Beer bars (free entrance, 18+)
Bruxelles @ Lange Wijngaardstraat 16
Beer bar and budget meal bar. Lots of beers. Every month a new art exhibition. www.cafebruxelles.nl |
De Gooth
Exists already more than 25 years. Started to brew their own beer a couple of years ago. Now they have four of their own brewed Ambrosius beers on draft. Located on the best square for food and beverages in Haarlem. www.cafedegooth.nl |
Jopenkerk @ Gedempte Voldersgracht 2
The one and only city brewery of Haarlem. Openend in 2010 in an old church building. Jopen beers are brewed here. All yuppies of Haarlem gather here to have a drink and/or meal. A must visit, only to discover that all Jopen beers are really disgusting, the place is overcrowded, and after dinnertime the whole bar smells like fish. A nice venue though, and nowadays they also sell beers from other breweries. www.jopenkerk.nl/haarlem/ |
Lokaal @ Koningstraat 46
After his live rock music bar didn't go that well, the owner changed it in 2016 into a special beer bar. Because special beers are today's hype. And Haarlem is slowly becoming a beer city again, with more and more special beer bars opening recently. To distinguish himself, he only serves Dutch local beers. Hopes to attract people from 20 - 60 years. Occasionally some acoustic live music performances. www.cafepitcher.nl |
Uiltje Bar @ Zijlstraat 18
Small beer bar opened in 2015. Has 30 (!) beers on draft, and the same amount of special beers in bottles. Focuses on Dutch special beers, instead of the Belgian special beers everybody already knows. Also beers from Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Italy, Spain.Also sell their own crafted Uiltje beers. Run by absent-minded hipsters. Low level of attention and high level of reluctance. Only a nice bar for Untapped users. Otherwise, stay at Jopenkerk. www.eveneenuiltjeknappen.nl |
Music / Alternative bars (free entrance, 18+)
Crackers @ Lange Veerstraat 34
Rock music bar. Sometimes visited by shady people when it gets late. You can play pool and darts here. |
Lugosi's @ Ridderstraat 6
Alternative bar. Opened in more than 25 years ago in 1988 and is still run by Dick van den Berg. Named after Dracula actor Bela Lugosi. But don't think this is a gothic bar or an obscure hard rock bar. It is a regular rock bar, where music is played often from vinyl records. A small bar, with a living room atmosphere. You can just sit at the bar without being harrassed by anyone, a simple nod to Dick and he will supply you with another beer. |
Little Fly f.k.a. La Pien Noir @ Koningstraat 58
Music bar. Opened in September 2011. For a little bit older crowd who like '80s music and conversations. They have occasionally jam sessions by local musicians in various genres. On Sunday a session with jazz, blues, and rock music. On every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month jazz sessions, and every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month blues sessions. On the last Thursday of the month acoustic sessions. On every 2nd Friday of the month gypsy jazz. Located between Grote Markt square and Botermarkt square. |
De Stemming @ Koningstraat 54
Music bar. Opened in May 2013. Wants to become a regular bar with a stage for various bands and DJs. A mini-Patronaat (see Nightclubs section). www.indestemming.nl |
Stiel's @ Smedestraat 21
Music bar. Every night you can see in this small bar a local jazz or rhythm & blues band, for more than 15 years now. But when the band plays you have to stop your conversation. www.stiels.nl |
Taverne De Waag @ Damstraat 29
Folk music bar. This bar tries to regain something of the international folk club that it used to be in the '60s, with Simon & Garfunkel among the performing artists back then. Concerts are usually only on Sunday between 17h and 19h. www.tavernedewaag.nl |
Regular bars (free entrance, 18+)
De Blauwe Druif @ Lange Veerstraat 7
Beer bar. The 'oldest' bar in Haarlem. On this location a bar opened in 1863. Changed ownership many times, but celebrates 150 years of bar hosting in 2013. |
De Flapcan @ Zijlstraat 9
Beer bar and music bar. On sunday they have jam sessions here by local musicians in various genres. They have five dart boards. www.flapcan.nl |
't Kantoor @ Gierstraat 78
Beer bar. Usually some older people in here, but nice and easy to sit at the bar. Nine types of beer on draft, and snacks provided. Open every day. Regular activities here like pub quizes, food tastings, live music. www.tkantoor.nl |
Koops @ Damstraat 4
Beer bar. Popular amongst boring old government officials and their followers. www.cafekoops.nl |
Studio @ Grote Markt 25
Beer bar and music bar and DJ bar. Besides drinking beer, on Friday and Saturday beats from a DJ. On Sunday a live band. Former cinema. On Thursday a place for students. www.cafestudio.nl |
Toneelschuurcafé @Lange Begijnestraat 9
Cinema and theatre beer bar. This is one of few bars in Haarlem to sit relaxed by yourself or with a friend at the bar contemplating life. Usually full of harmless elderly people that visited a movie or play. The bartenders won't bother you either. They are young students more interested in Spotify and Facebook than serving customers. www.toneelschuur.nl |
In den Uiver @ Riviervismarkt 13
Beer & jazz bar. Make your choice out of ten different draught beers. Tasty wines and snacks. Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month jazzy music from 20h30 until 22h30. www.indenuiver.nl |
Het Wapen van Bloemendaal @ Zijlvest 1
Beer bar and music bar. Golden oldies bar. Every third Wednesday of the month they have a Gypsy Jazz Jam here. www.hetwapenvanbloemendaal.nl |
The Wolfhound @ Riviervismarkt 9
Irish gastro-pub housed in a beautiful 17th century building near the Grote Markt square. It's unique cellar lounge dates from approximately 1640. A friendly customer focused bar which has frequent live music gigs and major sports events shown live. Opened in April 2015. www.thewolfhound.nl |
Clubby bars (free entrance, 18+)
Monkey Bar @ Korte Veerstraat 3
Opened in September 2016. Mostly clubby house music. www.monkeybar.nl |
XO @ Grote Markt 8
DJ bar. Hipster bar. DJ's on Friday and Saturday. Mostly techno/house music. On Thursday a place for students. www.xo-haarlem.nl |
Local bars (free entrance, 18+)
Van Gunsteren @ Breestraat 11
Beer bar. Frequented by locals for various occasions. On Friday and Saturday it becomes a bar dancing after 22h. Also known for viewing live football matches of Ajax, usually on Sunday, during which they serve free soup. |
Café Van Egmond @ Kleine Houtstraat 55
Frequented by retired locals that talk about cycling, football, and beer. Thankfully this bar has not been invaded by the hipster special beer police. Don't expect special beers, only pilsner beers. Frequented by travelling Englishmen who find it to be the closest they can get to an English local pub. The Haarlem version of Cheers. Established by late cyclist Jacques van Egmond who won a Gold Medal at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. After his death in 1969 his son took over. Now partially still run by his son who was a football player. |
Clubs (paid entrance, 18+)
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Patronaat @ Zijlsingel 2
Haarlem's center for live music and rock culture since 1984. Nowadays also with commercial club nights in the weekend. This new venue opened in 2005 and has three halls, a large one (975 people) and two smaller ones (350 people and 125 people). www.patronaat.nl |
Lichtfabriek @ Minckelersweg 2
Sometimes they have dance nights here. Located out of the city centre in an industrial area. www.lichtfabriek.nl |