Natasha T.
Yelp
So apparently midnight is early in Amsterdam. This is the hour we rocked up at Paradiso, swiftly hit by that sinking feeling when you realise you're amongst the only people there. Gosh darn it, maybe this isn't the place to be after all. But pause, fast forward a couple of hours (when many places back home would be kicking out the stragglers) and the place is buzzing in full swing.
If this place is good enough for the likes of Blondie, Queens of the Stone Age, Lady Gaga, Beirut and White Stripes then it's good enough for me. Unfortunately though, we didn't get to see any live music, although Cage the Elephant had performed earlier that night. No, instead we took ourselves down to Noodlanding club night (an eclectic mix of hip hop, rock, dance, and electro) for the sole purpose of shameless partying.
There are several aspects of Noodlanding that made the €6 I paid worth it. First up: music. They say you can have a great night anywhere as long as the company is good, but if the company is good AND the music is good, then we're onto a winner for sure. Secondly, walking around this giant building of three of four floors, I felt as though I was having a bit of an adventure, albeit a drunken one, but an adventure nonetheless.
The main music room is downstairs, but upstairs is a smoking room with background music, it's a bit brighter in here and seems like the perfect place to come for a mid-boogie chinwag, something I think a lot of clubs miss out on. The smoking room leads onto the balcony, overlooking the main hall. This is obviously used for seated audiences at concerts, thus I was surprised it would still be open on a club night, but it seemed to be a little more quiet and private should a discreet conversation be required, or even a secretly steamy snog with a potential suitor. Either way, this balcony definitely added some atmosphere to the night, and got a big thumbs up from me.
Downstairs one will find the toilets, complete with one of those ladies who sell you squirts of perfume and mints and such things. But as far as toilets go, they really ain't bad. As far as I can remember they were spacious (essential for ladies loos when there are women milling around everywhere) and clean, which is a lot more than can be said for a lot of other places!
Now...back to the main hall. More excitement is to be had here. There is a stage! And it is a big stage...and people can dance on it! This will seem like a trivial detail to many of you, but this really was the best stage I have ever danced on, and that is quite a claim. It is simply because there were so many different levels: there were three different levels of stage, and the top level had several podium-like boxes on it. All of which people can dance on. Simple things please simple minds, and this pleased me very much indeed.
The drinks were on the pricey side, I think it was something like €6 for a gin 'n' tonic. But it's Amsterdam and that's to be expected, plus the barman was really cute so I'll let him off.
All being well I'll be off to Holland again next year, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we come back to Paradiso for more fun-filled adventures!