Paradiso Amsterdam

Paradiso is a great music venue. I have been to both the small, intimate upstairs room and bar and the main area. The building its self is beautiful with gorgeous stainglass windows and not too big. It’s comparable to KOKO in London for the UK reader. A little smaller. Intimate is good and of course, Heineken is on tap.
The small upstairs bar was so small, i managed to make the band laugh with a comment and spent time with them afterwards. That reminded me of Camden Crawl and basically lead to a good night. This place has a great feel.
The larger room is great but not too big for the bigger bands so has a great feel. The acoustics are pretty good near the bar in the main room and you can move toward the front on the right hand side :) I have not been to a dance night here yet but intend to go very soon.
You have to pay to become a member of Paradiso to get into the event despite paying for your ticket and booking fee. I knew this due to paying the same for Paradiso a number of years ago but forgot all the same. It’s 3 euros for a month’s membership per person and 25 euros for the year — an excuse to get out and see more live music over the summer is not a bad thing!

Los Angeles is a concert haven, with intimate clubs, beautiful outdoor spaces, large event halls, etc. I can easily go from a small event to a major stadium arena. Moving to Amsterdam, I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve been to Heineken Music Hall and Ziggo Dome, so I was looking forward to a smaller venue. I had just the chance when Gary Clark Jr. performed last year.
Paradiso did not disappoint. It’s a converted church, with stained glass windows that amplify the lighting. The space can feel cozy at times, and definitely gets hot as more bodies press together. Sound is fantastic, which I know can be a hit or miss with smaller venues.
Make sure to buy membership before you go in. It’s a sneaky way to keep lines long and to crowd control. Otherwise, get ready for a beautiful interior, fantastic ambience, and some killer music.

Went on a Thursday night had an amazing time. 6 beers were 16euros so pretty reasonable for a club. The space is huge and the layout is so dope. Most likely because it was an old church converted to a hall, but that definitely adds to it. The DJ played a lot of American music all types though, mostly top 40 and would put them to dance beats. I liked the DJ a lot.
Be careful though, people from there have this thing where they just throw things. So every second there’s probably a cup being thrown near you, don’t be alarmed but It was a little weird though lol.

A club in an old church! How cool is that! Came here with some friends and had an amazing time. There was plenty of space to dance, the music was great, and everyone in the club looked like they were having fun. As far as I could tell, there was no dress code — some girls were wearing sneakers while others were in heels and a dress. So basically go, be yourself, and have fun!

As a total concert junkie, even before I moved to Amsterdam I scoped out the lineups and bought tickets for local concerts at Paradiso, a venue that hosts pretty big acts in an intimate setting for amazing prices (compared to shows we’ve seen in similar NYC venues). We’ve seen St. Vincent and My Morning Jacket here so far just to give you an idea of the types of big acts that play here.
My husband and I are vertically challenged (read: short) and were not expecting to see much at a general admission show in the Land of Giants but were pleasantly surprised! I know a lot of people like to come super early and ease their way into the front of the stage, but we’re perfectly fine viewing the action from above. Our trick? Go all the way to the top floor, grab a church pew (did I mention that Paradiso used to be an old church?) and drag it right in front of the banister — insta-​seats! And you’ll avoid people elbowing you all night trying to steal the spot you worked so hard for.
Quick warning: a teeny cup of water here is more expensive than beer! Make sure you sneak your own bottle in as they don’t seem to check bags.
Overall a lovely venue with great sound and decent sight lines. Definitely sign up for their email newsletter to keep up with the latest! I also just purchased the Paradiso Indiestadpass for 2016 which boasts 52 indie concerts throughout the year for 25 € — sounds too good to be true, but I figured even if you saw two concerts or portions of concerts you’d get your money’s worth!

Visited this venue for a Beirut concert. It really is, as good as it get’s. It is a really beautiful venue. We were right in front of the stage. There were no crash barriers, so that we were really close to the artists. You can find everything you need directly in the venue. A big bar, clean toilets, lockers for your personal stuff and a smoking area in the first floor. Paradiso has three floors, in the upper two there are seats. In our case we were free to take place wherever we wanted to. It was not divided in categories, like it is almost everywhere in Germany these days.
The sound and was great. The PA and the lighting equipment in this venue is state of the art.
To sum it up: I highly recommend a visit when a band you like, is playing. We were really early there (20 mins before doors), why we had no problems with long queues. You have to buy a «membership» (for one month) for 3,50 € before you get in.
I hope I will soon have an opportunity to visit Amsterdam and the Paradiso again…

Yea so they don’t tell you this, but you MUST buy a membership before you go in, so make sure you have some euros on you before you get to your gig… sneaky! If you’re standing in line wondering why it’s taking so long to get in, this will be why.
Otherwise, this is a great venue, heaps of space, and quite a pretty interior. The stained glass is stunning. Came here to see the John Butler Trio play and was not disappointed.

