The Grasshopper, Amsterdam

One of the first bars you'll see at night, as it's big and lit up green. It's an OK bar in itself, but very expensive. Staff are friendly, except the ubiquitous bog troll (toilet 'cleaner' who'll take a euro off you for the privilege of urinating while at a bar).

Dress Code: none.

This was our first main stop in the city as we fancied a quick drink,it was very busy and we found it hard to get served,in the end we should have gone somewhere else as we payed over ten euros for two beers.There was music on and the place did have a fun a and friendly like atmosphere but a little on the expensive side,i think it would probably be even more expensive these days.On my next trip to Amsterdam i avoided this bar but took a picture of it at at night overlooking the water.

Dress Code: Casual

The grasshopper is probably the first bar & coffeeshop you come across as you step out of the central station onto Damrak. That coupled with the fact that it is located at the 'gate' of the red light district mean that it can always enjoy a steady steam of tourists.

I went here once and never came back - it's expensive and full of tourists on stag parties; not really my cup of tea.

Just some general info for anyone going to Amsterdam who likes a smoke and a drink.

The newest law that has been implemented in the Netherlands means that you will no longer be able to buy cannabis in the same place as alcohol. Places such as Hill Street Blues and The Dampkring (who used to sell both) have now opened a second shop which serves alcohol and left there original shop selling cannabis and soft drinks. However, there way around this new law is to allow you to smoke cannabis in there 2nd shop, so basically you go to their original shop to buy your green, then walk over to there 2nd place where you can buy a beer. Places like the grasshopper who have several floors are still allowed to serve alcohol and cannabis on the same premises. In the basement you can buy food, soft drinks and cannabis. Then on their ground level floor upwards, you can buy alcohol and you are allowed to smoke on these floors.

Have fun.

Dress Code: No real dress code in coffeeshops at all. Just casual - whatever you want to wear - chill out!

We called in this bar for a couple of drinks, 2 pints of Lager came to about £8, needless to say we only stopped for the one and then left quickly, An Irish bar about 300 yards away round a corner was our next stop and 2 pints in there only came to £5

Visit the Bulldog (s) for souveiners

http://www.bulldog.nl/

LOTS of coffee shop info here

http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/ACDfrmGu.html

Map : http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/General/Map.html

Reccomended :

Pink Floyd
has food, internet
http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/Database/ShopsA/PinkFloyd.html
http://www.pinkfloyd.nl/

Grasshopper or Grasshopper 2 (*tourist area)
no website, has food

Dampkring
http://www.xs4all.nl/~dampweb/

I went with friends to the Grasshopper just to check it out. It is one of the so called "Coffee House". I checked out the menu just to see what all the fuss was about. Yes, marijuana is a choice on the menu. After watching some people get silly, I then headed upstairs with a few friends like me that don't smoke or use drugs. Upstairs, there is a restaurant and bar. Here, I drank and danced with a few friends. We had a great time with barmaids and got a few free shots for dancing on the bar. I liked the party atmosphere upstairs. Friends who stayed downstairs said the place was ok but there are better, non-touristy, less pricey ones if that's what you are into.

Dress Code: casual

The coffeeshops of Amsterdam are famous. Generally the bars / coffeshops either serve alcohol or cannabis but very rarely both. We found that it was best to stay away fromt he more famous and touristy cafes / bars. The Grasshopper is a good place that sell alcohol and hash but we found it very expensive. The various 'Bulldogs' dotted around the town seemed to have an English football hooligan type of vibe to them and we avoided them. The Black Tiger Bar in the Red Light district is an excellent place. It only sell alcohol put you can take your own smoke in there. It's a great place to sit and watch the ladies ply their trade in the windows opposite. The Rookies bar / coffeeshop in Liedesplan is another excellent place with very friendly staff. We mat some very interesting back packers there.

Dress Code: Anything goes. Button down pockets are good though (lots of pickpockets!)

The grasshopper pub is a typical Amsterdam bar, serving drinks , snacks and er..............other stuff!! Close to the central station , its a good place to start an evenings entertainment.

A famous 'Brown Cafe', which allows it to serve Cannabis to its clients, the Grasshopper is the place to start your night, for a selection of excellent beers, food, and Dope for those of you that way inclined!!

Dress Code: Anything goes!!

Nice 2 level bar and cafe, weird thing is that drinking is on one floor while other activities are on the other floor. Cafe offers a nice selection of goodies, I've heard that the 'Space Cake' is out of this world. Story goes that a certain individual was unable to make it up a flight of steps for like 3 hours. Apparently they add a little something(special ingredient) to the cake. Anyone looking to get in to a better mood should stop in. It's the best known of the cafes.

Dress Code: Come as you are!