& Cannabiscafés:
REVIEW AND RATING PROCESS
There
are some 300 licensed coffeeshops in Amsterdam. An
additional 75 or more are bar/coffeeshops known as
cannabiscafés.
This
reality hits you when you are finally here. We want you
to have as much fun as we have in Amsterdam... we tell
you which are worth a visit and the "popular places" that
should be avoided.
The
Experience AMSTERDAM Review and Comments on each coffeeshop
is a reflection of experiences of our own, our guests,
visitors, and friends, have had at each shop. We also
try to describe the place and include a photo or
their logo for your basic information.
Needles
to say but I must, what we like, and what another
person likes, can be, and usually is, light-years apart.
We
constantly get e-mail from visitors describing there
experiences and we do take these into account. We appreciate
the input and opinions of visitors. After all is said
and done, the experience you have is the most important
experience.
Reviews
and Ratings: How
we rate a coffeeshop.
We
try to get under the surface to
the feeling a place gives us rather
than what the weed tasted like
or how cold the drinks were. Our RATING
and review is based on the combination
of everything we know about a place
put into a simple basic statement.
GEZELLIG
What
does "gezellig" mean? Gezellig:
the single Dutch word which describes "the
feeling or ambiance that makes a place warm, cozy,
friendly, and welcoming.
COFFEESHOP NOON COFFEESHOP
Winner
of the 2000 "High Times" Cannabis Cup second
place in 2001
with
their delicious BLUEBERRY Marijuana
"a
real smoker's delight"
NOON
Zieniskade 22. Relaxing shop that is just a short walk
down the canal from the famous Leidseplein. and the heart
of Amsterdam's entertainment, art gallery's, and the
big museums at the Museumplein.
This
place is a work of art in progress... you will find this
a favorite place to relax with a cup of their extensive
tea selection and some of the sweetest buds and hash
around.
Don't
miss the NOON!
New
York Linnaeusstraat
83. Trams 3, 6, 9, 14. A bit outside of Central, but
a nice local Coffeeshop. They often get in the White
Russian . One of my personally favorite smokes. A
large outside sitting area is in the sun most of the
day and the shop is right near Ooster Park and
the Tropin Museum.
de
Dampkring Handboogstraat
29, 638-0705. This is a nice comfortable place! The
decor is Central Asian and the walls and outside of
the building are covered with intricate Sufi paintings
which have little jewels glued into them, there are
pictures of Hindu gods and Afghan treasures and a great
sculpted tree. Music includes blues, reggae, rock,
salsa, and soul The word has gotten out about the wonderful
environment in this shop and lots of fortunate visitors
are finding their way to this pretty, friendly shop.
The owners and staff know their hashish and they are
also serious about weed. They have a good balance between
high-quality hashish from around the world and a delicious,
reasonably priced selection of Dutch and imported grass.
De
Rokerij Lange
Leidsedwarstraat 41, This coffeeshop is close by the
Leidseplein and has a real nice groove. They have lots
of seats in this coffeeshop that is much bigger than
it appears from outside. The drink prices are reasonable
for the Leidseplein area and the bud selection is pretty
nice. A nice comfortable atmosphere here.
Dutch
Flowers Singel
387,tel. 624-7624 This shop is located near the city
center on the Singel canal. The lighting is subdued,
yet it is quite bright and cheerful on sunny days.
There are lots of windows and some interesting art
on the walls. We've found that the staff isn't usually
very helpful or friendly
Coffeeshop
Smokey Rembrandtsplein.
Though this coffeeshop has very expensive drinks, it
has a large bar, several pool tables, and a decent
bud selection.
Global
Chillage Kerkstraat
51,tel. 639-1154 Popular but I cant figure why. The
seats are hard and uncomfortable, the weed is sold
in glassine bags, which is unique, but not acceptable,
and the staff are not particularly friendly or helpful.
Abraxas This
shop is located off of Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in between
Dam and Spui. This coffeeshop is expanding rapidly to
be one of the larger coffeeshops in the city. Currently
they have a nice selection of some of the most popular
buds in Amsterdam. We hope they don't get to big!
A
NICE PLACE, and although a little hard to find, it
is well worth the effort
Grasshopper Oudebrugsteeg
16. Is the most obvious Coffeeshop in front of Central
Station; gets a lot of unknowing vulnerable tourists.
Very big, three-leveled Coffeeshop with full bar. Low
lighting and interesting stuff to look at can't make
up for the high drink prices and substandard buds. a
major blight on the coffeeshop scene!
Grasshopper Nieuwezijds
Voorburgwal (across the road from Bob's Youth Hostel)
is the original Grasshopper and is not much better than
its new huge branch previously mentioned
Greenhouse Tolstraat
4 The most notable thing about the Green House are the
many awards they have won over the last three years,
all of which are proudly displayed near the entrance.