Very irritated I was forced to buy a «membership» at the door even though I bought a ticket to the show. There was no indication that was a requirement when I bought the ticket. Trickery to get another $ 5 out of people!

Terrible experience. I suffer from anxiety disorder so I always go out with a klonopin pill for emergencies. I showed the medication to security willingly, explaining the situation. They chose to kick me out And withold my medication. And all of this after they’d already charged admission! No one in the staff was sympathetic to my situation, with some dumb bouncer even saying: «Welcome to Amsterdam», whatever that means.

Went to this venue to see George Clinton and it was amazing! It had seats on the second and third floor with the main floor being standing room/​dance floor. My wife and I sat in chairs and on the dance floor; each had its unique vibe and a great view of the stage.
If you’re in Amsterdam and a band that you like is playing, do yourself a favor and buy a ticket!

Paul Weller
My friends and I were able to score tickets to see Paul Weller when we are in town on a girls weekend. Fantastic space, and great gig.

We saw the Decemberists here on February 23. It was a great show! You can see pretty well no matter where you are standing or sitting even if there are two to three people deep on the balcony. The sound is excellent. You could easily understand the words because there was very little reverb to distort them. The coat check is E1.50 per coat. I would recommend lining up very early (because everyone does) so you can get one of the coveted seats in the ring around the balcony. There are multiple rooms where opening acts play so if you want to see the opening acts, you’ll have to sacrifice a good standing spot in the main room for the main act and come in after the opening act is over.

La mejor sala de conciertos del mundo. La locación es increíble, el sonido es de primerísima calidad y el lugar es pequeño, casi íntimo. Es ideal además porque el público holandés es super tranquilo, y podés estar parado al lado del escenario sin mayores complicaciones. Tuve la suerte de ver ahí a PJ Harvey y a The Kills, y ambos shows están en mi Top10, porque fueron perfectos en todo sentido.
Si andan de paseo por Amsterdam, no dejen de chequear la cartelera de Paradiso, se pueden llevar una gran sorpresa y pasar una noche increíble.

I really didn’t like this club. It is really pointless to pay so much and to not even be able to go outside to buy something or find your friends. The show and the performances are good but the staff is really rude, I was told to shut up and things like this just because I asked to stay a little bit closer to the door because I was freezing. I was really polite the entire time and it was no reason to be treated like this specially when you pay so much money to get in. Really hope it was just a bad day for everybody, but you guys should have more polite people working for you!

Paradiso is an awesome location in Amsterdam for catching a show. The sound quality is great, the room is sizable but still presents a level of intimacy, and the venue attracts lots of established and up-​and-​coming artists. I saw Local Natives play there. The atmosphere and lighting were perfect for all. The drinks are a bit expensive but what you expect for a concert venue. Coat check available for another couple euros. The second and third levels offer space from the main floor crowd, but anywhere in the venue is a great view unless, of course, you’ve managed to stand behind a Dutch giant, which is not an unlikely occurrence.
I’ve also been to Paradiso for several club nights. Expect long lines unless you arrive early. However, if you arrive right around when events begin like 11 or midnight, you will be one of the few people awkwardly awaiting a larger crowd for such a big space. Lots of fun dance nights, though, from hip hop to techo and 90s. If you’re from the US or not accustomed to club scenes in Europe, be prepared for an unsettling amount of partiers who barely look 16. Check their website for a calendar and get tickets in advance when possible.

Crazy cool venue. Great sound quality, plenty of standing room downstairs on the first level. Free seating on the second and third levels which offers great views of the stage.
Bar inside is a bit expensive but decent. They offer coat check services for a few euros.
Went to see Wiz Khalifa here and he put on a great one man show for a couple hours.
Backstage area is a bit of a maze but opens up to a canal which is really nice.
Membership, which is about 5 € per year, is required with entry ticket. Security and staff are chill.

Very nice venue for seeing live music.
Even the «big» hall is a nice cozy setting. Really nice to be so close to the performers.
Really enjoyed being in the second balcony and having a birds eye view of the stage. Looking forward to seeing several other concerts here during my time in Amsterdam!

Read all the other reviews if you master the Dutch language :) If not: Paradiso is the #1 pop temple in the Netherlands and as far as I’m concerned in the world. I myself come here since the early 70ies, so I know what I’m talking about don’t I?
The acoustic is not too bad, but don’t go stand all up in the front, there the sound will wash over you. Personally I like standing at the sides or up on the balconies (there are 2! levels of balconies. Awesome view there!
It’s so small, Paradiso, that all concerts are intimate, you can all see and feel the performers. That makes it über cool to enjoy your favorite band.
If you’re from the original Woodstock era, like me, this is your ultimate hippie rock & roll temple. If you’re a youngster you’ll feel like an old hippie. Lovit the bovit!

