Club Candela

Club Candela is a two-storey late-night bar and club at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 85–87, a side street just off Leidseplein in central Amsterdam. It’s best known for karaoke and open mic nights, DJs playing Latin, R&B and pop, a casual crowd of locals and visitors, and a closing time of around 4 AM (5 AM on Fridays and Saturdays).

Address	Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 85–87, 1017 PX Amsterdam (Leidseplein area)
Closing time	Around 4 AM Sunday to Thursday, 5 AM Friday and Saturday
Doors	Listed between 9 PM and 11 PM depending on the source and night
Music	Latin, R&B, hip hop, rock, house and international pop
Regular nights	Karaoke and open mic sessions, plus drink specials
Dress	Casual
Nearest tram stop	Leidseplein, about a one-minute walk
Step-free access	No lift, no wheelchair-accessible entrance and no accessible toilet

Hours vary between listings, so check the venue’s current opening times on the day you go.

What Club Candela is like

Club Candela, which some listings call Cafe Candela, sits among the bars, snack counters and late-night spots of Korte Leidsedwarsstraat. I amsterdam describes it as a two-storey nightclub café that draws a mix of locals and visitors every night of the week.

I remember stumbling across it for the first time and finding a lively crowd and a good mix of music. You’ll feel the bass soon after you walk in, and it’s an easy place to strike up a conversation between songs. Students mix with regular party-goers, which keeps the mood sociable rather than exclusive.

It suits a loose, sing-along kind of night better than a headline DJ booking or a serious underground club crowd. If you want larger concerts or club nights, the Leidseplein neighbourhood guide covers bigger venues such as Melkweg and Paradiso nearby.

Music, karaoke and events

The soundtrack changes through the night. I amsterdam lists DJs playing R&B, rock and Latino, while the Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket listing adds hip hop, house and international pop and describes a room lit with LEDs and strobes.

Karaoke and open mic nights are the main draw for many visitors, and both listings describe them as regular fixtures. On my visits, the singing and live sets tended to happen downstairs, with the upper floor set up for dancing to a DJ, so the night can shift from one to the other without changing venue.

Themed parties turn up on the calendar too. I once dropped in for an ’80s night, and the moonwalk attempts were quite a sight. The venue also runs regular drink specials, but it doesn’t publish a fixed weekly programme on the listings I checked, so look at its current social posts or Google listing before planning a night around a particular event.

Opening hours, entry and dress code

Club Candela is a late venue. According to I amsterdam, it’s open until 4 AM every night and until 5 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Opening times are less consistent across listings: the Nightlife Ticket page gives 9 PM, while Tripadvisor shows 10 PM from Thursday to Saturday and 11 PM on other nights.

A standard door price isn’t published on any of the listings I checked. Holders of the Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket get free entry and a welcome shot, which can be worth it if you plan to visit several participating bars and clubs over one or more nights.

There’s no formal dress code, and casual clothes are fine. Wear comfortable shoes, because you’ll spend most of the night standing or dancing, and bring a photo ID in case the door staff ask for it.

Best time to visit

Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights and the latest, with the dance floor full and closing pushed to 5 AM. Go then if you want the most energy, and expect little elbow room once the crowd arrives.

Weeknights, including Thursdays, tend to feel more relaxed while still drawing a crowd, and that’s when karaoke and open mic nights are most likely. Arriving shortly after the doors open gives you time to settle in and find a spot at the bar before it fills up.

Summer and holiday periods bring more visitors to Leidseplein, so the club can get crowded even midweek. Winter can be a good time to go, when an evening indoors dancing is more appealing than walking between terraces.

King’s Day is the city’s biggest party. It falls on Tuesday, 27 April 2027, according to the Dutch government’s list of public holidays, and the celebrations start with King’s Night on the evening of 26 April. Expect a lot of orange, packed streets around Leidseplein and queues at most venues.

Travelling solo? Any night can work. The casual setup makes it easy to start chatting with people at the bar or on the dance floor.

How to get to Club Candela

Club Candela is at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 85–87, 1017 PX Amsterdam, a short side street off Leidseplein. If you’re staying in the city centre or along the canal ring, walking there is often the easiest option.

By tram, get off at Leidseplein, which is roughly 80 metres from the club. Trams 2, 5, 7, 17 and 19 stop there. From Amsterdam Centraal Station, take tram 2 or 17; tram 2 takes about 11 minutes to reach Leidseplein. Tram 1 is on a diversion away from Leidseplein until 1 May 2027, so check the GVB app or 9292 before relying on it.

Regular trams stop running before the club closes. GVB night buses and several regional night lines serve Leidseplein; see the GVB night network map for routes and plan your ride home before you head out.

Cycling is another option, and there are bike racks on the side streets around the square, including Korte Leidsedwarsstraat. If you don’t have a bike, A-Bike Rental & Tours at Leidseplein is close by. Leave the bike locked up if you’ve been drinking and take a tram, night bus or taxi instead.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps are the simplest choice if you’re staying further out or leaving at closing time. Ask to be dropped at Leidseplein, since the club’s side street can be busy with people on foot late at night.

Accessibility and practical tips

Club Candela isn’t a good fit for wheelchair users or anyone who can’t manage steps. I amsterdam’s accessibility information lists no lift, no wheelchair-accessible entrance, no accessible toilet and no handrails on the stairs. Service dogs are allowed, and mobile payment is accepted.

• Keep an eye on your phone and wallet in crowded bars and on the square late at night.
• Pace yourself with the drink specials; there’s a long night between opening and 4 or 5 AM.
• Check the night’s event before you go if you’re coming specifically for karaoke or open mic.
• If you get a bit lost, ask for directions. Most people in Amsterdam speak English and may suggest somewhere else nearby worth a look.

More to do around Leidseplein

Being a minute from Leidseplein makes Club Candela easy to combine with dinner, a few bars or a late snack. Our guide to Leidseplein square covers its theatres, terraces and music venues, and you can browse more Amsterdam places by neighbourhood to plan the rest of your night.

Frequently asked questions