Café del Mondo is a café-bar at Nieuwmarkt 28, right on the Nieuwmarkt square in central Amsterdam. It has served breakfast, lunch and borrel snacks since 1994, and it deliberately doesn’t do dinner. Most people come for three things: the warm apple pie, the terrace on the square and the Ajax matches, which are shown live.
Café del Mondo at a glance
| Address | Nieuwmarkt 28, 1012 CS Amsterdam (Nieuwmarkt, Centrum) |
| Phone | +31 20 624 1373 |
| Open since | 1994 |
| Food | Breakfast, lunch and snacks to go with drinks. No dinner. |
| Drinks | Organic, fair-trade coffee and wine, plus beers, liquors and Jack Daniel’s whiskey |
| Opening hours | Public listings show about 10:00 to 01:00, and until 03:00 on Friday and Saturday. Some list a 09:00 opening, so check before an early or late visit. |
| Football | Ajax matches shown live |
| Nearest metro | Nieuwmarkt (lines 51, 53 and 54) |
| Website | cafedelmondo.nl |
How Café del Mondo got its name
The café started life as Café Belmondo, named after the French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. Founder and owner Barry van den Berg has said Belmondo looked a lot like his father, and that his mother was a fan of both men, so the name was a tribute to the two of them. The café later had to give up the Belmondo name. “Del Mondo” kept most of the sound, and it has stuck for three decades.
What to eat and drink
The menu covers breakfast, lunch and snacks for the borrel, the Dutch after-work drink. The café says it sources its bar snacks from local suppliers and serves its apple pie still warm from the oven. I’d go for the apple pie. After a few disappointing café stops, I’ve learned not to take a good slice for granted, and this is one I still think about on the way home.
The coffee is organic and fair trade, and so is the wine. The bar also has a wide range of beers and liquors, including Jack Daniel’s, which sponsors the café’s live music evenings.
Ajax matches and live music
Café del Mondo has a long reputation as an Ajax café, and it shows Ajax matches live whenever the club plays. If you can’t get a ticket for the Johan Cruyff Arena, this is a central, neighbourhood-style place to watch instead. Wear red and white if you’d rather blend in.
For me, Ajax match days are hard to beat here. The room gets loud, the terrace fills up and, depending on the result, a Feyenoord-supporting friend might call with congratulations or condolences. On other evenings, the café hosts live music nights, a relaxed way to end a day of sightseeing.
Best time to visit
Come at opening time for breakfast before a day out. On Saturdays, the organic farmers’ market takes over the whole Nieuwmarkt square, so breakfast here pairs well with a wander through the stalls.
Around 1 PM, you’ll find a mix of locals on lunch breaks and visitors taking a pause from sightseeing. When the weather cooperates, grab a terrace seat and watch the square go by with a cappuccino.
The café stays open late, especially on Friday and Saturday, but the kitchen sticks to breakfast, lunch and snacks. Plan dinner somewhere else and come back for a drink afterwards if you like.
How to get there
The metro is the easiest option. Nieuwmarkt station, on lines 51, 53 and 54, has exits right on the square. From Amsterdam Centraal, the walk takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The route down the Zeedijk through Chinatown brings you out onto the square.
No tram stops on the square itself. Tram 14 stops at Waterlooplein, a short walk to the south. Check the GVB page for Nieuwmarkt station for works and route changes before you travel.
If you’re cycling, you’ll find bike racks around the Nieuwmarkt. Bring a sturdy lock, because bike theft is a real problem in central Amsterdam.
Tips for visiting
- Order the apple pie, even if you only came for coffee.
- For a big Ajax match, arrive well before kick-off. Seats go fast.
- Learning a little about Ajax is an easy way to start a conversation with regulars. “Hup Ajax Hup!” is a safe chant to start with.
- Check the café’s website or call ahead to see whether a match or live music night is on during your visit.
- The staff speak English, but a “dank je wel” (thank you) or “lekker!” (delicious) always goes down well.
- Don’t rush. Café del Mondo has a relaxed pace, so settle in for a while.
One extra tip: if you’re in the mood, chat with the staff or the people at the next table. I’ve had some lovely conversations in cafés like this, and you never know what local tips you’ll pick up.
Nearby places to pair with your visit
- De Waag, the 15th-century former city gate in the middle of the square, with a candlelit restaurant-café that serves dinner
- New King, a long-running Cantonese restaurant on the Zeedijk in Chinatown
- Café Dijk 120, a Zeedijk bar for a drink on the walk back towards Centraal
- Our Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood guide for more cafés, markets and sights around the square
Café del Mondo works whether you’re travelling solo, on a date or meeting friends. Come for coffee and pie, or settle in for a match and see where the afternoon goes. All this talk has me craving a slice. Maybe I’ll see you there. Proost!
Frequently asked questions
Is Café del Mondo a cannabis coffeeshop?
No. Café del Mondo is a café-bar that serves coffee, food and alcohol. Cannabis directories list it as a former smoker-friendly venue that is no longer weed-friendly.
Does Café del Mondo show Ajax away matches?
Yes. The café says it always shows Ajax matches live when the club plays, so away games are included. Big matches fill up, so arrive early.
Where can I eat dinner near Café del Mondo?
Café del Mondo does not serve dinner. Restaurant-Café In de Waag is in the middle of the same square at Nieuwmarkt 4, and the Chinatown restaurants on the Zeedijk, such as New King, are a few minutes’ walk away.
