De Sluyswacht

Café de Sluyswacht — Bar Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"First impression? Part of the charm of drinking at this lopsided pub is embracing its quirks: step inside, and everything—from the stone floors to the staircase to the wood-beamed ceilings—tilts to one side, making you feel like you’ve had one too many before you’ve even had your first sip. Originally built in 1695 as a residence for the sluyswacht (the person operating the neighboring lock), this canal-side watering hole offers fantastic views of the Montelbaanstoren tower to one side and the Rembrandthuis to the other. How’s the crowd? A mix of older regulars, students, and tourists stopping in for a beer after a visit to the Rembrandt House Museum , located just across the street. How are the drinks? This is beer-drinking territory, with around 10 available on tap, including the Dutch-brewed Hertog Jan and Belgian favorite Leffe. But you can also get a basic mixed drink (gin and tonics are always popular), Aperol spritz, or hard seltzer. If there’s food, is it worth ordering something to eat? Nothing fancy here, just basic Dutch bar food like bitterballen (breaded, deep-fried meatballs), croquettes, and fries to soak up the alcohol. Did the staff do you right? While the Dutch aren’t known for great service, here they’re remarkably efficient given the constant stream of customers. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? Everything about this old-school pub—from the adorably quirky building, to the fab canal views, to the well-priced beers—embodies Dutch gezellig: a cozy, fun, relaxing atmosphere where people feel totally at home." - Jennifer Ceaser