Fitz’s Bar is a 1920s-inspired cocktail bar at Mauritskade 61 in Amsterdam Oost, inside Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park on the edge of Oosterpark. Gault&Millau named it Cocktail Bar of the Year 2026. It opens every evening from 17:00, and you don’t need to be a hotel guest: enter through the hotel’s main entrance and ask for Fitz’s.
What Fitz’s Bar is like
The bar takes its name and mood from F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, and the Roaring Twenties. Expect dark wood, plush seating, jazz and a back bar stocked with premium spirits and champagne. The bartenders work mostly with classic cocktails, updated with modern techniques and house-made ingredients.
It’s a small room. When it opened in 2023 it had 33 seats plus seven places at the bar, so it fills quickly on busy nights. The service is polished but friendly, and you don’t need to know your bitters from your vermouth to order well. Tell the bartenders which flavours or spirits you like and they’ll steer you to something that fits.
The cocktail menu
The current list, Menu Edition No.4, is built around scent. Bar manager Nick Vrielink and his team turned aromas from citrus groves, spice markets and sea air into drinks. You start with a set of “edible perfumes” and can spin a wheel of scents to pick your next cocktail.
Some drinks have become signatures. Gault&Millau singles out Essence No. 5, a perfumed cocktail inspired by Chanel No. 5; Gold Bar, a bourbon drink; and Negroni Sospeso, made with rum, coffee and Mon Chérie. Earlier menus had themed sections such as Art, Crime and Apothecary, which is where the bar’s reputation for herbal, bitters-led drinks comes from. The list changes regularly, so check the official website for what’s currently being served.
Cocktails are the focus here. If you’re planning to eat, ask the staff what food is available that evening, or have dinner first.
Awards and the bar team
- Cocktail Bar of the Year 2026, awarded by Gault&Millau Netherlands
- Best Bar Team 2024 at the Naked People Award, organised by Naked Malt
- Best New Cocktail Bar at the Entree Awards 2023, in its first year
- Nick Vrielink won gold in the Pre-Dinner Cocktail category at the 2023 IBA World Cocktail Championship in Rome, then took the Dutch national title for a third straight year in 2024 with Essence No. 5
- Bartender Luca Gislon finished in the top three at Diageo World Class Netherlands 2026
Opening hours and reservations
| Day | Hours | Reservations |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 17:00 to 00:00 | Walk-in only |
| Friday and Saturday | 17:00 to 02:00 | Walk-in, or book for up to 8 guests |
| Sunday | 17:00 to 00:00 | Walk-in, or book for up to 8 guests |
Fitz’s mainly works on a walk-in basis. You can reserve only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, for groups of up to eight. For nine or more guests, email [email protected]. The phone number is +31 20 802 02 02.
Best time to visit
For a quieter evening, arrive soon after the 17:00 opening, or around 18:00 to 19:00. It’s the easiest time to get a seat without booking, read through the menu and talk to the bartenders about what they’re making.
For more atmosphere, go later, from around 21:00. Friday and Saturday are the busiest nights. The small room fills fast on those nights, so book ahead if you want a specific time. If you’d rather avoid crowds, a Monday to Thursday visit is the better choice, though you can’t reserve on those nights.
Fitz’s also runs guest shifts and special events. In June 2026, for example, teams from Boadas in Barcelona and Jerry Thomas Bar Room in Rome took over the bar, and Fitz’s joins Negroni Week each September. The events page lists what’s coming up.
How to get to Fitz’s Bar
Fitz’s is inside Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park, Mauritskade 61, 1092 AD Amsterdam. Enter through the hotel’s main entrance and ask for the bar.
- By tram: take tram 14 from Amsterdam Centraal to Alexanderplein, which takes roughly 15 minutes. The hotel also lists trams 7 and 9 for this stop, which is about a minute’s walk from the entrance.
- By metro: take line 51, 53 or 54 to Weesperplein, then walk east to Mauritskade.
- By bike: there’s cycle parking in the area, but bring a sturdy lock, as bike theft is common in Amsterdam.
- By taxi: give the driver Mauritskade 61. From Centraal, expect a ride of around 8 minutes. A taxi is also the sensible way home after a few cocktails.
Check the GVB or 9292 journey planner before you travel, because tram routes sometimes change for works.
Nearby in Oost
Fitz’s pairs well with an afternoon in the east of the city. Walk through Oosterpark next door, visit the Wereldmuseum Amsterdam (formerly the Tropenmuseum) on Linnaeusstraat, or spend the day at ARTIS in the Plantage a short walk away before drinks at 17:00.
If you’re planning a cocktail night elsewhere, compare other cocktail bars in Amsterdam. For another hotel bar with a very different look, try Twenty Third Bar at the Okura, which has skyline views. For something more hidden, Door 74 and Hiding in Plain Sight are both in the centre.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fitz’s Bar in the Kimpton De Witt hotel?
No. Fitz’s Bar is in Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park, Mauritskade 61, in Amsterdam Oost. The Kimpton De Witt is a different hotel on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in the city centre.
Do you have to stay at the hotel to drink at Fitz’s Bar?
No. Fitz’s is open to everyone. Enter through the main entrance of Pillows Maurits at the Park and ask staff to direct you to the bar.
Can a large group book at Fitz’s Bar?
Online-style reservations cover up to eight guests on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For nine or more people, email [email protected] in advance.
