Description
Café de Huyskamer is a living-room-style café-bar at Utrechtsestraat 137 in Amsterdam’s southern canal belt, between Rembrandtplein and Frederiksplein. It opens at noon from Tuesday to Sunday for lunch, shared plates and drinks, and stays open until 01:00 most nights and 03:00 on Saturdays.
The name comes from huiskamer, the Dutch word for living room, and the café leans into it. You can walk in without a booking, stay for a single coffee, or settle in for a long borrel, the Dutch habit of after-work drinks with snacks. Many maps and review sites still list the café under its older spelling, De Huyschkaemer, a long-running Utrechtsestraat bar that added breakfast and lunch over the years.
Utrechtsestraat itself is one of the canal belt’s best streets for eating and drinking. Independent restaurants, wine bars and brown cafés line it, and tram 4 runs down the middle. That makes Huyskamer an easy stop before dinner, after a canal walk, or on the way to or from De Pijp.
| Café de Huyskamer at a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Utrechtsestraat 137, 1017 VM Amsterdam |
| Area | Southern canal belt (Grachtengordel), between Rembrandtplein and Frederiksplein |
| Opening hours | Monday closed; Tuesday–Friday 12:00–01:00; Saturday 12:00–03:00; Sunday 12:00–01:00 |
| Reservations | Not needed for small groups; call ahead for larger groups |
| Serves | Lunch, shared plates, coffee, beer, wine, cocktails and spirits |
| Nearest tram stops | Prinsengracht and Frederiksplein (tram 4) |
| Contact | +31 20 627 0575 · [email protected] |
Hours come from the café’s official website. Some map listings show Friday closing at 03:00 rather than 01:00, so check before planning a late Friday night.
Key Features
- All-day format: the kitchen covers lunch and shared plates, and the bar keeps going into the night. That lets you arrive for a midday sandwich and stay into the evening.
- Walk-in welcome: the café says no reservation is needed. Bigger groups are asked to give a heads-up so staff can make space.
- Private hire: the whole café can be booked for birthdays, milestone celebrations and corporate events. Email the café to ask.
- Late weekends: Saturday service runs until 03:00, later than many of the café-restaurants on the street.
- Mixed, relaxed crowd: the I amsterdam city guide notes a varied mix of guests and a warm atmosphere that makes newcomers feel at home quickly.
- Occasional events: the café has been listed as an Amsterdam Dance Event venue and has hosted social meetups, including expat gatherings. Instagram is the best place to see what is coming up.
- Street views: big windows look out over Utrechtsestraat, and outdoor seating is listed for good-weather days.
Best Time to Visit
The mood changes a lot between a weekday lunch and a weekend night. Visitor-traffic patterns are a rough guide, not real-time data, but they point clearly to quieter weekdays and busy Friday evenings.
- Tuesday to Thursday, midday to late afternoon: the quietest time. Come for a slow lunch or coffee when you want an easy table.
- Weekday early evenings: borrel hour, when people drop in after work for a drink and something to share.
- Friday and Saturday nights: the busiest time, with Friday around 21:00 usually the peak. Go then if you want a lively bar, and expect to wait for a seat.
- Saturday after midnight: one of the few times the café is open until 03:00. It works well as a last stop after dinner nearby.
- Mondays: closed. Plan around this if you are in town early in the week.
How to Get There
Café de Huyskamer is at Utrechtsestraat 137, 1017 VM Amsterdam, on the stretch of Utrechtsestraat between the Prinsengracht canal and Frederiksplein.
- By tram from Amsterdam Centraal: take GVB tram 4 toward Station RAI. It runs via Dam, Rokin, Rembrandtplein and Keizersgracht. Get off at Prinsengracht or Frederiksplein; both stops are a short walk from the café.
- On foot from Rembrandtplein: head south down Utrechtsestraat and cross the Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht bridges. The café is on the street itself, so you cannot miss it if you stay on Utrechtsestraat.
- From De Pijp: walk north across Frederiksplein into Utrechtsestraat, or take tram 4 north for a stop or two.
- By bike: Utrechtsestraat is a busy tram street. Watch the rails, and use proper bike racks rather than locking up against shopfronts.
- Paying for transport: GVB trams accept OVpay, so you can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone instead of buying a paper ticket.
Tips for Visiting
- Just walk in: small groups do not need a booking. For a larger group, call +31 20 627 0575 in advance, especially for a weekend evening.
- Check late-night hours: the official Friday closing time is 01:00, but some listings say 03:00. If you plan to stay late, confirm first.
- Bring a card: credit cards, debit cards and contactless mobile payments are listed as accepted.
- Dogs are welcome: the café is listed as dog-friendly, which is handy if you are travelling with one.
- Follow along online: event nights and schedule changes are most likely to appear on Instagram at @cafedehuyskamer.
- Planning a party: for a private booking, email [email protected] with your date and group size.
- Learn one word: “Proost” means cheers. Staff in central Amsterdam almost always speak English, but a little Dutch is still appreciated.
Nearby on Utrechtsestraat
Huyskamer is easy to pair with other stops on the same street, so you can turn one drink into a short food-and-drink walk:
- Cafe Slijterij Oosterling: a brown café and liquor store dating from 1877, almost opposite at Utrechtsestraat 140.
- Café Krom: a neighborhood café further north at Utrechtsestraat 76.
- De Utrechtsedwarstafel: an intimate tasting-menu restaurant on the parallel Utrechtsedwarsstraat for a special dinner.
- LAFFA: Israeli street food at the Rembrandtplein end of the street.
- Rembrandt Monument: the 1852 statue at the centre of Rembrandtplein, a few minutes’ walk north.
Frequently asked questions
Is Café de Huyskamer the same place as De Huyschkaemer?
Yes. Both names refer to the café-bar at Utrechtsestraat 137 with the phone number +31 20 627 0575. Many maps and review sites still use the older spelling, De Huyschkaemer, while the café’s current website uses Café de Huyskamer.
Is Café de Huyskamer LGBTQ+ friendly?
Yes. It appears in qMeet’s directory of LGBTQ+ and gay-friendly venues in Amsterdam, and the I amsterdam city guide describes its crowd as diverse and welcoming.
Correction: an earlier version of this guide placed Café de Huyskamer on Egelantiersgracht in the Jordaan and gave directions for that area. The café is at Utrechtsestraat 137, and this page has been corrected throughout.
