Soundgarden on Postcard

"Café Soundgarden: Spectacular View, Alternative Vibe Don't dress up to visit this grunge bar tucked on Marnixgracht in Amsterdam 's Oude West. Don't be put off by the abundant graffiti covering its gritty exterior, either. Inside, Café Soundgarden is a welcoming, unpretentious pub with a spectacular canal-side terrace and an alternative vibe. The laid-back joint boasts a pool table, pinball machines and table soccer, in addition to a full bar. Belly up for some of the cheapest beer in town, including a wide selection of domestic and imported brands. Beyond inexpensive drinks, the real attraction of the place is an expansive rear deck overlooking Singlegracht canal. Come as you are to share a beer and a joint with locals, expats and possibly a few tattooed tourists who’ve stumbled upon the gezellig terrace, offering a view of passing boats and the Nassaukade street scene. Stay for live music and party like a rock star while DJs spin techno-tunes late into the night."

The Best Bars in Amsterdam

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Pete Walsh

Google

Featured on Antony Bourdain’s “the layover” programme. Super cool dive bar with an awesome terrace out the back. Great music playing and a very chilled vibe with smokers and drinkers mingling together. They seem to go at their own pace here, and I’ve tried visiting at opening time a few times only to find the place closed. Easy come easy go, and that’s certainly the vibe here. Recommended for sure if you’re looking for a local feel and cool times.

DJ Zhou

Google

I’ll say this is one the rare left Amsterdam hippy bar in the city center. Great terrace close to the canal. Inside it’s a bit old school a bit rocknroll- you know the feeling. Beers are big and cheap. It’s a shame that these kind of bars are less and less in Amsterdam now, things in the city becoming fancy and standardise boring.

Adam Croce´

Google

This place is great. Great vibe, excellent music, and foosball!! As an American who thought he was pretty decent… I won a couple games, thought I was tough… then got absolutely destroyed by two Italian dudes who were very gracious, even though they just destroyed me and some dude from Portugal (who was very good-and I’m sorry I let you down). Also, I don’t know “Dutch rules” but we played normal international rules. But I think if we got shut out we would have to crawl under the table (gross). But thankfully we got like 2 or 3 goals on the board. But it was close. Also the beer here is good.

Adrian D

Google

This place was pretty darn nice. They do have a patio overlooking one of many canals, but I stayed inside at the bar. There is a very wide drink selection there aside from beers, but you should give a few of the beers a taste. I was told the Tripel (included in photos) was a local brew that is regularly delivered by the brewer. Tried it and wasn't disappointed!

Max

Google

Live your best life here. Order 10 pints at a time, fill your boots and don't look back. Unique in Amsterdam no other like it in the world probably. Don't look at the photos just go and make some memories that you'll never remember. It's recommended to start and end your night here.

Rebeca Bordini

Google

This used to be my go-to bar in Amsterdam with friends, but I stopped going after an upsetting and disrespectful experience with one of the bartenders. I asked if it was okay to bring the beers to the table myself, since they didn’t offer table service or trays, and he yelled at me in response. The treatment was completely disrespectful, and it made me feel unsafe as a woman. What was once a favorite spot has turned into just another bar with entitled behavior.

childofvenus

Google

Cheap drinks and good vibes, if you like to play pool they have a table and also a terrace to sit outside

Illy

Google

You should see try Budels or hemp beer here 🍻

Pete Walsh

Google

Featured on Antony Bourdain’s “the layover” programme. Super cool dive bar with an awesome terrace out the back. Great music playing and a very chilled vibe with smokers and drinkers mingling together. They seem to go at their own pace here, and I’ve tried visiting at opening time a few times only to find the place closed. Easy come easy go, and that’s certainly the vibe here. Recommended for sure if you’re looking for a local feel and cool times.

DJ Zhou

Google

I’ll say this is one the rare left Amsterdam hippy bar in the city center. Great terrace close to the canal. Inside it’s a bit old school a bit rocknroll- you know the feeling. Beers are big and cheap. It’s a shame that these kind of bars are less and less in Amsterdam now, things in the city becoming fancy and standardise boring.

Adam Croce´

Google

This place is great. Great vibe, excellent music, and foosball!! As an American who thought he was pretty decent… I won a couple games, thought I was tough… then got absolutely destroyed by two Italian dudes who were very gracious, even though they just destroyed me and some dude from Portugal (who was very good-and I’m sorry I let you down). Also, I don’t know “Dutch rules” but we played normal international rules. But I think if we got shut out we would have to crawl under the table (gross). But thankfully we got like 2 or 3 goals on the board. But it was close. Also the beer here is good.

Adrian D

Google

This place was pretty darn nice. They do have a patio overlooking one of many canals, but I stayed inside at the bar. There is a very wide drink selection there aside from beers, but you should give a few of the beers a taste. I was told the Tripel (included in photos) was a local brew that is regularly delivered by the brewer. Tried it and wasn't disappointed!

Max

Google

Live your best life here. Order 10 pints at a time, fill your boots and don't look back. Unique in Amsterdam no other like it in the world probably. Don't look at the photos just go and make some memories that you'll never remember. It's recommended to start and end your night here.

