20 Best Cafés in Amsterdam for Coffee, Breakfast and Work
Amsterdam's specialty coffee culture rewards the explorers: from minimal, award-winning roasteries to design-forward spaces where locals actually linger.
Coffee in Amsterdam used to mean brown cafés serving thick, dark brew from a tin. No longer. The city has become one of Europe's most mature third-wave scenes, built by roasters who pioneered the craft in the Netherlands and kept raising standards. The ranking below prioritizes reliability—where you'll find good coffee, food worth ordering, and space to work or settle in—across the five neighborhoods where the best cafés actually cluster: Amsterdam-West, the creative roasting heart; Centrum, where the highest density sits in the canal ring; De Pijp in the south, calmer and design-focused; Oost to the east, where locals are steering the scene; and the small pockets worth a short trip. Each serves specialty coffee from single-origin beans or quality roasters, most have proper breakfast, and the ones with a desk note isn't a concern—it's the point.
Arrive early. Most open between 8am and 9am on weekdays, and a flat white runs around €4–5. Nearly all are card-only.
Friedhats FUKU
Bos en Lommerweg 136 HS, Bos en Lommer, Amsterdam-West · Specialty coffee roastery and café · -
Friedhats FUKU sits at the top of nearly every Amsterdam guide. The micro-roastery comes from Lex Wenneker, who placed second at the 2018 World Barista Championship, and it is known for experimental processes and Geisha lots across both espresso and filter. There is WiFi and food, so it works as both a pilgrimage and a place to settle in.
LOT61 Coffee Roasters
Kinkerstraat, Kinkerbuurt, Amsterdam-West · Specialty coffee roastery and café · -
LOT61 is credited across guides with spearheading Amsterdam's specialty wave and bringing proper Australian-style flat whites to the city. The Australian-born roastery on Kinkerstraat roasts on a Probat in the basement and remains a defining force in the scene. It is probably one of the most popular and well-known cafes in Amsterdam, so don't be surprised if you catch a line out the door.
Uncommon
Amsterdam-West · Specialty coffee and pastries · -
Billed as one of Amsterdam's best – celebrated chef Yotam Ottolenghi even loves it here – Uncommon's ethos is great stories, better coffee. Built on close relationships with its producers, Uncommon's coffee range is curated and artisanal. The café is as sleek a spot as any in the city, where some of the best filters and flat whites come together.
Back to Black
Weteringstraat 48, Centrum · Specialty coffee roastery and café · Card only
Back to Black is one of the most famous cafes in Amsterdam, serving up seriously sweet treats and high quality, house-roasted sustainable coffee. The space is as cosy as it gets, with huge windows, long sharing tables, hanging Edison bulbs and mismatched chairs and sofas. It was founded by two local women, and its soaring popularity means there's actually two in the city.
Bocca
De Pijp, Amsterdam-Zuid · Specialty coffee and pastries · -
Bocca maintains strong connections with their farmers and ensures fair compensation at all points of the coffee journey. The atmosphere was bright and spacious, and the baristas were friendly and super helpful in discussing the coffee options. Bocca is a minimalist spot dotted with power outlets.
White Label Coffee
Singel canal, Centrum · Specialty coffee roastery · Scandinavian design
The Singel cafe comes with views of the canal as well as top-notch coffee. They are coffee roasters in Amsterdam and have control over the entire process, right from the bean to the cup. They offer single-origin coffee and a house blend that tastes great for espresso.
Scandinavian Embassy
Centrum · Nordic café and roastery · Seasonal brunch
With Swedish owners and a Scandi chic aesthetic, this minimalist but cheery café lives up to its name. They source their beans from micro-roasters across Denmark, Sweden and Norway and serve seasonal dishes inspired by Nordic cuisine. Scandinavian Embassy's weekend brunch can get very busy, but you can always pop in for a top-notch cappuccino paired with a delightful cinnamon bun.
Haku Specialty Coffee
Rozengracht 69, Jordaan, Centrum · Japanese specialty roastery · -
Haku Specialty Coffee is a family-run cafe with a Japanese sensibility. Beans are lightly roasted in-house to preserve their distinct flavour, served alongside high-grade matcha. The plant-lined, minimalist space instils calm, with handcrafted ceramics available to browse.
Nook
De Pijp, Amsterdam-Zuid · Coffee shop and wine bar · Minimalist design, three levels
Nook is a welcome addition to De Pijp's flourishing café and coffee scene, as much for its gorgeous and minimal interior as its (very) good coffee. Part coffee shop, part wine shop, Nook is split across three levels – it takes its name from the word 'nook' – with the communal seating and workspace on the top floor, the barista and coffee machines on the ground floor and the wine shop down the stairs selling Argentinian wine.
