Pianobar Maxim

Pianobar Maxim is a live piano bar at Leidsekruisstraat 33, a couple of minutes’ walk from Leidseplein in central Amsterdam. It opened in 1967 as the first piano bar in the Netherlands, and it still puts a pianist behind the keys seven nights a week, from 9 PM until 3 AM (4 AM on Fridays and Saturdays).

It’s the sort of place that makes you feel like you’ve found your own corner of Amsterdam’s nightlife. You don’t need to dress up. Come as you are, order a drink, and get ready to sing along with a room full of strangers.

Address	Leidsekruisstraat 33, 1017 RG Amsterdam (near Leidseplein)
Opening hours	Sunday to Thursday 9 PM to 3 AM; Friday and Saturday 9 PM to 4 AM
Music	Live piano every night, with resident pianists and a different international entertainer most weeks
Costs to expect	Visitors have reported a small entry fee, a mandatory paid coat check, and paid toilets
Reservations	Table reservations through the official Maxim website
Phone	+31 6 82611813

What Pianobar Maxim is like

Maxim has a long story for a small bar. According to the venue, it opened in 1967 with its owner, Maxim, playing the piano himself. He liked getting guests to sing while he played, and over the years both well-known artists and unknown talents took a turn at the microphone. The bar still keeps that habit alive today.

Step inside and you’re met with a warm feel. Soft lighting casts a golden glow over the vintage decor, while red velvet curtains make the room feel more intimate. It’s a compact space, so it fills up fast, and once it does, the whole room tends to become one big, slightly off-key choir.

Maxim describes itself as the only piano bar in Amsterdam and the surrounding area. Whether or not that holds on every night of the year, it’s certainly the best-known one, and it’s a different kind of night out from the busy clubs and cafés around Leidseplein.

Music, song requests, and drinks

The piano is the star of the show, and everything in the room faces it. The pianists play requests, mixing classics with modern hits, and there’s something lovely about hearing a pop song you know reimagined on the keys.

The lineup changes regularly. Alongside its resident pianists, Maxim books international entertainers, usually for a week-long run. The autumn 2026 program, for example, includes an English pianist playing classic pop songs on request, a Memphis-based musician who mixes classic rock, blues, and jazz, and a Florida jazz singer-pianist. Check the agenda on Maxim’s website to see who’s playing when you’re in town.

Audience participation isn’t just encouraged; it’s practically mandatory. I once went with a bunch of mates, and before we knew it, we were all belting out “Piano Man.” A bit embarrassing at the time, but what a memory.

There are standard tables and chairs, but if you can snag a spot at the bar, you’ll be close enough to the piano to request a favorite tune. There’s a tip jar on the piano, and dropping something in when you make a request is good manners. I also found the acoustics excellent: whether you’re up front or tucked into a corner, you can hear every note clearly.

To be honest, I didn’t find the drinks list adventurous. They cover the basics well, and the house Maxim Martini, a fruity little number, isn’t half bad. The bar team clearly knows its craft, too: the Dutch bartenders’ association lists Maxim’s team as two-time winners of The Bartender Olympics and the Hoshizaki Cup. Opinions on prices are split, with some visitors calling them fair and others calling them steep.

Keep an eye out for special nights. I once caught a dueling pianos night there, and it was an absolute riot. The current program mostly lists one headline entertainer per week, so check the agenda before planning around a particular format.

Entry fees and house rules

Maxim doesn’t publish a price list online, so go by what recent visitors report and confirm at the door. Know these before you go, because they’re the most common complaints in reviews:

• Entry fee: one visitor reported paying €5 to get in in early 2023. Prices may have changed since.
• Coat check: several reviewers say checking your coat is mandatory and paid, which matters in winter.
• Toilets: visitors report paying to use the toilets, so keep some change handy.
• Drinks: order soon after you sit down. One 2025 reviewer said their group was asked to leave before the music started because they hadn’t bought a drink yet.

Best time to visit

Doors open at 9 PM, but the first hour is usually quiet. Visitors who arrived around 9 or 9:30 PM describe having the place nearly to themselves before it filled up quickly. The headline entertainer’s sets on the current agenda typically start around 10 or 11 PM.

I’m a bit of a night owl, so I tend to show up around 10 PM, when things are really getting going. If you’d rather have your pick of seats, arrive close to opening, grab a spot near the piano, and let the room fill up around you.

As you’d expect, weekends are when Maxim really comes alive. Friday and Saturday nights bring plenty of energy and stay open until 4 AM, but the place gets packed, you may end up cozying up to your neighbors, and song requests can take a while.

For a more laid-back visit, try a weeknight. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be quieter, so you can hear yourself think and sing along if you’re feeling brave. You’re also more likely to get chatting with locals.

If you’re in Amsterdam during the colder months, Maxim makes a welcome escape from the Dutch weather. Just budget for the coat check.

How to get there

Pianobar Maxim is at Leidsekruisstraat 33, a side street just off Leidseplein, the square known for its nightlife. It’s within walking distance of most central hotels. From Dam Square, allow about 20 minutes on foot. The Rijksmuseum is roughly 0.2 miles (about 350 meters) away, so it’s easy to pair a museum day with a night at the piano.

By public transport, take a tram to Leidseplein; the bar is about a block from the stop. Plan your ride home before you go, though. Maxim closes at 3 or 4 AM, which is later than regular tram service, so check the GVB journey planner for night buses.

You could also grab a taxi or an Uber, but Amsterdam’s narrow streets get congested on weekend evenings, so walking is often quicker if you’re nearby.

If you’re cycling, you’ll find bike racks nearby. Lock your bike securely, because bike theft is common around the city. And if you’re relying on your phone for directions, bring a portable charger. Losing your way home at 3 AM because your battery died is no fun. Trust me, I learned that the hard way.

Frequently asked questions