4 Best Bars in Plantage, Amsterdam

The history of this traditional "brown café" can be traced back to 1832, and thankfully the bar has not lost its prewar charm to prefab fittings or hip design. In fact, the clock behind the bar runs backward, so you can happily lose all sense of time. The owners pride themselves on reasonable prices and a friendly atmosphere. Go Dutch and order an uitsmijter (fried eggs with cheese, ham or bacon on sliced bread): according to local lore it was once served to café patrons just before closing time as one for the road, which is perhaps why its name translates as "bouncer." Nowadays, you'll also find it on breakfast and lunch menus.