My favourite moment of the day is somewhere around 6.30 pm, when work is finished, it\u2019s not yet time for dinner, and the kitchen is filled with the familiar glug-glug-glug sound of a just-opened bottle of wine being poured. If I\u2019m at home, it\u2019ll perhaps be accompanied by some cheese and crackers or slices of chorizo; if I\u2019m out, it might be bitterballen<\/em> or jam\u00f3n<\/em>. Some of my favourite physical wine stores in Amsterdam include Wine & Roses<\/strong> and Wijnhandel van Krimpen<\/strong> in De Pijp, Cave de l\u2019Est<\/strong> in Oost, Bilderdijk Wijnhuys<\/strong> in West, Hart\u2019s Wijnhandel<\/strong> in the centre, and Vindict Wine<\/strong> with locations in the Jordaan and Noord. More and more Amsterdam wine shops are starting to stock Dutch wines as well \u2013 interesting to try!<\/p>\n For online wine orders, try Colaris<\/a><\/strong>, which carries a wide selection of wines at different price points as well as Vivino top-rated wines and some lovely gift packages. I also like\u00a0Dec\u00e1ntalo<\/strong><\/a>, which specialises in southern European wines (although plenty of other regions are represented as well).\u00a0If your love of booze extends to cocktails, online liquor store Topdrinks<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0sells every spirit imaginable, including all your favourite brands.<\/p>\n Nowadays, there are dozens of great wine bars in Amsterdam. But when I moved here in 2006, there was pretty much just one: Bubbles & Wines<\/a>. I used to go there a lot, but hadn\u2019t been back in years \u2013 until recently when I\u2019d booked their \u201chigh wine\u201d arrangement for a friend\u2019s birthday. It involved eight half glasses of wine, in a diverse range of styles from an apple-fresh Cava to a luscious New Zealand Pinot Gris to a deep, complex, decade-old Rioja Reserva. Each round came with substantial snacks, and the server very kindly switched out the platter of cured ham for some veggie bites for my friend who doesn\u2019t eat pork. And all of this for \u20ac45 per person. When you consider that\u00a0Bubbles & Wines\u00a0is a stone\u2019s throw from Dam Square, that feels like very good value. Sometimes the oldies really are the goodies.<\/p>\n Rayleigh & Ramsay<\/a> offers a unique concept in Amsterdam as far as I know: instead of table service, they have around a dozen wine-dispensing machines throughout the bar. Each machine contains ten bottles of temperature-controlled, vacuum-sealed, perfectly preserved wine. As a customer, you simply pre-load a card with credit and wander around to take your pick of the dozens of wines available. And not only do they come by the glass \u2013 they come by the half glass and by the taster sample, too. In short, Rayleigh & Ramsay is a great way to try lots of different, and interesting, wines \u2013 especially if you\u2019re with a few people who each fancy something different. On the food front, they offer various shareable, snackable plates \u2013 think charcuterie, p\u00e2t\u00e9, cheeses and so on. Rayleigh & Ramsay currently has three locations in Amsterdam: in de Pijp, Oost and Westerpark.<\/p>\n On perhaps my favourite square in Oost, Beukenplein, you\u2019ll find Clos<\/a> \u2013 a convivial wine bar with a cosy interior and a covered, heated terrace outside (I believe they even provide blankets in winter). The wines by the glass are arranged to make it easy to select one you\u2019re bound to like, and the staff are extremely helpful with recommendations \u2013 including off-menu suggestions. There are plenty of top-notch snacks to nibble while you tipple: think good-quality charcuterie and cheeses, lotus root tempura, Porchetta-style veal with fennel and tarragon \u2013 and some more substantial main dishes as well. I enjoyed the buttery Roussillon Chardonnay that we drank at Clos most recently, but the wines have been fantastic on every other occasion I\u2019ve visited as well.<\/p>\n Paskamer<\/a> is Dutch for changing room, but this cosy spot in de Pijp is in fact one of the best wine bars in the city. So who knows where the name comes from? Because they offer around 50 wines by the glass, you can pair a different one with each dish you order, or just plump for a bottle to split with your friends. The food is designed for sharing, and the knowledgeable waiting staff are happy to help you with wine pairings. Think smoky\u00a0pulpo<\/em>\u00a0(octopus) with spicy mayo paired with a Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) from Pfalz, or umami-rich marinated salmon with an Alsace Pinot Blanc. But perhaps my favourite wine came from the Spanish specials: a Catalunyan blend of Syrah, Carignan, Mazuelo and Grenache that tasted like a Priorat but for a fraction of the price. With cheese? Yes, please.