This shop has a cozy decor and a cannabis-knowledgable
clientele that expects the best and gets it here. There
are pool tournaments played on the two tables upstairs.
Full bar, as well as juice and sodas. The staff is friendly,helpful
and well informed.
Greenhouse "Namaste" Waterlooplein
345, tel. 622-5477 This new version of the original Green
House is smaller and closer to the city center. Namaste
is a greeting in India. It doesn't really translate well
but it means have a healthy, happy, spiritual day.The
mosaics inside are interesting and well done.
Greenhouse
III just
off the corner of Damstraat and Oudezijds Voorburgwal,
this is the third edition of the Greenhouse in Amsterdam.
This one is very creatively and artistically decorated.
A real site to see. They have similar varieties of
buds in all their shops: a steady variety of really
nice but generally high-priced buds. No matter the
price you pay though, you'll be happy with the quality
taste and buzz. Although prices are still higher than
the locals want to pay
Greenhouse
Effect On the Warmoesstraat Our
research revealed that other local residents, besides
ourselves, have had equally bad and expensive experience.
Anytime New,
and centrally located, the Coffeeshop Anytime is easy
to find. Located just off of the Spuistraat, towards
Central Station, behind the Palace ,at Korte Kolksteeg
#5. tel. 020-420-8698...
(Formerly:
Lucky Mothers) Keizersgracht
665 Close to Rembrandtplein.Here you will find a downstairs
area. Marble tables and quartz crystals create a hippy
atmosphere Lucky Mothers has a vaporizer and an assortment
of Graffix bongs to borrow, as well as a new chill-out
cellar, a room designed to feel like the inside of
a genie bottle. a nice place and nice people to serve
you!
Grey
Area Oude
Leliestraat 2, 420-4301 This shop is located a three-minute
walk west of Dam Square, on a narrow lane near the
Singel canal. Good music and large picture window
overlooking the sidewalk. They provide special Nederhashes
and a some imported hashish. "Forget the
coffee have some tea"...if you can find a seat, "smoke
out" with the stoner owners!
Blue Bird Sint
Antoniesbreestraat 71,tel. 622-5232
We
can't make our mind with this place..sometimes good sometimes
the staff are really rude...sometimes the weed is good,
sometimes poor and though usually overpriced..Do make
up your own mind and please let us know of your experiences.
details...
Founded
in 1982, this shop is close to Waterlooplein and
Nieuwmarkt. It has two fairly small levels. The top level
has some comfortable chairs and the coffeeshop. The cannabis
menu truly encompasses the world. There are more sorts
of imported grass than you'll usually see in other
places and a wide variety of hashish, although they
specialize in black hash and Moroccan. There is also
an excellent variety of bio-weeds. Blue Bird won the
Hashish Cup in 1995 with their Nepali Temple Balls. You
can't smoke on the patio outside and they are very rude
telling you about it.! Our best advice is buy your
choice of products and go have more fun in the
park!
Homegrown
Fantasy Nieuwezijds
Voorburgwal 87a. Nice Coffeeshop, brightest place near
the Dam, but seats fill up quickly! Recently. their
bud selection has really picked up and their varieties
are very nice quality. They also sell seeds.
The
Otherside This
Coffeeshop is on a side street off Leidsestraat just
past Koningsplein, right across from Albert Heijn.
It's a fairly quiet simple place with some interesting,
not seen before selections, plus some common buds.
It's a nice place to stop for tea or a coffee.
Picasso Haarlemstraat
6, This small, cozy, shop is located near Central Station.The
shop serves all the standard munches, sodas, juice, coffee,
and tea. A wide assortment of cannabis and hashish is
available. I love the bright halogen light on the second
floor's cannabis bar, which gives you an excellent light
to examine the weed. A comfortable place to relax.
Sensi's
Museum Coffeeshop Oude
Doelenstraat 20 tel. 623-5267 Right around the corner
from the Sensi Museum. Not particularly spectacular,
but a good place to stop for a smoke after seeing the
Museum. They only sell seeds so bring your own weed
and hash.
for
accurate info on seeds
Borderline Amstelstraat
37, Opposite IT Nightclub, close to Rembrantplein.
Not
recommended... as this place more than lives up to
its name:
Bulldog the
original Bulldog Coffeeshop is one of the oldest in Amsterdam,
13-17 Leidseplein, Mostly a tourist rip off... They
have a pretty poor selection here, but plenty of outdoor
seats. Watch out
for the main floor Bulldog, they'll rip you off at every
turn, The downstairs Coffeeshop on the right
side of the building is better but not by much. Several "branch
offices" have been opened at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat
45 and at several locations on Oudezijds Voorburgwal.
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