Canal Ring

The most glamorous club in Amsterdam offers a selection of house and r&b, with a spectacularly lit dance floor downstairs. It is relatively small and there is table service, so it feels a bit like a VIP-room. Entry policy is strict so dress sharp to get in. And boys, don't come alone.

Sometimes referred to as a nightclub, it feels more like a nightly music venue and is the safest bet in town. Its interior is phenomenal as it is housed in a former church, but the main room has relatively bad acoustics. It gets a mixed crowd as there are plenty of rooms with different bands performing and it isn't too crazy expensive. Its music straddles the line between pop and alternative. Much of the performances are rock, but it can really be anything: don't be surprised to be dancing the Russian troika with thousands of people on a Wednesday night. It gets fairly packed, as is obvious by the huge line on the weekends, especially after 01:00.

Bit of a remarkable place that integrates art, music, culture, theatre and nightclub into one. It has a relaxed atmosphere with an eccentric artisty audience.

A large, fairly uninspiring nightclub that mostly plays mainstream house music. The first hall is large and attracts the more or less wannabe hip people of the city, although the crowd is diverse. The second hall upstairs has a completely different audience, mostly hip-hop and R&B enthusiasts. At some events Escape is split in two, which means you can use the backside entry at Amstel for a different party.

One of the many Irish pubs in the city. People from all over the world meet here and watch football, rugby and typical Irish sports like hurling and Gaelic football while drinking a pint of Guinness.

A friendly spot for coffee, a beer, or something stronger. You may at first only notice the outside seating and the enclosed terrace, but there is also an elegant, usually quieter indoor area. Food, too, but you don't see many eaters.

Excellent biercafe serving only Dutch beers and liqueurs, including jenever. Around 30 beers on tap, 17 or so which change regularly, and over 100 bottled. Very friendly bartenders who know beer well and give great recommendations. Try the €8 sampler, which gives you 12cl samples of 3 beers with a glass of water and some crackers.

The oldest Irish bar in Amsterdam, Mulligans has live music most nights. This is where the traditional music crowd gathers.

If you like whisky, this small, laid-back and friendly cafe is the ideal place to visit. Many unusual whiskies from independent bottlers and closed distilleries are available. The menu stretches along one wall and is about 2 meters in height, the cafe having had 1001 whiskies available since they opened. Just be warned the stairs to the toilets are pretty steep!