<\/p>\n Oocker<\/a> occupies a skinny space on Frederiksplein but makes it both elegant and cosy. The first time I visited was with a group of four, and we polished off several fantastic bottles, from a smooth Cr\u00e9mant de Jura to a fresh-yet-full bodied Dao white blend to a buttery Argentinian chardonnay. The staff were extremely knowledgeable, gave us great tips and were happy to have a chat about wine in general. During the daytime, there\u2019s a limited snacks menu \u2013 of which we tried the caccio e pepe<\/em> croquettes and the burrata bruschetta \u2013 both delicious. After 17:30, the menu expands into larger warm dishes, which you can share or not depending on how hungry you are. I loved the bone marrow and the slow-cooked neck of lamb. Oocker has a tiny terrace that acts as an afternoon sun trap, too.<\/p>\n There are a couple of things that are special about Amelie<\/a>. First, it\u2019s in Amstelveen: just southwest of Amsterdam proper and \u2013 although easily accessible by public transport \u2013 not somewhere I venture unless I think it\u2019s really worth it. Second, it\u2019s a wine bar that pairs its wines with Chinese food from neighbouring restaurant Amber Garden. Let\u2019s face it: most Asian restaurants in Amsterdam are offering a cheap Merlot or Savvy B, so being able to get a decent glass of wine with your dim sum is pretty unique.<\/p>\n I was blown away by the pairings, if I\u2019m honest. Propizio\u2019s Grechetto from Lazio offered all things lemony (lemon peel, lemongrass, lemon curd, lemon thyme) and was a perfect seasoning to har gaw<\/em> dumplings. Grenache Blanc by Rall Wines in South Africa tasted like a classically bees waxy white Rioja, which was a good match for the umami richness of steak tartar with chilli-sweet soy bean paste. A fruity, unoaked Tempranillo (this time from actual Rioja) had the heft to stand up to cumin-spiced lamb ribs. And Garnacha Tinta from Montsant in Catalonia was the perfect partner for the sweet fattiness of Beijing roast duck (although I\u2019d have happily slipped into a warm bath of Priorat afterwards). Worth the detour to Amstelveen? Absolutely.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: I was invited to eat at Amelie as a journalist, and I didn\u2019t pay for my meal. Obviously I try to be as objective as possible, but I always disclose when I\u2019ve had a freebie.<\/em><\/p>\n Perhaps because it\u2019s so close to Amsterdam\u2019s touristy Leidseplein, I had overlooked\u00a0Shiraz Jardin des Vins<\/a> until very recently. But that was a mistake on my part, as it\u2019s a gem of a wine bar with comfy lounge chairs and a candlelit atmosphere. I tried two of their bubbles \u2013 a Cr\u00e9mant de Luxembourg and a Cava Brut \u2013 both of which were high in quality. I also very much enjoyed a portion of crunchy, savoury shrimp croquettes alongside a moreish orange wine from Valencia in southern Spain. Bring an old flame or a new love interest \u2013 Shiraz is full of romantic sparkle.<\/p>\n In a gezellig<\/em> (cosy) little caf\u00e9 in the Jordaan,\u00a0Bar Parry<\/a> is the kind of place where you turn up for a drink after work and end up spending all evening. It offers a number of interesting wines by the glass \u2013 I particularly enjoyed the light and silky Les Maiols Spanish red. But there are also lots more wines by the bottle: you can take a look at them in the floor-to-ceiling wine cabinet at the back of the bar. On the food front, Parry\u2019s shareable snacks are a cut above average: think sobrasada<\/em> with orange marmalade, boiled eggs with anchovy mayo, and wafer-thin celeriac with beetroot mascarpone and dukkah <\/em>(pictured below). The evening I visited, it was raining outside \u2013 which only added to the snug ambience.<\/p>\n The Czaar Peterstraat flies under the tourist radar, but it\u2019s home to all sorts of gems \u2013 from boutique pet stores to artisan cheese and wine shops. Plus: wine bar Charcuteria<\/a> and sister restaurant Barlotta. We stopped by the wine bar for various types of charcuterie (obviously!), aged Manchego, roasted cauliflower and bread with a creamy horseradish dip. Not to mention two lovely bottles of wine: an Aligot\u00e9 from Burgundy (a grape that\u2019s having a bit of a moment in wine circles right now) and a Puglian Negroamaro that reminded me of my recent trip to Salento<\/a>. The service was lovely, and the ambience reminiscent of a French bar-brasserie. All the more reason to visit the Czaar Peterstraat<\/a>!<\/p>\n Handily located on the Ceintuurbaan (I do love tram 3!), Wijnbar Paulus<\/a> is a modern yet casual wine bar that\u2019s really stood the test of time. I very much enjoyed the chestnut barrel-aged Italian Catarratto I drank there last winter, as well as a good-value red blend from Hungary. They also offer a selection of flammkuchen<\/em> (pictured below with the Hungarian red), charcuterie and cheeses to keep the tipsiness at optimum level.<\/p>\n Officially the cutest wine bar in Amsterdam, GlouGlou<\/a>\u00a0is the very definition of\u00a0gezellig<\/em>. I can happily while away an evening here, starting with after-work drinks and progressing steadily into late-night \u201cohhh, just one last round then\u201d territory. GlouGlou was an early adopter of natural wines in Amsterdam \u2013 of which I\u2019d like to tell you what to order, but I always seem to go off-menu with some ad-hoc recommendation or other from the friendly bar staff. Snacks are a little less elaborate than at some of the other wine bars on this list, but no less tasty, with top-notch cheese platters to keep the wolf from the door. GlouGlou also puts on an annual Beaujolais Nouveau party, which is fun if you happen to be in Amsterdam on the third Thursday in November!