Bar Jones

Bar Jones is a small, relaxed bar at Nes 33 in central Amsterdam, a few minutes’ walk from Dam Square. It opens at 4 PM from Tuesday to Saturday and pours cocktails plus a changing list of local, seasonal beers. If the bars around Dam Square and the Red Light District feel like too much, this is an easy place to slow down.

I found it on my last trip to Amsterdam, when I needed a break from the tourist spots. The Nes is a narrow old street that’s easy to walk past, and Bar Jones is tucked along it, yet you’re only meters from the crowds. I love the energy around Dam Square as much as anyone, but sometimes you need a breather, y’know?

Bar Jones at a glance

Address	Nes 33, 1012 KC Amsterdam
Opening hours	Tuesday to Thursday 4 PM to 1 AM; Friday and Saturday 4 PM to 2:30 AM (Sunday and Monday not listed on the bar’s website)
Phone	+31 (0)20 623 4250
Nearest metro	Rokin (line 52)
Nearest tram stop	Dam (trams 4, 14 and 24 stop on the Rokin side of the square)
Accessibility	Wheelchair accessible, according to the bar
Extras	Free Wi-Fi, bike parking around the corner
Best for	A first drink before dinner, a quieter night near Dam Square, meeting locals

Details checked against the official Bar Jones website in September 2026.

Directory listings don’t all agree on the hours. Some show Monday or Sunday openings and later weekend closing times than the bar’s own site. If you’re planning around a specific night, check the official Bar Jones website or call ahead.

What Bar Jones is like

Step inside and you’ll find a long, narrow room that makes you want to stay a while. Exposed brick, warm wood and low lighting give it a modern feel with classic Amsterdam touches. There are high tables, a few booths and seats along the bar, and that layout makes it easy to strike up a conversation. It looks good, but you don’t have to stand on ceremony.

The crowd is what really sets Bar Jones apart. Locals and travelers mingle over drinks, and I once got excellent tips from a Dutch couple about lesser-known places to visit around the city. You don’t often get that kind of conversation at the usual tourist hangouts.

The music stood out to me, too. It stays at a sensible volume, so you can actually hear your friends, and the playlist mixes indie tracks with familiar hits. More than once I caught myself asking the bartender what was playing.

Bar Jones isn’t a new arrival. It opened in September 2014, and at the time ELLE Netherlands described it as a relaxed café run by the owner of Café de Buurvrouw, a night café just around the corner. More than a decade later, it still has the feel of a small neighborhood discovery.

Drinks and prices

The Nes street association describes Bar Jones as having an impressive drinks list for a relatively small bar, with a beer selection that’s local and seasonal. Beer drinkers should ask what’s new, because the list changes.

The bartenders also know their way around a cocktail. The gin-based drink they made me still comes to mind: sweet and tart, with just the right herbal kick. If you’re feeling adventurous, tell them which flavors you like and see what they come up with.

You might expect a place this stylish to be expensive. In my experience it felt polished without being stuffy or overpriced for central Amsterdam, and you can have a good night out without spending a fortune. The bar doesn’t publish a menu online, so check prices when you order.

There’s free Wi-Fi if you need to check directions. Still, Bar Jones is more fun when you put the phone away and talk to the people around you. Some of my best travel memories started with conversations in bars like this.

Best time to visit Bar Jones

For a relaxed visit, arrive between opening at 4 PM and about 7 PM. The after-work crowd drifts in around 6, and it’s a good time to grab a seat at the bar, chat with the bartenders before things get busy, and ask what’s happening around town.

For a livelier scene, aim for 9 or 10 PM. The music gets a bit louder and the crowd more animated, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, when the bar stays open until 2:30 AM. It’s an easy time to meet locals and other travelers.

My favorite time, though, is right after opening on a drizzly Amsterdam day. The room feels cozy, almost hygge-like. Settle in with a seasonal beer, bring a book, or play cards with new friends.

Summer evenings are lovely too, with golden light coming through the windows. The Nes is also home to several theaters, including Frascati and De Brakke Grond, so the street gets busy before and after shows.

I’m also fond of the shoulder seasons, April to May and September to October. The weather can still be decent, the tourist crowds ease off, and you can enjoy the bar without feeling packed in.

King’s Day falls on 27 April, or on 26 April when the 27th is a Sunday. The next one is Tuesday, 27 April 2027. The whole city center turns into a street party, so expect the Nes and Dam Square to be packed, and confirm the bar’s hours for the day before you go.

On Friday and Saturday nights, especially from June to August, arrive early. Bar Jones is small, and the website doesn’t mention online reservations. If you’re coming with a group, call ahead.

How to get to Bar Jones

The Nes runs south from Dam Square to the Grimburgwal, parallel to and just east of Rokin, one of Amsterdam’s main streets. Bar Jones, at Nes 33, is in the northern stretch of the street, a few minutes’ walk from Dam Square. If you haven’t been down this way before, the narrow entrance is easy to miss.

1. By metro: take line 52 to Rokin. From Amsterdam Centraal, it’s one stop. Rokin station is a few minutes’ walk from the bar.
2. By tram: get off at Dam. Trams 4, 14 and 24 stop on the Rokin side of the square, which is closest to the Nes. Trams 2, 12, 13 and 17 stop on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal side, a few minutes’ walk across the square.
3. On foot: from Amsterdam Centraal, walk down Damrak to Dam Square, then continue onto the Nes. Allow about 15 minutes. It’s a nice way to see the city center.
4. By bike: there’s bike parking around the corner. Ask the staff if you’re not sure where to leave your bike.

One tip from someone who’s gotten lost in Amsterdam’s winding streets more than once: download an offline map before you set out. The alleys between the Nes and the canals can feel like a maze, especially after a few drinks, though wandering in circles can be part of the fun here.

If you do get turned around, ask a local. Amsterdammers are usually happy to help a lost traveler. Say “dank je wel” (thank you) afterward; people appreciate the effort.

Near Bar Jones on the Nes

Once you’ve found the bar, take a moment to look around. The Nes has been a theater street for generations, and there’s plenty to pair with a drink at Bar Jones:

• Café De Buurvrouw, a late-night café tucked in an alley just around the corner, for a nightcap after Bar Jones closes
• Eetcafé De Brakke Grond, the Flemish arts center’s café, for Flemish food and Belgian beer before your drink
• Theatercafé De Richel, the foyer of Frascati theater, which also hosts bands, DJs and experimental performances
• Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis at Grimburgwal 2, a tiny pancake house in a house dating from 1539, at the southern end of the Nes

Frequently asked questions