a terrace quite like the French. With Eurostar tickets skyrocketing and Amsterdam being the loveliest in the spring, Cantine de Caron is the perfect fix for that craving you can’t quite explain. Sometimes, all it takes is a crisp glass of wine, a dose of French flair (whatever that means to you), and a cheeky dessert in the sun.
Xx, Aa
