Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at Oude Leliestraat 2, tel. 020/420-4301). The Grey Area is run by
two friendly Americans, Adam and Jon. They are helpful and even
have a vaporizer if you want to “smoke” without smoking.
Siberië Coffeeshop
is a short walk from Central Station, but
feels cozy, with a friendly canalside ambience. Clean, big, and bright,
this place has the vibe of a not-too-far-out Starbucks (daily 11:00-
23:00, Fri-Sat until 24:00, free Internet access, helpful staff, English
menu, Brouwersgracht 11, tel. 020/623-5909, www.siberie.nl).
La Tertulia
is a sweet little mother-and-daughter-run place
with pastel decor and a cheery terrarium atmosphere (Tue-Sat
11:00-19:00, closed Sun-Mon, sandwiches, brownies, games,
Prinsengracht 312, www.coffeeshopamsterdam.com).
The Bulldog
is the high-profile, leading touristy chain of coffee-
shops. These establishments are young but welcoming, with reliable
selections. They're pretty comfortable
for green tourists wanting to just hang
out for a while. The flagship branch,
in a former police station right on
Leidseplein, is very handy, offer-
ing alcohol upstairs, pot downstairs,
and fun outdoor seating where you
can watch the world skateboard by.
There's a chance it may close because
it's considered too near a school, but
it will likely stay open (daily 10:00-
1:00 in the morning, Fri-Sat until 2:00, Leidseplein 17, tel. 020/625-
6278, www.bulldog.nl). They opened their first café (on the canal
near the Old Church in the Red Light District) in 1975.
The Dampkring
is a rough-and-ready constant party. It's
a high-profile and busy place, filled with a young clientele and
loud music, but the owners still take the time to explain what they
offer. Scenes from the movie
Ocean's Twelve
were i filmed here (daily
11:00-22:00, later on Fri-Sat, close to Spui at Handboogstraat 29,
tel. 020/638-0705).
Smartshops
These business establishments (one
is listed on page 83) sell “natural ”
drugs that are legal. Many are harm-
less nutritional supplements, but they
also sell stimulants similar to Ecstasy
and strange drug cocktails rolled into
joints. It's all perfectly legal, but if
you've never taken drugs recreation-
ally, don't start here.