Rebeca Bordini

Google

This used to be my go-to bar in Amsterdam with friends, but I stopped going after an upsetting and disrespectful experience with one of the bartenders. I asked if it was okay to bring the beers to the table myself, since they didn’t offer table service or trays, and he yelled at me in response. The treatment was completely disrespectful, and it made me feel unsafe as a woman. What was once a favorite spot has turned into just another bar with entitled behavior.

childofvenus

Google

Cheap drinks and good vibes, if you like to play pool they have a table and also a terrace to sit outside

Illy

Google

You should see try Budels or hemp beer here 🍻

Cindi H.

Yelp

Heard about this place from an Anthony Bourdain recommendation, and made it a must-stop on my short visit to Amsterdam. Came on a Monday afternoon in October. Bartender was amazing - played a ton of his own music, which was off the charts. My new husband and I had an amazing time. Patio on the canal was as fantastic as other reviews mention. Beer selection was solid, regionally representative and decently priced. We drank mostly beer, but the shot pours were generous. Spent the better part of my one day in Amsterdam shooting the shit with the bartender or watching the boats go by on the patio: couldn't be happier with my choice. Side note: Bathroom reminded me of home in New York City: clean, well serviced and absolutely floor to ceiling graffiti. Which I love.

Alberto G.

Yelp

One of the few real rock and roll bars left in Amsterdam!! This place was a total mystery to me until someone decided to take me there very recently. It has a lovely back garden overlooking the gracht and inside is very spacious. They have a good beer selection, with brands away from mainstream breweries. As this place is very rock and roll the ambiance goes accordingly, and it could get messy towards the end of the evening. If that is not your kind of thing, Amsterdam has plenty of other choice for you. However if that is what you like, I cannot think of a better place for you in Amsterdam!

Jonny Q.

Yelp

I've been visiting Cafe Soundgarden for at least 6 years and I have to say it's one of my favourite places in town - a proper no frills rock bar with no hint of pretentiousness at all. To the uninitiated it's very scruffy, scuzzy and a bit of a shit-hole but that's the actual charm of it. If I'm listening to kick ass rock, punk and everything in between, I don't want to be in a wine bar or somewhere that doesn't suit the vibe. The beer and booze selection is pretty decent and the tunes are always quality. There's a pool table in the side room to the back as well. Probably 15 mins walk from Dam Square, it's a nice area to get out of the main Dam Square/Red light area. The Funky Munky coffeeshop is across the road too if you need to get your chillaxing on!

Billy D.

Yelp

Seriously - my new favorite dive bar in Amsterdam - bar games (pool, pinball, table football) and it looks like they have an incredible patio for summer. Favorite time to go - lazy Saturday afternoon to drink the day away with friends, crushing them in foosball.

Yen D.

Yelp

Came here with a group of friends to grab a beer. This is a great divey place, and very relaxing atmosphere with pool tables as well as foostables. It reminded me a lot of college with the arcade games and the pool tables. Everyone seemed very friendly which is nice because I don't appreciate it when locals are standoffish. We also met locals to give us tips on where to go next. I even Facebook friended one of them so we could get tips from them while we were exploring the area. It was very handy to have the internet on our cell phones to reach out to them. The locals gave us tips on the night life, what pubs to hit up next, where some people could buy smokes and what areas to avoid. I will definitely be back next time since everyone is co there!

J. N. M.

Yelp

A very nice place with a warm and friendly staff, good drinks and great company. I found myself going there every evening for a pint, and pleasant company to wind down my day. There are live DJ events and popular music played, and the places out back where you can sit and watch the canal go by and relax. This place was AWESOME!! I will return every time I'm on holiday in Amsterdam.

Brook B.

Yelp

Straight up dive bar with a Brooklyn feel. The back patio was a nice place to get some fresh air.

Jinnelle Rae P.

Yelp

Love the vibe - reminds me of a bar I would see in Williamsburg. Chill vibe with a couple of tables in the front, there's a patio in the back with some tables as well. Juke box, pool tables and some arcade video game inside. Great place to hang out with friends - would come back again.

Mr J.

Yelp

This is a bit of a hipster bar, if you feel like being in a grittier part of the scene. DJ (reggae, blues) and live music on the deck sometimes. Oh, the deck: Great, big, open space, for smoking or just sitting with a drink or a dog, watching the canal boats putter by. Inside the furniture is worn, probably on purpose; it's supposed to feel a little bit punk. I had beer there, not coffee, but they have a good espresso machine, so I'm optimistic.

Mick T.

Yelp

Like it here overall. Terrace overlooking the water in summer, indoor seating w good band paintings inside. Could be a grest space... its a bit downmarket. Pretentious? Well, staff a bit rude which I consider tryhard. Dont they realise alternative people can be friendly, and should be to their own! Dutch service overall still finding its feet... opportunity. Good music and cheap, so overlook the bollocks.

Tassos P.

Yelp

If you've always wanted to go to a pub straight out from a Richard Linkeater's movie then this is the place you want to hang in. Great rock music (had a stereophonics album on), pinballs billiards and fusball. No smoking inside which is a plus and kind of new for a dive bar. I got a german weiss pint (7.1%) for 4.50E. Enjoy.

Julio G.

Yelp

We call this place budels and honestly it is a better name than soundgarden. The Stimulo beer is excellent. Big deck in the back and has a pool table.

Soundgarden

Soundgarden

Photos

Highlights

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