What Amsterdam bars can I smoke weed in (that aren’t coffeeshops)?

The Dutch can be a pretty laid-back bunch when it comes to things like drinking alcohol or enjoying the good ‘ol joint. But smoking weed and drinking alcohol at the same time? No way, José!

Little did you know: selling alcohol and weed over the same counter is actually forbidden in Amsterdam coffeeshops, bars, and cafés! 

But does that mean you need to wave goodbye to smoking and drinking Amsterdam-style? Nope. If you want to enjoy both a joint and a beer, you’ve got to go to a true Amsterdam smokers’ bar. 😎

An Amsterdam smokers’ bar is a place where you can bring your own weed (from one of the many Amsterdam coffeeshops nearby), smoke it pure, AND enjoy a nice alcoholic beverage. Wat leuk! (How nice!)

And you lucky duck! As a seasoned international in the Netherlands, I know exactly the right places to go, let’s get into it.

READ MORE | Is smoking weed in Amsterdam legal? (+ 5 best coffeeshops!)

Why can’t you smoke weed and drink alcohol in Amsterdam bars?

Fun fact: you didn’t always have to go to specific smoker-friendly bars to enjoy weed and alcohol at the same time. 🤫

Once upon a time, Amsterdam coffeeshops prided themselves on providing their customers with both smoke and spirits.

READ MORE │ The do’s and don’ts of smoking weed in Amsterdam

However, in 2008, the villain enters the story: the Dutch government enforced a law that enticed 750 coffeeshops all over the country to choose between selling cannabis or alcohol. 

But, if you are the kind of person who would love to down some liquid courage and enjoy some of the finest greens the Netherlands has to offer — I have a happy ending for you: Amsterdam’s smoker-friendly bars. 

Top 7 smoker-friendly bars in Amsterdam

So where can you enjoy your smoky greens while downing a beer at the same time? Buckle your seatbelts, boys and girls; it’s going to be a wild night. 💃

Here are my top seven places in Amsterdam where you can pair a beer and a bud. 

1. CoffeeshopAmsterdam Café: cocktails and gezelligheid

CoffeeshopAmsterdam has it all: a location very close to Amsterdam Centraal, uber-gezellige vibes and an absolutely stunning drinks menu. (I’d recommend checking out their cocktails!🍹)

What’s also great about this boutique-style smokers’ bar is that it isn’t dark and hidden away from the public. Instead, it’s bright, open and accessible.

And let’s not forget the best part: it’s smoker-friendly! While you can’t actually buy weed here, you can bring your own (tobacco-free) joints to this smoker-friendly bar and puff away over one of their delicious milkshakes.

The downstairs area is also really well-ventilated. Perfect for those amongst us who don’t want to smell like a walking cannabis bud after a couple of hours in the smoker’s lounge. 💨

2. Hunter’s Bar: for a laid-back vibe

If you’re short on time and want to hit a coffeeshop and a bar in close proximity, I suggest you head over to Hunter’s. Located just across the street from the famous Boerejongens Coffeeshop, Hunter’s really has no choice but to be smokers-friendly. 

In fact, Hunter’s is a chain of coffeeshops that holds two smokers’ bars and six coffeeshops across Amsterdam, Zandvoort and Haarlem. 

This particular spot is centrally located, you can get a nice fresh beer off the tab, and Rembrandtplein is just around the corner. What’s not to love?

3. Café Hill Street Blues: for grungy canalside views

Do you like your alternative and underground venues a little rough around the edges? Then if you ask me, you should head to Café Hill Street Blues for a chill joint and a beer. 

This venue wears its down-and-dirty looks with pride: graffiti, second-hand furniture and stickers everywhere. The best part? No one will raise an eyebrow if you want to add a scribble or two yourself. 

And it’s loads of fun! You may just be lucky enough to catch one of their music evenings.

Plus, it’s located in Amsterdam’s Red Light District — so if you’re here as a tourist you can check a few things off your list at once.

4. Lost in Amsterdam: the OG smokers’ bar

Here it is, the very first of Amsterdam’s smoker-friendly bars! Lost in Amsterdam opened its doors more than 15 years ago and has been going strong ever since. 

Pure cannabis smoking is permitted, and you can combine it with a huge menu of delicious cocktails and water pipes. Their milkshakes have also made quite a name for themselves. 🥤

An added plus is the interior. Lost in Amsterdam is 100% cosy. Their smoking lounge sports Moroccan-style couches for maximum comfort and that extra relaxing holiday feeling. 

5. Barney’s Uptown: smoke it up in class

Fresh off the train from Schiphol? Just a swift five-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal, and you’ll be hanging at Barney’s Uptown — a smokers’ bar with a true rock-n-roll flare, DJs, and live music. 

These guys will serve you full meals and have a cocktail menu to be remembered by. For ultimate convenience, there is a coffeeshop right across the road where you can buy can refill your stocks as needed. 😮‍💨

6. Cafe Pollux: where life is a party

Café Pollux is a funky café in Amsterdam’s city centre, boasting an extensive menu of lekkere gins, beers, and whiskeys. 🍻

Located a 5-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal, this is the place to be on a long night out, giving you the guarantee that you’ll always catch your last train home (though you might not want to leave 😉).

But wait, there is much more to Café Pollux than just that. Of course, it’s also one of Amsterdam’s best smokers’ bars, where you can light up as long as you bring your own herbs. 

READ MORE │Amsterdam’s best weed: guide to coffeeshops and cannabis 

Locals and tourists alike swarm to this café for its lovely staff and unique, fun vibe. Oh, and let’s not forget about the very best part: a dog at the bar who will happily accept your cuddles. 

7. La Grotte: funky interior for a great trip

When they were forced to choose between becoming a coffeeshop or a bar, La Grotte went for the latter. Now, it’s one of the funkier smokers’ bars where you can take your goods and light up! 🔥

Even if you’re not planning on getting high, the purple-green light play and otherworldly interior will offer you a psychedelic experience nonetheless. 

What’s more, they also have a mouthwatering range of drinks to quench that dry mouth. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Now you really know how to have fun in Amsterdam — smoking weed, drinking beers and enjoying the best of both worlds of what the Dutch capital has to offer. 😉

Which smokers’ bar in Amsterdam will you check out first? Tell us in the comments!

What Amsterdam bars can I smoke weed in: frequently asked questions