<\/p>\n Occupying a black & white-striped, ultra-modern building on the up-and-coming Wibautstraat just east of the river, Bottleshop<\/a> is a natural wine bar that also serves some fantastic, upscale bar bites. I\u2019m not always a huge fan of the \u201cfunky\u201d style of some natural wines, but I loved Bottleshop\u2019s fruity, farmyard-y French Gamay and juicy, low-extraction Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley. Not to mention their pungent cheeses, melting beef short rib, punchy chicken yakitori and simple but heavenly bread and butter. I\u2019m glad Bottleshop is only just down the road from my apartment!<\/p>\n Meanwhile in Amsterdam West,\u00a0Fabus<\/a> is a women-led wine bar featuring natural wines from underrepresented regions and some fantastic Levantine food to go with it. The vibe is rather younger and edgier compared with other places on this list (we were the oldest people there by about ten years) but the wine selection is no less accomplished. The occasion we visited was one of those miserably damp autumn days when only red wine will do: we started with the \u201cjuicy AF\u201d Carignan\/Merlot blend by Reynard Rebels, followed by a super smooth, vanilla-tastic Spanish Tempranillo\/Syrah blend. They paired perfectly with the creamy spinach-bean dip and panisse chips we ordered to nibble on. But it was the whole, spicy, roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce that really stole the show, eaten alongside a Greek red wine that channelled pure After Eight mints. Bizarre but beautiful.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: I was invited to eat at Fabus as a journalist, and I didn\u2019t pay for my meal. Obviously I try to be as objective as possible, but I always disclose when I\u2019ve had a freebie. <\/em><\/p>\n Bar Centraal<\/span><\/p>\n Candlelit and romantic (but in a slightly shabby-chic way), Bar Centraal<\/a> is rather confusingly not in the centre of the city, but just off the Ten Katemarkt in Amsterdam West. Bar Centraal\u2019s wine list leans low-intervention, and wine lovers will be surprised and delighted by bottles that you don\u2019t often see. I was intrigued by the Jacquere white from Savoie and the Croatina red from Piemonte, but in the end we plumped for a fascinating bottle of Austrian Sauvignon Blanc that was all flinty gun smoke. Good rillettes, too.<\/p>\n Tucked into a tight little spot on the Utrechtsestraat, Bar Babar<\/a> also specialises in natural wines. But don\u2019t worry if you\u2019re not a fan of the funky, unfiltered stuff. Both the Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay from Beaujolais that I tasted were refreshingly funk-free and delicious. Babar serves a small menu of snacks as well.<\/p>\n Aperitivo o\u2019clock, borreltijd, wine time or happy hour \u2013 whatever you call it, what\u2019s your favourite wine bar in Amsterdam for an early-evening drink and a snack?<\/p>\n This article is now available as a mobile app. To download it for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to\u00a0Walking Tours and Articles in Amsterdam<\/a>\u00a0on GPSmyCity.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWine shops in Amsterdam: physical and online<\/h2>\n
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10 of the Best Amsterdam Wine Bars<\/h2>\n
Bubbles & Wines<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nRayleigh & Ramsay<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Clos<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Paskamer<\/h3>\n
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Oocker<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Oocker-wine-bar-amsterdam-500x821.jpg\")
<\/a>Amelie<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Amelie-wine-bar-Amstelveen-500x626.jpg\")
Shiraz Jardin des Vins<\/h3>\n
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Bar Parry<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Charcuteria<\/h3>\n
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Wijnbar Paulus <\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Looking for more than wine bars in Amsterdam? <\/em><\/strong> Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Amsterdam-Restaurant-Guide-2023-banner.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5 of the Best Natural Wine Bars in Amsterdam<\/h2>\n
GlouGlou <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Bottleshop<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Fabus<\/h3>\n
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Bar Babar<\/h3>\n
Looking for more than wine bars in Amsterdam? <\/em><\/strong> Download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide<\/a>:<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n