Flying Dutchmen Cocktails | Cocktail Bar Amsterdam — Restaurant in Amsterdam

Two stars but the extra star is only for the good/above average cocktails.

It’s a beautiful bar, set in a magnificent former townhouse. The bottles on display are a spectacular calling card.

However, we reserved anticipating that, as per their email, we would have to make ourselves known and then would have two hours allocated at a table. Upon arrival, we were not greeted by staff and had to wait 5 minutes to even be acknowledged. Once acknowledged, we had to wait at the door for another 5 minutes whilst they cleared space for us at the bar — they had not reserved a table for us despite us making a reservation.

Once sat, we had to ask for a menu twice and then wait another 57 minutes for our first drinks to arrive. Half an hour into being sat, we had to ask for tap water, which is extraordinarily poor service. When the drinks eventually came, we ordered our second round which we had prepaid for when making the reservation. Unfortunately, the server then forgot what we ordered and we had to remind them, which meant another 20 minute wait.

Had we not prepaid, again as per the reservation rules, we wouldn’t have stayed for our second drinks. And it’s all because of the substandard service. The excuse of Kings Day does not work because they allowed reservations and they were not at capacity for covers throughout the night. The server was apologetic but there are basics that were not adhered to — we felt abandoned because there was no interaction throughout the night, no management of expectations, and nothing on the house to compensate (we even had to ask for tap water!).

The cocktails were pretty good — premium quality ingredients well-mixed with nice garnish — but not enough to save a night that was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

A real pity if this is one of the best bars...

It takes a certain steely character to set about going to a cocktail bar named after a legendary Dutch ship that is doomed to never find refuge in port and therefore sail the high seas for eternity. But this is what the resolve of a seeking a night cap will do to you midweek when most bars are sensibly shutting their doors for the evening.

Within the doorway of the well-known Supperclub, the Flying Dutchmen offers close quarters equipped with bar stools and lower slung seating allowing you to settle in for the evening with its carefully curated list of cocktails delivered by table service. The bar is eclectic luring in a similar crowd like proverbial moths.

While the cocktail list includes modern interpretations of classics as well as new offerings, you can also order classics off menu which the knowledge and experienced bar staff know off hand. My espresso martini made with dark rum and not vodka (I'm not a savage) was spot on: strong, sweet, aromatic, boozy.

You could easily spend copious hours here with its decidedly 'hole in the wall', discreet 'let this be our secret' old-school luxuriant vibe.

My only regret is my uncharacteristic discipline to sticking to one drink that night which means I will need to set sail for the Flying Dutchmen when back in town.

Should you go?...

Amazing cocktails, top service and aesthetically pleasing design.

Edit from 25/02/22

Unfortunately, I need to change my review and forget forever about this place for the cocktails.

I am literally shocked and have no idea what happened to the place and the staff members.

With complete understanding that it is Friday and it might be busy we still decided to go for a cocktail at the flying Dutchman.

The gentleman at the door was pretty direct that the place is full and there is no spot for drink, however the security lady (with the curly hair) reacted unprofessional for the security working in Amsterdam, in the very international city where many people can't speak English very good.

When we were on the way to happyjoyjoy, the entrance was looking confusing, because entrance and exit of "flying Dutchman" confusing. but the "curly" lady closed our way in a very rude maner and when I surprisingly said "your colleague said there is no fu**ING space and he send us to happyjoyjoy" she was like I said something really horrible, even though the "f" word is very common in English.

On this negative note I won't spend money there at any occasion and I will go for the best as always. Hopefully flying Dutchman team will reconsider the policy.

Lockdown is over, let's celebrate. Not...