Café 't Smalle

A canal-level terrace at a brown café dating to 1780

Hours: Mon–Thu 14:00–24:00, Fri 14:00–01:00, Sat 13:00–01:00, Sun 13:00–23:00 (official main page; varies across pages)
Budget: Check prices at the shop
Address: Egelantiersgracht 12, on a small Jordaan canal

Around 1780 a German named Pieter Hoppe took over a wine shop here and added a liqueur distillery. Today it's one of the Jordaan's best-loved brown cafés (old neighbourhood pubs). The draw is the little wooden terrace set right down at canal level; on a sunny afternoon boats slide past at your feet. It's coffee or beer with bitterballen or a simple sandwich, and on cold days you retreat into the restored distillery-era interior.