Cafe the Palace — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I initially wrote a very positive review for this place, but I am gonna have to retract it. On two separate visits the past month, I was greeted by people smoking cigarettes indoors. The bar has also put up "smoker-friendly" signs. Not only is this unlawful and against NVWA regulations, it is also very gross and unpleasant for those of us who want to enjoy a drink without having to inhale nasty fumes. Very disappointing and thus I am changing my review to a negative one.

EDIT: The business seems to have responded to my review. Let me preface by saying I won't be responding to the pathos in said post, the invalidity of which can speak for itself.

"For the sake of survival/turnover" seems like a bit of a funny argument to make here. This bar is in a busy street near the Dam and Central Station, with lots of foot traffic and several hotels/hostels nearby. If it can't survive with such a prime location without breaking the law, that might be a sign of a bad business decisions over anything else, as I have seen many bars in that area thrive in the 10 years I have been going out in Amsterdam, both before and after the smoking ban. Furthermore, some weird tonal dissonance = They make themselves seem like the good guys by trying to get people to ONLY smoke weed indoors in favor of tobacco, but then go on to call all smokers "pariahs". Where do you stand on the topic?

Also, they mention unsuccesfully "monitoring" what their clients smoke, which I find hard to believe (if 10 people inside are smoking, does the bartender go up to every individual to inspect their smokeable?). But even if this is true, this is a moot point. Neither smoking tobacco nor weed is legal in Dutch bars, only in coffee shops. Maybe these experts should consider changing sectors and become a coffee shop?

Their argument basically boils down to the same old argument that your run-of-the-mill smoker who thinks they have the right to push cancer-inducing fumes on others has been using for decades. And it's just as tiring as ever. And wherever you stand on this debate doesn't even matter. I have smoked joints in the past few months. But I have done so either at home or in coffee shops, as intended. These folks don't seem to agree with the "law of the land". That's their good right. And it is my good right to let others step in so that the many folks who wanna have a drink in peace get to do that. Groetjes

EDIT 2: And you can see from their latter comment that they have no solid counterarguments to valid criticism and result to making ad hominem attacks. You be the judge...

The bar has a lovely atmosphere with friendly and welcoming staff, the people behind the bar were super nice every time we visited. The music is excellent and at just the right volume to enjoy without having to shout over it.

They have a wide selection of drinks; I especially love their ciders with "unusual" flavours like blackberry or mango and lime. We usually go in the evening, and it’s always a pleasant experience. We mostly go to play pool, the area is spacious and never too crowded. We visited three times and always found a table available without waiting.

Overall, it’s a cozy and fun place to hang out, whether you’re grabbing a drink or...

I allways pop in when in Amsterdam excellent bar and you can smoke upstairs very friendly staff they don't sell hash but there's no shortage of coffee shops near by very relaxed atmosphere with good sounds if u get the munchies ask about the butchers cum sandwich shop just up and round the corner it's lovely smells amazing ( my favourite meat ball on a bun with peanut sauce making my mouth water just thinking of it ) if u are looking for a smoke and drink i recommend u give it a go like me you'll be back...