"Jazzy B.E.E.R.S!"
Attendees: Ben and Sarah
Price: €4 330ml tap beer. We went for a delicious dark porter, perfect for winter.
Location: Kaizersgracht 711, on the corner with the very charming Utrechtesstraat, south side of Amsterdam. Boutique retail with a pleasing lack of tourist hordes & a little more laid back than the "9 Streets" area.
Distance: It's in Amsterdam. Chances are you can walk, ride or tram there from anywhere in the city.
Ambience: Cozy lounge room atmosphere with a friendly conversational buzz. Easy to meet and chat with fellow patrons. Every Sunday there is live jazz starting at 5pm which creates an amazing vibe in such a small and intimate space.
Character: Traditional Amsterdam with no space wasted. Small without being claustrophobic and plenty of polished wooden charm. The very large windows on both outward facing walls (its on the corner) maximise the often cloudy daylight. Not too showy and easy to pass by on the street.
Decor: Very basic yet effective. Large diffuse overhanging lights and strategically placed candles add plenty of warmth to chase away the winter chills. The stage is a compact riser at the end of the room and the band is clearly the main feature with no-one's view getting blocked.
Comfort: Grab a stool at the bar or sit back on the heaters below the large windows. Plenty of options for the generally small amount of people the place can accommodate.
Patrons: A mixed local crowd with a couple of edgier jazz types, older gents and a group of friends sharing a few drinks. Everyone gets into the music and there's plenty of interaction in between tunes (you might need to know a little Dutch to decipher it).
Staff: A typically tall Dutch guy with a snappy haircut and a friendly manner, happy to recommend a good beer and provide a sample tasting of the tap options.
Selection: A couple of great local beers on tap and a few more bottled options. Basic but hits the spot.
Outdoor Area: Nothing outdoors (at least during winter) however there is an upstairs dining area for lunch.
Specials: Live jazz every Sunday beginning at 5pm through til around 9.
L.S.R: These musicians are a great representation of the local interest in jazz and really know how to play together and create an atmosphere. Expect to hear heavy, groove laden licks with a couple of virtuotic solos thrown in. Top marks.
Amenities: Take the incredibly steep spiral stairs down to a smaller basement area with some clean and tidy toilets. A candle on the sink is a classy touch.
Top Suggestion: A coat hook by the door would do wonders, we stripped off quite a few layers from walking around in the cold weather outside.
Field Notes: While it might be a tiny bar on a typical street, this is a great spot to relax, catch up with a friend, see some jazz or even just read a book. The lack of tourists is extremely encouraging - they probably got caught up in a coffeeshop somewhere up the street!
Arbitrary Score: 85
With plenty of traditional Amsterdam charm, Cafe van Leeuwen keeps it simple and offers a genuine local drinking spot with killer local jazz to boot.
No comments:
Post a Comment