Mulligans Irish Music Bar sits at Amstel 100 in Amsterdam’s Centrum, looking straight out at the river the city was named after. Founded in the summer of 1988, it is known as the oldest Irish pub in the Netherlands, and it has built its reputation on live traditional music rather than shamrock decor: a Celtic tune session every Sunday from 19:00, an all-style session every Wednesday from 20:00, and gigs on weekend nights from roughly 21:00.
Quick facts
- Address: Amstel 100, 1017 AC Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Phone: +31 (0)20 233 5543
- Founded: Summer 1988
- Known for: Live traditional Irish music, Guinness, Irish whiskey selection
- Regular sessions: Sunday from 19:00 (traditional Celtic tunes), Wednesday from 20:00 (all styles, back room)
- Weekend gigs: Approximately 21:00 to midnight
- Nearest tram stop: Rembrandtplein, lines 4 and 14 from Centraal Station
- Food: Drinks-led pub; no kitchen advertised
Why Mulligans is different from Amsterdam’s other Irish bars
Amsterdam has dozens of pubs trading on Irish imagery. Mulligans’ claim is narrower and easier to verify: it opened in 1988, making it the country’s oldest Irish pub, and its identity is built around musicians rather than merchandise. The pub describes itself as a meeting place for musicians, writers and artists as much as a destination for visitors, and bands travel from Ireland, Scotland and further afield to play gigs or sit in on the sessions.
The practical difference you notice as a visitor is programming depth. Instead of a covers band on a Saturday, the calendar carries named traditional line-ups with specific instrumentation, plus beginner-friendly slow sessions, Irish set dance ceilis, and pub quizzes run with the Amsterdam Gaelic Athletic Club. That mix signals a venue serving a resident community, not just passing trade.
The music: what plays and when
Two weekly sessions anchor the schedule, and the Sunday one has run since the pub opened.
- Sunday, from 19:00: Traditional Celtic tune session in the main bar, mainly tunes rather than songs. Visiting musicians are welcome to join.
- Wednesday, from 20:00: Informal all-style session in the back room, covering Celtic, folk, pop, bluegrass and Americana, mixing regulars with guests.
- Friday and Saturday, roughly 21:00 to 00:00: Booked gigs, mainly traditional Irish but also traditional Scottish, folk, pop, bluegrass and Americana.
- Thursday: The pub has flagged possible future Thursday gigs, typically solo or duo singer-songwriter sets. Treat this as tentative.
Because line-ups rotate weekly, check the pub’s event calendar before you plan an evening around a specific act. Sessions are participatory, so if you play fiddle, flute, banjo, bodhran or button accordion, bringing your instrument is a reasonable move rather than a presumptuous one.
What to drink
Mulligans keeps the offer deliberately simple: a good pint of Guinness, a range of other beers, and a large selection of Irish whiskeys. Reviewers frequently rate the Guinness among the better pours in the city, though that is subjective and depends heavily on how busy the bar is when your pint is settling. If you want to judge it fairly, order during a quieter afternoon rather than mid-gig.
Plan to eat elsewhere. The pub promotes drinks and music, not a kitchen, so treat Mulligans as an after-dinner destination or pair it with somewhere nearby on Utrechtsestraat or around Rembrandtplein.
Sport, terrace and the back room
Irish sport is shown on satellite televisions placed around the bar, which makes Mulligans a reliable option for GAA fixtures and Irish rugby internationals. Expect a full room and limited seating during marquee matches such as an All-Ireland final.
There is also an outdoor terrace, useful on a warm afternoon and a genuine change of pace from the dark interior. The back room hosts the Wednesday session and doubles as the smoking room, which is worth knowing if smoke bothers you or if you specifically want to be where the Wednesday tunes are happening.
Opening hours
Mulligans’ own website lists these hours:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 – 01:00 |
| Tuesday | 14:00 – 01:00 |
| Wednesday | 14:00 – 01:00 |
| Thursday | 14:00 – 01:00 |
| Friday | 12:00 – 02:00 |
| Saturday | 12:00 – 02:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 – 01:00 |
Be aware that listing sites disagree. Some show a later weekday opening of 16:00 and a 03:00 weekend close, and at least one Dutch city guide lists Monday and Tuesday as closed. If your plan depends on arriving right at opening, call +31 (0)20 233 5543 first.
Best time to visit
- For the definitive Irish music experience: Sunday evening, arriving before 19:00 to get a spot near the session circle.
- For a looser, more varied session: Wednesday from 20:00 in the back room.
- For a booked band: Friday or Saturday, arriving around 20:15 to secure seating before the 21:00 start.
- For conversation and a properly poured pint: A weekday afternoon shortly after opening, when the bar is quiet enough to talk.
- For sport: Match day, accepting that you will likely be standing.
- To avoid crowds: Any weeknight before 20:00. Friday and Saturday nights are busy regardless of programming.
How to get there
Mulligans is at Amstel 100, a short walk from Rembrandtplein in the city centre. The pub’s own directions are the simplest to follow: take tram 4 or 14 from Amsterdam Centraal to Rembrandtplein, then walk the remaining few minutes toward the Amstel.
- On foot from Dam Square: Roughly 15 minutes. Head south along Rokin, continue past Muntplein, then follow the street toward the Amstel and turn onto Amstel itself.
- By tram: Lines 4 and 14 to Rembrandtplein, per the pub’s published directions.
- By metro: Waterlooplein and Rokin stations are both within a short walk; check current line routings in the GVB app before travelling.
- By bike: Standard Amsterdam rules apply. Use a heavy lock and park only in permitted racks, since central Amsterdam actively removes wrongly parked bikes.
- By taxi or ride-hail: Give the address, Amstel 100, rather than the pub name.
Save the location in your maps app before you go in. The lanes between the Amstel and Rembrandtplein look similar at night, and a dropped pin saves a lot of circling on the walk back.
Frequently asked questions
What nights does Mulligans Amsterdam have live music?
There is a traditional Celtic tune session every Sunday from 19:00 and an all-style session every Wednesday from 20:00 in the back room. Booked gigs run on weekend nights from roughly 21:00 to midnight, and the pub has signalled possible future Thursday solo or duo sets.
Is Mulligans the oldest Irish pub in the Netherlands?
Mulligans was founded in the summer of 1988 and is known as the oldest Irish pub in the country.
What are Mulligans Amsterdam opening hours?
The pub lists Monday to Thursday 14:00 to 01:00, Friday and Saturday 12:00 to 02:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 01:00. Third-party listings differ, so call +31 (0)20 233 5543 to confirm before an early or very late visit.
Can visiting musicians join the sessions at Mulligans?
Yes. The Sunday traditional session and the Wednesday all-style session are open, and the calendar regularly notes that musicians are welcome and encouraged. A slower beginner-friendly session also appears on the schedule.
Does Mulligans serve food?
Mulligans promotes Guinness, a range of other beers and a large Irish whiskey selection rather than a kitchen. Plan to eat elsewhere nearby and treat the pub as a drinks and music venue.
Where exactly is Mulligans in Amsterdam?
Mulligans is at Amstel 100, 1017 AC Amsterdam, facing the river Amstel in the Centrum district, a few minutes on foot from Rembrandtplein. Take tram 4 or 14 from Centraal Station to Rembrandtplein.
