aMStERdaM - In Your Pocket

Nachttheater Sugar Factory F-7, Lijnbaansgracht
238, tel. (+31) 206 27 00 08, www.sugarfactory.nl.
We're more at home at a punk rock show than a house
club, but even we could sense that something special was
afoot at the Sugar Factory. A diverse crowd of teens through
40-somethings genuinely appreciate the professional international
DJs from as far away as the States, who know how
to get a crowd moving here. The style is casual so don't
worry about your trainers and leave your D&G gear at home.
This isn't exactly the place for the superficial glitterati. Sugar
Factory is all about the music. Belly up to the bronze-covered
bar, order a drink and join the action. Unlike the crowded faux
clubs on Leidseplein blasting Top 40, this place is the real
deal. QOpen Thu, Sun 21:00 - 04:00, Fri, Sat 21:00 - 05:00.
Closed Mon, Tue, Wed. Admission: €5 - 12. AE
Studio 80 B-3, Rembrandtplein 17, tel. (+31) 205 21
83 33, info@studio-80.nl, www.studio-80.nl. Every week,
a long line of hipsters and art academy students are checked
by a door Nazi at the entrance of Studio 80 located at the
busy Rembrandtplein. As one of the places to be for contemporary
electro music, the club has weekly and monthly events
aimed at the young music fanatic. Visit gay-friendly parties
like the infamous Multisexi events and immerse yourself in
the atmosphere of Studio 80, which is often pregnant with
new musical creativity. Dance the night away in the big main
hall or lounge on the couches in the back. Apart from the
music, the sight of the long queue of well-dressed clubbers is
also worth a look. QOpen Wed, Thu 23:00 - 03:30, Fri, Sat
23:00 - 05:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Sun. PJUG
Winston Kingdom A-2, Warmoesstraat 131, tel. (+31)
206 23 13 80, programming@winston.nl, www.winston.
nl. The sleaziness of touristy Warmoesstraat, Amsterdam's
notoriously naughty street, might make one think twice about
a visit to Winston Kingdom, but that would be a mistake. This
dark graffiti-sprayed club actually offers decent dance nights
and smashing live performances from tomorrow's big indie
and electro acts like Justice and The Gaslight Anthem who
have both played here. Filled with a surprising mix of lost
tourists and music-loving locals, this is an excellent escape
from the Warmoes, but there's plenty of sleaze to find here
too, if you're really looking for it. QOpen 21:00 - 04:00, Fri,
Sat 21:00 - 05:00. Admission: €5 - 10. E
Cocktails
NJOY! F-7, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 93, tel. (+31) 624 24
97 42, www.cocktailclubnjoy.nl. It's trendy, it's stylish and
it's pretty much standing room only at the weekend. The excellent
cocktails are poured by professionals who really know what
they're doing and the delicious, albeit girly, Kentucky Sweet
bourbon drink had us contemplating a life without beer if only
for a millisecond. So why aren't we more enthusiastic about
one of Amsterdam's best cocktail joints? It would have to be
the staff. The fascist waiter told us to order a drink and to stop
checking out the place as it's not a museum and the bartender
almost threw a fit when we tried to pay for our €11 drink with a
bankcard. QOpen 20:00 - 03:00, Fri, Sat 20:00 - 04:00. A
SkyLounge G/H-4, Oosterdoksstraat 4, tel. (+31)
205 30 08 00, doubletree.hilton.com. One of the best
views of the historic heart of Amsterdam can now be found
at SkyLounge. This trendy cocktail bar on the 11th floor of
the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is a purveyor of delicious and
expensive drinks, but the terrific view of the city centre is
actually priceless. Fortunately, the staff are a little slow at this
altitude so you can make your elaborate cocktail last quite a
while at this breathtaking location. QOpen 11:00 - 01:00,
Fri, Sat 11:00 - 03:00. PJAULGBKXW
www.amsterdam.inyourpocket.com
centrum: nightliFe
There’s nothing like a beer by a canal M.Zaprauskis
Jenever bars
De Drie Fleschjes A-2, Gravenstraat 18, tel. (+31)
206 24 84 43. Ancient black bottles of Bols the size of
basketballs collect dust behind the bar, a lit candle deposits
layers of wax on top of a ceramic beer tap and jenever barrels
large and small line the wall on the opposite side of the room
from floor to ceiling. Men and women of all ages sip classic
spirits from tiny glasses or delicious Belgian brews at this
tasting bar whose sand-covered floor has been trod since
the 17th century. The liqueur casks aren't just for decoration
either. Local companies own them and their employees
unlock them when they come here to unwind. Dutch snacks
like cheese, sausages and bitterballen are also available.
QOpen 12:00 - 21:00, Sun 15:00 - 20:00.
In de Olofspoort B-1, Nieuwebrugsteeg 13, tel. (+31)
206 24 39 18, www.olofspoort.com. The historic building
that houses this charming bar was built in 1618 and replaced
the 14th-century St. Olaf's Gate, hence its unusual name. The
Olofspoort offers over 200 different spirits including traditional
and exotic local jenevers, Dutch liqueurs and bitters as well
as homemade cherry and liquorice liqueurs. Beer drinkers
won't be disappointed either as the Belgian Affligem Double
on draught is delicious. Unlike other tasting rooms of it genre,
this one provides plenty of space for its patrons in two large
rooms, but make a note of its limited opening hours. QOpen
Thu, Fri, Sat 17:00 - 24:00. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Sun. A
Proeflokaal De Ooievaar B-1, Sint Olofspoort 1, tel.
(+31) 204 20 80 04, www.proeflokaaldeooievaar.nl.
On the modern nightlife front this tiny one-room bar in the
Red Light district can hardly compete with neighbouring
sports bars and coffeeshops. It offers no TV, no internet
connection and no ganja. People here actually have to talk to
one another to pass the time while sipping one of dozens of
traditional jenevers that line the walls of this ancient bar and
this is precisely why we like it. The barman wears a necktie
and offers a smile and a chat to anyone who comes in not to
mention a boiled egg from the bar - a local tradition. QOpen
12:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 03:00.
Wynand Fockink A-2, Pijlsteeg 31, tel. (+31) 206 39
26 95, www.wynand-fockink.nl. This ancient room that
looks more like a neglected museum than a popular bar and
tourist attraction has been serving unique Dutch liqueurs and
spirits with names like Rose Without Thorns, Bridal Tears and
My Aunt's Water since 1679. A thick layer of dust covers all of
the empty antique bottles as well as the full ones that cause
the wooden shelves to sag precariously above one another.
Unfortunately, it's a little hard to find as the Krasnapolsky
Hotel has enveloped it over the years. QOpen 15:00 - 21:00.
Summer 2012
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