Bar Oldenhof

A true hidden gem in the center of Amsterdam! I have passed this place so many times, without even noticing that there was something so incredible cool going on behind the closed black curtains. Fortunately a friend told me about this ’20 /​NYC style whisky bar… and it is about time I shared it with you (but don’t tell too much people about it!)
For those that are yet familiar with the ‘speakeasy’ concept, Bar Oldenhof does not offer anything new. I have been to New York several times now, visiting places like these by the dozen. BUT not in Amsterdam! When you knock on the door, a distinguished gentleman will open it… asking you about your business. If you aren’t dressed right (not too casual) or are with too many, it’s better to move on. Otherwise you will be welcome after a short ten minutes wait.
Once you’re inside, you will forget all about Amsterdam… welcome to the times of ‘Boardwalk Empire’, ‘Mad Men’ and NYC in the ’20’s! The smooth jazz, the furniture and the relaxing entourage will make you feel special from the moment you step into Bar Oldenhof.
During my first experience I was seated at the bar, where the bartender explained all about the chique and broad variety of Whisky, Gin and cocktails they had to offer. Once served, you will also get the chance to look at the bottle from which you are drinking, learning a bit more about the story behind it.
Overall it was such a marvelous experience, that at a moment it felt like I was part of an old fashioned movie… for sure my #01 place to escape from the hectic outside world.

This place exceeds all my expectations. A warm welcome at the door by the host. The staff is relaxed, friendly and professional! Besides the whisky and rum they also have FAN-​TAS-​TIC cocktails and G&T’s. All drinks will be served with care and a story. ‘Oh’ and don’t forget the small bite.

This review is very personal. Regarding MY type of bars.
Didn’t like the place. Too posh. Too expensive. More adapted for older people with money than young people who want to enjoy some drinks.
The bar is really great, I guess that some people might even love it because it has this very special atmosphere.
But it is just not my type of bar at all. I didn’t find it very warm.
I paid 16 euros for a Bloody Mary, which was indeed very good, but also very expensive. I just think that the target people is maybe not me, I mean people of my age — 26.
Cheapest beer is 6 €. Cheapest cocktail 16 €.
Can undertsand why some people might like it. It’s a secret bar. You have to ring the bell to enter it. So very mysterious. You might also like the service which is really formal and polite.

This place is cool. Great whiskey selection. Quiet atmosphere to talk without shouting. The bartenders here are knowledgable and friendly.

Thick blue velvet curtains hide Bar Oldenhof. It’s easy to walk past the little bar sign, but that would be a mistake. Push the buzzer, enter and be greeted by friendly waistcoated staff. To make friends order whisky rather a cocktail. Our full Amsterdam travel guide:

I tried to keep this place as my secret spot for a long time but hey maybe it’s time to reveal the hidden treasure!!!
I LOOOOVE loooove it here. The atmosphere, cocktails, service basically everything is all incredibly good. My favorite is Old Fashion– definitely a must try! They have a large menu refreshed for each season so believe me you’ll find something for your own taste.
Five stars goes to Bar Oldenhof!
Nev

Loved this speakeasy bar!!! Great drinks made by two brothers that obviously love what they do. I loved that wear ties and arm bands it’s so 1920s. You have to knock to get in where you a greeted by one of the brothers and they take your coat. Fine jazz is playing and the place is decorated with rich dark wood and thick plush Maroon couches. Only seating for 32 then you have to wait for someone to leave to be admitted so they can keep the mood fun yet elegant. Stiff drinks expertly crafted and fun to watch being made. Highly recommend !!!

These OCD bartenders/​owners got this place right. They seem to be perfectionists in every aspects of how they run their business, from the service down to their drinks. Although the drinks come out a bit slow due to their intense concentration of actually making one, when they arrive, it’ll knock your socks off. I’ve been to quite a few «speakeasies» and I can still say that their cocktail menu is incredible.
Note that this place is tiny, fitting a maximum of probably 25 people so don’t come in a large group, or a group at all. When you arrive, you’ll simply see a sign that says «Bar». Ring the doorbell and someone will be out to assist you shortly and pray that they have a seat for you.
If you’re tired of the beer pub scene and rowdy crowds, this place is for you. If you simply want to relax and have a crappy heiny or jack and coke, this place isn’t it.
5 stars.

