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Hoppe
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L'ambiance
Amsterdam's oldest continuously operating café since 1670, Café Hoppe is a national monument brown bar that's been serving Spui square for over three centuries. What makes it special isn't just the history—though you'll find ancient jenever barrels behind the bar and royal visitors in the story—but the way it's stayed true to its authentic character while attracting a genuinely diverse crowd. Come Friday afternoon and you'll see students, locals, and tourists all sharing the same space, united by their affection for this place. The bitterballen here are properly crispy, the jenever selection is serious, and the terrace is one of the best people-watching spots in Centrum.
Known For
- •aged jenever selection
- •crispy bitterballen
- •terrace people-watching
- •national monument interior
Best For
Location & Hours
Mo-Th,Su 12:00-01:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-02:00
Avis (1)
Amsterdam's Oldest Café Still Has the Real Deal
Café Hoppe is the real deal—a historic brown café that's survived three centuries without losing its soul. The space itself is worth the visit: the original 17th-century interior at No.18 is a national monument, complete with ancient jenever barrels lining the bar and that warm, dim lighting you only find in places that don't try too hard. I've been coming here for years, and what keeps me coming back is the consistency. The staff have been here for decades, they know their beers and jenever, and the bitterballen are always properly golden and crispy.
It's not perfect—the place can get crowded, especially on weekends, and the seating in the "standing" Hoppe section is limited. But that's part of the charm. This isn't a polished tourist trap; it's where Amsterdammers actually go for a proper drink. The terrace is fantastic for people-watching on Spui square, and if you're here for lunch, the menu is straightforward Dutch fare done right. Go on a weekday afternoon to avoid the worst of the crowds, and you'll understand why locals have been loyal to Hoppe for generations.
Lire en français
Le Café Hoppe, c'est l'authenticité pure à l'amsterdamoise. Installé sur le Spui depuis 1670, ce café historique est classé monument national et conserve son charme d'antan avec ses tonneaux de jenever anciens derrière le bar et son ambiance tamisée typique des brown cafés. Ce n'est pas un lieu pour touristes en quête de modernité, mais pour ceux qui veulent comprendre l'âme d'Amsterdam.
La qualité est constante depuis des décennies. Le personnel, certains depuis vingt ans, connaît parfaitement sa bière et son jenever. Les bitterballen sont toujours croustillantes et bien dorées, exactement comme il faut. Le terrasse sur la place Spui offre l'un des meilleurs endroits pour observer la vie amstellodamoise, surtout en après-midi quand étudiants et locaux se mélangent.
Attention, le lieu peut être bondi le week-end et les places assises dans la partie « standing » sont limitées. Mais c'est ça qui fait son charme : ce n'est pas un café lisse et touristique. Venez en semaine en fin d'après-midi pour éviter la foule, et vous comprendrez pourquoi les Amstellodamois restent fidèles à Hoppe depuis des générations.