Last week, we entered a second lockdown in The Netherlands that has, once again, put paid to the idea of sitting in a nice café and reading your morning newspaper while tucking into a cheeky pastry. Or has it?

As someone who can normally be seen in cafés across town pretty much all week, I wanted to put together a quick guide to finding the best coffee in Amsterdam during our autumn lockdown and to help my friends who run the best specialty coffee bars in town let people know that they’re open and what’s on the temporary menu.

Please be aware that the information below is prone to sudden change depending on how the situation in The Netherlands develops.

Toki

This wonderful café at the top of th Jordaan still serves its fantastic coffees, cakes and now also offers scrumptuous sandwiches courtesy of chef Tedi’s new tackout menu.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 17 / Sat – Sun: 9 – 17

Venu

Staying in the neighbourhood, Venu is the latest arrival on the coffee scene and the second venture by Yulia Nikitina. Unlike all other cafés in town, it is allowed to stay open during the second lockdown because it’s officially a co-working space. To book your spot, simply visit the Venu website.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 9 – 18 / Sat: 9 – 16 / Sun: Closed

Public Space

A few months ago, I lauded David Gillies and his passionate team from Public Space for having one of the most progressive and inventive approaches to getting through the first lockdown. They were very well prepared for the second lockdown and immediately launched their outstanding takeaway and delivery menu including Confit Duck Hash or Congree Porridge. In addition, you can also order from their fantastic bakery. Place your order via their website.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 9 – 17 / Sat – Sun: 10 – 17

Hummingbird

The city center’s favourite hole in the wall café has remained open with its fine selection of exclusive roasters and curated coffee making gear. This cosy little coffee bar is a great place to stop by and refuel when in the Nine Streets.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 9 – 17 / Sat – Sun: 10 – 17

Uncommon

My dear friends Josh and Claye from Uncommon have had a wild ride this year after opening this beautiful coffee bar in Oud West during the first lockdown. Now, they’re once again focusing on serving their fantastic coffees, selling bags of beans and serving yummy sandwiches to take home such as the salt roasted beetroot on organic sourdough. Order your takeaway via their website.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 9 – 17 / Sat – Sun: 10 – 18

Lot Sixty One

During the first lockdown, I was amazed to see how patiently people were waiting outside Lot Sixty One, sometimes for 20 – 30 minutes, to get their takeaway coffee. Now, they team that is managed by my Coffeevine ambassador and friend Dani is perfectly attuned to serving outstanding coffees without long waits. Pop in for a silky flat white and a slice of delicious cake to go.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 18 / Sat – Sun: 9 – 18

Monks Coffee Roasters

Patrick and his team run the local favourite on the crossing of Bilderdijkstraat and De Clercqstraat. Normally, this welcoming café is the perfect place to relax, tuck into some tasty food and enjoy a great coffee but now, it’s back to a more reduced menu of hot drinks, pastries and coffee beans.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 17 / Sat – Sun: 9 – 17

Ikaria

The only specialty coffee kiosk in town is also the one that led the way through the first lockdown by being the most adapted to serving its customers great coffee to go. In addition, it has delicious Spanakoptia, a Greek puff pastry filled with feta and spinach. Just swing by to get yours.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 7:30 – 16:30 /  Sat 8 – 17 / Sun 9 – 17

Trakteren

The first café I ever reviewed on this website is also one of the city’s longest running. A true institution in Oud West, Trakteren continues to serve its perfectly prepared coffees and sells beans, chocolate and tea from its own selection to anyone in need.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 17 / Sat 9 – 17 / Sun: Closed

White Label Coffee

Across its various locations in town, including SchuurmanOomkensGrassotti and its location in Noord, White Label only serves take away. At SOG you can also pick up breakfast and lunch. Otherwise it’s all great coffee and beans and some natural wines.

Current opening times (White Label): Mon – Fri 8:30 – 18 / Sat – Sun 8:30 – 18

Fuku

The stalwart of Bos en Lommer is back to its adjusted take away layout serving Friedhats’ fine coffees to go. This place has one of the best coffees in town so if you happen to be in the area, make sure to stop by.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8:30 – 15 / Sat – Sun 9 – 17

Espressofabriek

The hub of great coffee in Westerpark has doubled as the pickup spot for Ulmus Bakery for the past few months and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Order your favourite bread or pastry online and then pop in to get a lovely flat white to go. Perfection.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8:30 – 16 / Sat – Sun 9 – 17

Back to Black

My favourite female run café and roasting company has two outlets across town. One, conveniently located next to the Rijksmusem and one in the Westerpark area of the city. Both serve outstanding coffees and sell the fantastic coffee beans roasted by Inge Bulthuis.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 18 / Sat – Sun 9 – 18

Bocca Store

The conveniently located Bocca Store on Kerkstraat is still one of the most sought after specialty coffee bars in Amsterdam although now, it’s once again back to serving only take away.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 18 / Sat – Sun 9 – 18

Scandinavian Embassy

De Pijp’s finest café and the original home of the local cinnamon bun has its take away routine perfectly figured out and continues to serve gorgeous coffees from Nordic roasters alongside its tasty creations such as sweet rosehip and seabuckthorn soup with cardamom ice cream by Massimo Gelato topped with a light and frozen Ethiopian espresso from Coffee Collective. Doesn’t that sound incredible?

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 18 / Sat – Sun 9 – 18

4850

This is the place that people regularly rave about and for good reason. Daniel Schein and his team have created a true institution that chruns out some of the best coffee in town, offers an outstanding wine list and truly magical food. During the lockdown, they serve only their fancy chicken or veggie burgers to go alongside freshly baked buns and coffee.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 9 – 16 / Sat 9 – 16 / Sun 10 – 16

Rum Baba

This cute little coffee bar on the Elandsgracht is the second location from local roaster and baker Rum Baba.  The mothership is deep in the Transvaalbuurt in Oost (also a lovely area) but this one here is a bit more centrally located and a great place to stop for a quick coffee to go.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 17 / Sat 9 – 17 / Sun 9 – 16:30

Caffènation

Last but not least on my list is the outpost from Belgian coffee roaster Caffènation whose cute neighbourhood café in the Hoofdorppleinbuurt is always a great place to visit.

Current opening times: Mon – Fri 8 – 16 / Sat 9 – 16 / Sun 10 – 16

Bluey’s

This outpost on Zeeburg is one of the newest coffee places in town that serves a nice mix of healthy and hearty food and great coffee. Currently, they have everything to go and will soon add ‘borrel boxes’ and ‘brunch boxes’ to get you throught the weekend.

Current opening times: Wed – Sun 9 – 16

If you notice any mistakes or have any updates, please shoot me an email to hello [@] thecoffeevine.com

Now, let’s go out there and support our local coffee heroes in whatever way we can.