If you fancy sampling a selection of tipples, Amsterdam's size will come in handy. You can easily zig-zag your bar crawl from one end of town to the other without breaking a sweat.

we are recommending
Diep
Laid back cosy bar with weird interior and high benches
You get a mixed crowd here - chatting locals, pre-clubbers, non tourist tourists. Nothing special about the drinks selection but why not stare at the chandeliers and animal skin décor and ponder your next move.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwall 257

Bar Bep
Metropolitan, neon, cool
Just a mooch away from the above and slighly more self-conscious cool with absinthe on the menu and louder, better music.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwall 257

De Vaaghuizen
Split-level pre-club bar with good music
Features resident DJs, a well-stocked bar and a nice vibe.
Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 17, open 14-01 sun, 17-01 mon-thur, 17-03 fri, 14-03 sat

Disco Bar Abraxas
Smokey basement coffeeshop hang place thing
Most nights, live DJs spinning the inevitable techno, breakbeat, and hip-hop.
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 171, open 20-03 sun-thurs, 20-04 fri/sat

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instant factoid bar info
Grab a copy of Boom! a magazine churned out by the Boom Chicago comedy troupe (at Leidesplein 12). Amusingly written, it sketches out the best nightlife and restaurants

other notables:
Vrankrijk
Cheap squat bar with completely random crowd
Spuistraat 216, open 22-02 mon-fri, 22-03 fri/sat

De Hoogte
Cheap and relaxed
Nieuwe Hoogstraat 2a, open 10-1 mon-thu, 10-3 fri/sat, 12-1 sun

Getto
Arty gay restaurant bar with fash crowd
Warmoesstraat 51, open 19-01 tues, 16-01 wed-sat, 13-24 sun

De Duivel
Popular bar with occasional live spots - rap, hip-hop, rare grooves.
reguliersdwarsstraat 87, open 20-03 sun-thu, 20-04 fri/sat
http://www.xs4all.nl/~deduivel/bar.html

Bar Mono
Comfortable bar beside the canal
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 2, 10-01 sun-thurs, 10-3 fri/sat

Staggered into the back streets, happy and wallowing after much drinking and much story telling in a great bar? Good. Recommend it to us