Please don’t come here — this is a terrrrrible spot…
[whispering]…have I scared you away yet? Damn! I didn’t think that would work given this place’s perfect 5-​star rating! It was worth a shot… living just around the corner, my husband and I are regulars at this point and this place felt like our little secret for some time before the lines started forming outside by people curious to get a look behind the blackout curtains.
We’ve had many lengthy convos with Dwight and Quinz, the brothers who run this fine establishment — enamored by the speakeasy culture of London and NYC, they wanted to carve out their little slice of that in Amsterdam center with Bar Oldenhof. Everything from the décor (ex: antlers hanging on the wall to pay homage to the street’s namesake — elands =“elk” in Dutch) to the music (jazz /​jazz covers) to the photos on the wall (NYC, what what!) just fits together beautifully. It’s like spending the evening at your coolest friend’s place, the one who knows a thing or two about interior design and mixology!
The brothers are also the ones mixing the drinks which is why it may take awhile to get your order — quality takes time. But they are always upfront about this and will warn you when they’re short staffed for the night. Every drink on the cocktail menu is expertly prepared (pull up a chair at the bar if you want front seats to this show!) with new seasonal drinks appearing every few months — and they’re as STRONG as they are delicious! Not sure what you should get? Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or even a modification of an existing drink, they’re very accommodating.
Have I mentioned that there’s FOOD here too?! Every bar snack I’ve tried here I can totally recommend.
Sidenote: I’ve been here so many times that I’ve devised my own Oldenhof drinking game of sorts: as soon as you sit down, you’re offered some bar snacks. As soon as you finish that plate, you get something more… and different. So I spent quite a few visits trying to reach that third snack, and have enlisted my drinking buddies to help me out on the quest before last call hits. For the rest of you, I will save your livers and satisfy your curiosity with a spoiler alert: 1– nut mix, 2– olives, 3– prawn chips. You can thank me later!
The Oldenhof brothers are truly a class act — a reliance on good vibes, better drinks, and positive word of mouth continue to make them a huge success! No speakeasy gimmicks, just easily the best cocktail bar I’ve been to.

This may be the most charming bar I’ve ever been in, anywhere. It really does feel like stepping back into the 30’s: bartenders in tuxedo vests mixing perfect custom cocktails at a small bar, cozy candlelit tables, classic jazz playing in the background, and most nights you need to ring the doorbell to get in, and are then greeted warmly at the door by the owner. If you’re in the neighborhood don’t miss it.

Great cocktail spot in Amsterdam. They take great pride in their cocktails. Massive gin and tonics.

This place is a rare find. Typically, you’ll find the door is closed and you may have to ring the bell. Other times, the door is wide open so come on in. You may want to wait for acknowledgement from either Quins or Dwight, the owners (and brothers) before sitting down, but once you sit, hold on tight — you’re in for a real treat.
The cocktails are meticulously made with the best alcohol, so sip slowly. Two or three of any of the delicious concoctions will put you right to bed.
The inside is dark and a bit mysterious, leather couches and a beautiful chandelier included. Let’s stick with the theme here for how to dress — this place is undeniably sexy, so dress appropriately.
One of the best cocktail bars I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been a NYC girl for 5+ years. Don’t miss out on this spot!

You don’t expect to find this jazzy cocktail bar with 30’s allure on Elandgracht behind the closed curtains. Actually I was confused myself when I got there, as I thought the place is shut down. No it’s not, just go ahead and enter it!
The interior is dark and a bit mysterious, but the staff is cheerful and welcoming. Honestly, pretty much the best service I have ever experienced in Amsterdam. Wonderful gentlemen take your coat, offer you a seat, making charming jokes and — nota bene — create heavenly cocktails.
It’s like there is a time machine behind these closed curtains and you just stepped into the jazzy scene of the 30’s, when people still had good manners, men treated women as ladies and nobody was in a hurry.
Good news, it’s in Amsterdam, located centrally and open for everyone.
The prices are rather high, but who counts money for all this you get in return?!

Amazing whiskies, cocktails, atmosphere, service … everything! It’s always a roulette when trying to visit this place due to their no reservation/​no standing in the bar policy, but it’s worth the try nevertheless.
The staff are very friendly and might not tell you this … but let’s try to keep the whole concept alive by showing up properly dressed. At least elegant casual would do.
Loved this place every time.

Time travel! I absolutely loved this place! The service was great, kept on topping up the water as we drank amazingly tasty cocktails, wine or juices. Very quiet so great option if you want to talk to people. The décor is very original and feels like you’ve gone into a Hercule Poirot story. Definitely advise!

