Areas

Even though there are bars, clubs, cafes, and hotels all over the city, there are four specific gay areas:

The Reguliersdwarsstraat area is Amsterdam's street of trendy gay bars for well-groomed men and women. Especially in summertime, on warmer evenings the street in front of the bars is a favorite hangout for many locals.

The bars along the Amstel River and the adjacent Halvemaansteeg draw a cheerful mix of clones, older guys, and anyone else who loves to sip their beer in tuneful surroundings.

The cruisier and more 'leather-specified' Warmoesstraat, is in the heart of the red-light district. Many leather bars are located here and you can also find the famous leather shop 'Mr. B.' for all your toys and clothes.

The Kerkstraat area is one of the oldest gay areas in town, and is situated near the Leidseplein. The Kerkstraat is a cozy, gay-friendly neighborhood with some pleasant gay cafes, and a few neighborhood bars.

Where to go

Gay nightlife in Amsterdam is so diverse and because gays are welcome everywhere, the popularity of bars and clubs is ever changing and largely based on the crowds they draw.

Bars

A good place to start your night is at the Amstel Taveerne (Amstel 54, Tel.: +31 20-623-4254), the oldest gay bar in Amsterdam. Around the corner, the Montmartre (Halvemaansteeg 17, Tel.: +31 20-620-7622) is a popular little 'brother' to the Amstel Taveerne. Across the street, Café De Steeg (Halvemaansteeg 10, Tel.: +31 20-620 0171) has live shows on Saturdays. The lower key Gaiety (Amstel 14, Tel.: +31 20-624 4271), attracts an older male crowd, and the nearby Mix Café (Amstel 50, Tel.: +31 20-420 3388) actually lives up to its name, drawing a festive crowd comprised of gay and straight people.

Hot bars

When you approach the April (Reguliersdwarsstraat 37, Tel.: +31 20-625 9572), you are sure to hear the music and see the crowds out front halfway down the street. This 'American-style' bar, with its open patio doors and revolving back bar is traditionally the most popular of pre-clubbing hangouts, and the place you are most likely to meet fellow travelers. However, the two-story Soho (Reguliersdwarsstraat 36, Tel.: +31 20-330 4400) just down the block is drawing the trendy young boys. Nearby Havana (Reguliersdwarsstraat 17, Tel.: +31 20-620 6788) also attracts a fun international crowd. After all of these places close, the masses tend to move down the street to the Exit (Reguliersdwarsstraat 42, Tel.: +31 20-625 8788), a disco, two floors, with a hot crowd. You will find a quieter scene in the friendly neighborhood bar De Spijker (Kerkstraat 4, Tel.: +31 20-620 5919). Down the street is the Cosmo (Kerkstraat 42, Tel.: +31 20-624 8074) worth a visit for a unique late-night drink with an older crowd and a feel for what bars where like in Amsterdam in the sixties.

Dancing

If you are in the mood to dance all night, visit the IT (Amstelstraat 24, Tel.: +31 20 625-0111), the most famous gay club in town. It is extravagant and glamorous and attracts an exhibitionistic crowd. Exit (Reguliersdwarsstraat 42, Tel.: +31 20 625 8788) is a slick gay club on three levels with a comfortable bar and a balcony overlooking a large dance floor. The COC (The National Gay & Lesbian Organization, Rozenstraat 14, Tel.: +31 20-626 3087) has very popular and lively weekend discos, Fridays are mixed, Saturday is women-only. De Trut (Bilderdijkstraat 165, Tel.: +31 20-612 3524) organizes gay and lesbian dance parties, held every Sunday in a squatters basement club.

Leather scene

There are number of leather bar options in the Warmoestraat. The Cuckoo's Nest (Nieuwezijds Kolk 6, Tel.: +31 20-627 1752) attracts a crowd of old and young or The Web (Sint Jacobssteeg 6, Tel.: +31 20 623 6758), which is just around the corner and draws a bit more of an international leather crowd. The bar that claims to be the oldest leather bar in Europe is The Argos (Warmoesstraat 95, Tel.: +31 20-622 6595), visited by an older, more serious crowd. Across the street from The Argos is The Eagle (Warmoesstraat 90, Tel.: +31 20-627 8634) and Dirty Dick's (Warmoesstraat 86, Tel.: +31 20 627 8634). At the end of the night you get the feeling that everyone ends up at The Cockring (Warmoesstraat 96, Tel.: +31 20-623 9604).

Women bars

Generally, women have a harder time finding exclusively lesbian venues, but are more than welcome at any of the above listed bars and clubs not billed as men only. The bars, clubs and cafés catering to lesbians tend to be low-key, but they are there. Saarein (Elandsstraat 119, Tel.: +31 20-623 4901), Vandenberg (Lindengracht 95, Tel.: +31 20-622 2716), Vive-La-Vie (Amstelstraat 7, Tel.: +31 20-624 0114) and You II (Amstel 178, Tel.: +31 20-421 0900).