A stunning, stunning venue! The Paradiso is a beautiful converted church with large ornate stained glass windows and two tiered levels of balconies. If you’re not the type for dancing, or even standing at gigs, I’m sure you could get a seat upstairs if you arrived early.
Seeing my favourite band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, here on the night of my 22^nd birthday will be something I remember for a long time and the Paradiso made for a wonderful venue. The fluorescent lights on the stained glass windows were particularly entrancing, it really is an awe-​inducing building!
In terms of sound, there wasn’t a hint of feedback (despite the 12 piece band!) and the sound filled the building excellently. When I saw the band were touring, I considered purchasing tickets for the gig in my hometown of Glasgow before discovering they played the Paradiso on the night of my birthday. (Score!) I’d definitely be inclined to hop on a flight to Amsterdam for gigs in future!

Un lieu à la programmation riche et variée !
Sorte de «Bota à la sauce hollandaise» (ça parlera aux Unilocaleurs belges…)
3 salles :
–une grande, pouvant accueillir environ 1000pers. pour les soirées et les concerts de plus grande ampleur, avec un décor qui vaut le coup d’œil !
–une petite à l’étage, pour des concerts intimistes mais pas dénués d’ambiance.
–un bar en sous-​sol, pour terminer la soirée comme il se doit.
Clairement, un endroit à conseiller si vous voulez sortir dans le centre d’Amsterdam !
Attention: carte de membre obligatoire (mais pas très difficile à obtenir).

Best place to see a concert in Amsterdam. The vibe is so great, and the sound is wonderful. This is by far my go to place for music.
The only complaint I have is that people constantly talk during the show if it’s a slow and quite song. Really annoying to have someone’s live art destroyed because people want to have a conversation during a concert. This has happened the last two times and has ruined that part of the show for those of us who are there to listen.

Das Paradiso ist ein sehr zentrales, gut zu erreichendes (Nähe Leidseplein) ehemaliges Kirchengebäude im neuromanischen Stil, welches zur Konzertlocation, Club und Kulturzentrum umfunktioniert wurde. Klingt toll? Ist es auch! :)
Im Grote Zaal traten schon eine Vielzahl an namhaften Bands und Künstlern auf; er bietet Platz für ungefähr 1500 Personen. Die Kirchenfenster (superschön!) ein wenig oberhalb der Bühne und der mit Sitzplätzen (lose Sessel) ausgestattete Balkon eine Etage höher, der beinahe die ganze Halle einrahmt und von dem man an jedem Standpunkt beste Sicht genießt, geben jeder Veranstaltung noch einmal das gewisse Etwas. Tolle Akustik gibt’s obendrauf!
Die Bühne als neuer Altar ;) Der nächste Besuch ist schon geplant. Hallelujah!!! :D

Paradiso = Paradise = Paradis =
Qu’importe la langue employée, cet établissement porte bien son nom.
Ancienne église reconvertie en boîte de nuit, la couleur est déjà annoncée au résumée du lieu. Certes il né faut pas être ultra conservateur et garder une certaine ouverture d’esprit quant à l’idée, mais cela en vaut la peine.
Quand la musique est lancée, les lumières sont allumées et que la salle est remplie, on se sent tout de suite transporté dans une autre atmosphère. Une atmosphère quelque peu spéciale mais complétement hypnotisante
L’architecture du batiment (surtout les grands vitraux) et les jeux de lumières sont à couper le soufflé.
Avec sa capacité d’acceuillir autour de 1500 personnes le Paradiso est le maitre des hyped-​up parties Manifesto/​Love Dance et autres concerts live
Il est important de regarder la programmation, car on y trouve de tout: folk, soul, country, reggae et blues avec des représentations de Queens Of The Stone Age, White Stripes, Last Shadow Puppets, Lady Gaga et bien d’autres.
Les prix d’entrées varient en fonction de la programmation et peuvent être achetés 24h à l’avance sur leur site internet.
Quoiqu’il arrive, je vous conseille fortement si vous êtes de passage d’y jeter un coup d’oeil, car cet endroit en vaut vraiment le détour.

W-​o-​W!
Not only was the performance by Woodkid INCREDIBLE (seriously, go find him on Facebook and check out his music immediately!), but this venue is seriously FIERCE!
There isn’t a bad seat in the house and the sound is perfect!
If you get a chance to see anything here… ANY band… even goat herding banjo music… DO IT. Nothing like watching live music in an old church.
Dig!

L’endroit branché
La Paradiso loge dans une église désaffectée offrant un espace original pour des formations sur scèné et des soirées disco ou Djs très très sympatiques. Julien