Great great great. This bar is fantastic. I went there initially thinking it was more of a cocktail bar due to some articles and reviews that I read, however these guys (2 brothers) specialise in Malt whiskeys.
I ordered a margarita (my old time classic) and it was made with a lot of love and care (as was everyones) and tasted fantastic. I am normally very picky about how I have it, but I literally had nothing to complain about.
Between us we had 2 margaritas, a great achel triple and one of their cocktails that was made up with several types of alcohol including malt and a splash of porter dark beer. A very strong, smooth bit of goodness.
The interior of this place is sophisticated and cosy. The guys who own this place make everyone feel special. The service is impeccable and they want to get every last drink right for you. I felt like I was a regualar going back in time in this place.
It’s pricey but so so worth it. I will be back again and again.

Mit Abstand die beste Bar in Amsterdam. Wenn man auf wirkliche Barkuktur steht und die Atmosphäre schätzt. Die beiden Barkeeper sind Brüder, die genauso großartig gestylt sind wie die Drinks, die sie zubereiten. Neben den Klassikern gibt es auch großartige wechselnde Eigenkompositionen. Alles in allem kann ich es kaum erwarten, wieder hinzugehen! Für mich ist es sogar ein wirklicher Grund mehr, nach Amsterdam zu fahren! Perfekt!

Very relaxing atmosphere. They really take good care of customers making sure you have enough water and stuff to nibble on while enjoying the cocktails. I had the ‘penicillin’ cocktail which tasted nice but a bit to ‘medical’ so I continued with the daily special, a nice wodka cocktail.
We were here on a Saturday night starting a bit before midnight and I wandered why the place was not loaded, cause it is really worth it, but maybe you just gotta know it. Maybe this post helps ;-)

Absolutely a delightful experience that one should experience from time to time. This is a beautiful bar. It’s dark, cozy, inviting and comfortable. The bar has a maximum capacity of 30 people. They let no more than that in at anyone time to insure that everyone has a place to sit. The front door remains locked until someone leaves so someone can enter.
The bartenders warmly welcome you. Their focus here is relaxed and classic. The background music is soft classic jazz. There’s even a piano here for the occasional pianist that stops in to treat the crowd to live music. It’s a place to sit back and enjoy a classic cocktail or fine beer and enjoy the company of friends and maybe even enjoy a fine cigar. Their attention is on excellent service and excellent classic cocktails in a setting full of ambiance.
You’re served a glass of water and a small dish of nuts along with your drink. There are snacks and finger food available. There is a menu of cocktails, wines and beers. The service is personal and impeccably polite which in itself is a treat in itself. I loved it.

«Alfred?»
“Yes, Master Thom?”
«Could you make sure my Batsuit is ready? And please unlock the door to the Batcave. My hands are still numb from the intense training I participated in last weekend.»
«Certainly, but Sir. Tonight the streets of Amsterdam are quiet, Sir. Maybe you should take Ms Didi out for a drink.»
En daar zaten we dan in Bar Oldenhof hoor. Fiancée bestelde een Robin en ik een Old Rusty cocktail. Deze cocktails zijn echt megagoed. Elke slok die je drinkt moet je even elkaars vingers tellen, want ze zijn lekker sterk! De bediening is top. Ze geven je advies als je er om vraagt. Ze spreken als echte butlers met u en bij jongere mensen zeggen ze jongedame of jongeheer ;-D. Koekje erbij, nootjes erbij, regelmatig wordt je glas water bijgeschonken. Geweldige classy inrichting. Doet je een beetje denken aan een geheim jagersgilde ofzo. Ik voelde me de koning te rijk. This will grow hair on your chest bro! Ik kwam als Chewbacca naar buiten en had een superavond met mn meissie.

Classy, Personal, Indulging, Welcoming — these are the adjectives I would use for Bar Oldenhof, a brand new addition to the Jordaan area.
Much like Door 74, Bar Oldenhof has a personal touch where you ring a doorbell and someone welcomes you. The cocktail menu has also been collaborated upon. It is best to call ahead to reserve a nice sofa for you and your equally wonderful company.
The drinks are generous in proportions and very carefully blended together. The owner/​bartender duo take extreme pride in serving you well-​crafted cocktails with a smile. One is not enough.
The interior is well done. Seating is comfortable. Music is low key and has a jazzy vibe to it, making personal and intimate conversations really easy. Combine that with comfortable seating and visual isolation from the outside that would entice you to spend your entire evening here! Not to mention that the location is extremely favorable.
Bar Oldenhof also serves fancy cigars that you could smoke within the premises in a special area upstairs. Cigar and whisky — a wonderful combination!
It is very rare for ambitious projects like this to thrive in a busy city like Amsterdam, and so it is upon us to cherish this place (named after the owners’ last names!) as much as we can so that the city gets to keep this gem forever.