Rum Baba
Pretoriusstraat 33, Amsterdam-Oost · Coffee roastery, café and bakery · Specialty brews
The eponymous rum-drenched French cakes are on the menu alongside red velvet cake, cinnamon buns and other sweet delicacies in this cute, vintage-y spot with its bright-blue floor. The coffee is pretty splendid, too. This coffee place sees freelancers and entrepreneurs hatching grand schemes while enjoying coffee prepared with a V60, an Aeropress, a Chemex or a Syphon.
Five Ways Coffee Roasters
Oud-West, Amsterdam-West · Specialty coffee roastery and café · -
The spacious and cozy environment offers an extensive selection of delicious pastries and reasonably priced coffee. The attentive service and enthusiasm for coffee make it a great spot for students and locals alike. The standard double shots make it relatively cheaper than other coffee bars. This cafe is super trendy, with a nice outdoor space, and the chocolate croissant was within the top five chocolate croissants in a lifetime of tasting.
Sango
Centrum, Amsterdam-Centrum · Specialty coffee roastery · Award-winning brews
Sango does everything well. The coffee is beautifully roasted and the Americano ordered was full of flavor. The coffee at Sango is all sourced sustainably from individual farms. The owners also roast their beans so you will be guaranteed to get a high-quality coffee here. One of the favorite things about Sango was that you got a mini stroopwafle with your coffee.
Elevate Coffee Lab
Van der Helstplein 10H, De Pijp, Amsterdam-Zuid · Specialty coffee and pastries · Café workspace
Located on a lovely square in De Pijp, Elevate Coffee Lab offers a really fantastic coffee experience. Owner Ahmed Alshik designed the space to create calm and focused environment where coffee is the real star of the show. He has a varied menu showcasing the finest picks from the best Dutch roasters and a small selection of pastries to accompany your beverage.
YUSU
Amsterdam-Oost · Specialty coffee, matcha and desserts · Garden seating
YUSU in Amsterdam is a trendy matcha haven offering an impressive variety of matcha drinks and desserts alongside quality coffee. The cozy atmosphere and unique offerings like fig cheesecake and pão de queijo make it a popular spot for both locals and visitors seeking a relaxed café experience. The stunning plants outside and the idyllic garden out back are unforgettable.
DAK Showroom
Bellamyplein 16H, De Pijp, Amsterdam-Zuid · Specialty coffee roaster showroom · Tastings
The beautiful showroom from one of Amsterdam's most prolific roasters is more of a shop than a café. Here, you can buy all of DAK's seasonal coffees and really cool merch. In addition, they have a secret cupping room in the back where they host tasting events. The capable and lovely team will prepare any coffee of your choice and help you find the right beans that match your preferences.
Coffee & Coconuts
De Pijp, Amsterdam-Zuid · Specialty coffee in a former 1920s cinema · Brunch, WiFi
Coffee & Coconuts is a bright, high-ceilinged space in a former cinema which dates back to the 1920s, and is the perfect antidote to Amsterdam's perpetual rain. Yes, you can get both coffee and coconuts here, the latter served whole with a straw and lime on the side. The food here is just as spectacular. Try the coconut pancakes with whipped coconut cream, which are a standout and gluten-free to boot.
Gentle Place
Amsterdam-Noord · Specialty coffee and breakfast · Multiple seating areas
Gentle Place is an awesome cafe located on Amsterdam's North Shore. It is outside the main tourist zone but if you are in Amsterdam North it is highly recommended. The owners of the cafe are into sourcing high-quality beans and supporting the local community, creating a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy your coffee. Out the back, there is a large seating area with a big table if you are looking to do some work. The flat white here was delicious and they also make really good kimchi toast. If you are hungry, the baked goods are yummy here as well and a lot of them are home-baked by the owners.
Barmhartig
Veemkade 1288, Amsterdam-Oost · Specialty coffee with river views · Filter and espresso
You'll need to climb a stairway to coffee heaven at Barmhartig, but every step will be worth it. This café looks out over IJhaven in the city's east, offering a spectacular view with your caffeine shot. Choose from espresso, Aeropress or a slow drip, and for those wanting something a little less stimulating but no less delicious, be tempted by a chai or choose from a selection of teas or freshly squeezed juices.
Morning Owl Coffee
Amsterdam-Centrum · Barista training and retail coffee space · Dutch roasters
Morning Owl Coffee is run by Casey Kooyman and praised as a barista-training and retail space showcasing the best local Dutch roasters, including Uncommon, Friedhats, and Dak. It is the place to taste across the city's roasters in one stop.
The Block
Amsterdam-Zuid · Modern minimalist specialty café · Matcha and Dutch toasties
The Block is a sleek modern cafe located in the south of Amsterdam. If you are in Amsterdam for longer and want to explore the south, The Block Cafe is an excellent option. The interior has a nice minimalist modern design and it is a great place to get some work done. You can get very good specialty coffee here with a variety of different preparations.
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