Relaxing Saturday night at WesterGasTerras, Amsterdam

Since we just felt a bit lazy today we decided to chill a bit. The place we choose was Westergasterras, nice and relaxing place in Westerpark in Amsterdam. In summer you would prefer to stretch on the terrace, enjoying a glass of ice cold beer or chilled rose wine. In colder time you still can stay on the terrace under the heaters, but stepping inside would bring you into charming atmosphere with a fireplace, warmth of which would help you to finally find the enjoyment in cold rainy weather, pleasant music, not too loud so you can have a conversation with your friends without shouting into each others ears.

Today wasn't the coldest day in the Netherlands and it wasn't raining either, but somehow we did not put too much clothes on so felt slightly chilly. We decided to sit inside, right next to the bar. When place is packed, and it might happen quite often in summer times you might not get very lucky getting a good spot, also when it is too busy you better stay close to the bar if you want to get your drinks before you start feeling really thirsty :-)

If you are a tourist and feel a bit fed up with all the pubs around Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein where all visitors usually spend time, then grab a tram #10 from Leidseplein or bus 21 from Central Station and come over to Westerpark area, you will definitely find great bars and a few clubs here and will get a chance to experience something more local and less touristy.

Cheers,

BestBars.In Team

Unforgettable wine tasting at Bubbles & Wines in Amsterdam

Yesterday night we decided to go off the beaten path and try something slightly different and maybe less popular in Amsterdam.
Recently we were invited by our friends to a wine bar Bubbles & Wines, the experience was so good that we decided to come back exactly at the same place and share that experience with you this time.
So let us begin our quick review. The place is located on a very quiet street of Amsterdam and just a few meters away from the Dam Square. It is difficult to imagine that making one step aside you can find yourself in absolutely different ambiance, rhythm and atmosphere. We are on Nes street and looking for number 37. Here you find a really cozy and classy looking place called Bubbles & Wines.
The place is perfect for a date, here, especially if you know something about wine, you definitely can impress your date with a great choice and knowledge of the city.

Service is great, wine menu can offer items to the most picky wine gourmets. Personnel is very friendly and professional. What we loved the most is the option of getting a wine flight - set of three wines from the same category (like desert wines, or red chilled wines, or Spanish wines etc). On arrival waiter gave us some information about each individual wine, what is so special about it, which region is it from, difference between picked wines. Same way you would get full answer on any question related to served wines. If you cannot choose, which is easy sometimes, you can also ask for an advice and be sure you will be happily assisted.
Price-wise it is definitely not the cheapest place, but where can you find a wine bar with great variety of really good wines with low prices?
So our recommendation if you haven't been there yet, definitely worth checking it out. Plus it doesn't get really busy so you will always find a table or a room at the bar.

Friday Night out - Cafe de Jaren

Okay this Friday we deiced to take it easy and just have a few drinks with our friends, avoid crazy night out with lots of bars, tequila shots and terrible hangover in the morning.
We agreed to meet at Cafe de Jaren, a nice spacious restaurant in the center of Amsterdam. The place is quite nice, lots of room, nice terrace facing the canal, so if you come there in summer that would be a lovely spot to chill out, enjoy the conversation with a few glasses of wine.
When it gets colder and more wet as it always does in the Netherlands as soon as August is over, then you probably would want to step inside and stay dry and warm.

You won't fine some cocktails, tunes pumping making everybody dance, crazy parties, and it is definitely not the place to finish your  night out. But it is a great place to sit back and relax, with your friends, family.
So depending on what you are looking for, might be the right or wrong place for you.
Weird thing though, well it is quite typical for the majority of venues in Amsterdam, you have to pay for the toilet. I always found it weird, when you leave 50 EUR at the bar they still charge you 50 cents to use the loo. Oh well, this is what it is :-)
Beside that, as I mentioned, great place for the right occasion.

Friday night out in Amsterdam

Bad weather never stops crazy Amsterdam crowd from going out and having fun.

If you are unsure where to go but feeling like being in a crowded place, meet new people, enjoy many options with bars and pubs, then Leidseplein is the right spot. With lots of different bars concentrated in one square and a few streets close by it offers venues to the most picky customers. You can have a pint of Guinness at Hole in the Wall, taste amazing cocktails at NJoy, and much more.

Last Friday BestBars.In team enjoyed the rain and hit a couple of places as well. Our first stop was a restaurant, bar Palladium.

Great place if you arrive early, have a dinner, enjoy a conversation with your friends. Here is what they say about themselves:

Q. What are we? "A bar, a restaurant, a brasserie, a club, a lounge, or a place to dance?"
A. "We are Palladium!" 
Already for 30 years our philosophy remains: Quality, sense of style and fun! Have a fine, lunch or dinner, in a comfortable atmosphere and enjoy the music from 11 p.m. till late!

But it might get a bit busy from 10PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

What we found a little bit weird, that at around 11PM waitresses brought out ashtrays and smoking started. So trying to save our clothes we decided to change the venue and moved almost next door, to Players.
Usually with good dance music that works for majority of the people it offers great variety of drinks, from beers and mixers to some cocktails. Mixed crowd and nice atmosphere helps you to drink more, get more social and enjoy your night out.

Same smoking issue in Players as well, guess this is just a more profitable management choice. Oh well, not our call or position to judge. But at the end of the day (or better to say night) we had great time and enjoyed our night out.

So rain is nothing kids, let's go party!!!