Cafe Tabac — Restaurant in Amsterdam

As a foreigner living in Amsterdam for about six months, I was used to being disregarded as a regular tourist in most restaurants and bars. All the staff and bartenders at Tabac, on the other hand, were genuinely kind people - more than happy to chat with the "random American tourist". They were always happy to engage in some friendly discussion or even light-hearted political debates if the mood struck.

The beer is cold, the food is sufficiently randomly east-Asian and spicy (don't worry, they still have bitterballen), and the regulars are fun-loving, cool folks. I can't wait until I get another chance to visit the city and pay a visit to my...

The first time I was in Amsterdam I decided to do some bar hopping, I visited one first, then went to Cafe Tabac and didn't want to leave, but I went to a couple more anyway.... no, I came back to finish my night there. It was a little late by that time and the bartender (a girl) started talking to me and she was so friendly that some guys who arrived later thought we were friends. I've been back to Amsterdam a few times again in the past year and that is THE place to go, I love the location, the atmosphere, the music, the beer options and the staff. I've recommended it to other people and they agree with me. I'll be there again in a few weeks......

The Dim Sum here is fantastic and has been for years. It’s got a great low key mixed (ages, straight, gay etc) vibe, the music (when I’ve been) is retro classics. At least two barmen I’ve encountered are fine, but there’s a waitress who is stone cold rude. Not Dutch bluntness, just cold and rude and downright aggressive, banging glasses on your table without a ‘here you go’. Never smiles, her opener ‘what do you want’ with a face like thunder. Anywhere else in the world I’d have called her out, but in NL we must accept it as if challenged she would create a scene. I shall have to wait six months before the Dim Sum...