Café de Pels, Amsterdam

The Dutch capital is full of charming bars with dark wood interiors, known as brown bars. Café de Pels is a brown bar, too, but with a difference. It is known as a creative hub, with writers often found scribbling at its tables. The walls hang with art, and there is a buzz around the place you won’t find elsewhere.

There is nothing to shout about in terms of drinks, just a fairly standard array of beer, wine and spirits. There is, however, a longer food menu than in many other Amsterdam bars. The bitterballen — veal croquettes ubiquitous in the Netherlands — are particularly good here, and there are sharing platters for if you get hungrier than that.

Grab one of the few outside tables on a warm day and you will be able to watch the world go by, or shelter inside when the rain comes down. Wherever you sit the attentive staff will make sure your glass is always full, and at bargain prices there is no need to worry about having a few.

This place is highly recommended and makes for a convenient stop off as you walk between tourist sites in west Amsterdam.

Beers $3; six bitterballen for $6.

Café de Pels

Huidenstraat 25

1016 ER Amsterdam, Netherlands

tel. 31 20 622 9037