Travel & Leisure

1. Enjoy the Heineken Experience

Heineken beer ag waving in the Netherlands.

Drinking beer while on the Heineken Experience is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam at night because you can sip Heineken in the place where it was rst brewed. e brewery was established in the heart of Amsterdam in 1867 and remained in operation until 1988.

It was reopened as a museum a few years later, in 2001, attracting beer lovers from the city and all over the world.

Take a guided tour of the historic brewery to learn more about the history of the well-known brand, the art of beer making, Heineken’s innovations, and the proper way to serve a world-famous drink.

For those over 18, there are also historic Heineken ads and tasting opportunities and the opportunity to learn about the four natural ingredients used to make this beer.

2. Stroll through Stedelijk Museum

Visiting a museum is one of the things to do in Amsterdam, night or day. e Stedelijk Museum, which rst opened its doors in 1895, is the most important Dutch museum displaying contemporary art and design.

You can walk through the Stedelijk Museum’s gallery, which features furniture, ceramics, posters, jewellery and other items that depict the evolution of design from the turn of the 20th century to the present. is museum houses over 90,000 artifacts and works by world-renowned artists such as Picasso, Cézanne, Chagall, Marlene Dumas, Kandinsky, Malevich and Matisse. e works of well-known Dutch artists such as Mondrian, Gerrit Rietveld, and De Kooning are also included.

You can book tickets in advance to skip the line and gain access to permanent and temporary exhibits and learn about famous artists.

3. Go on an evenin canal cruise

A boat tour in the evening is one of the best ways to appreciate the unique beauty of Amsterdam’s Canal District. ese canals, which date back to the 17th century, are breathtaking when viewed from the water.

Visitors can cruise the canals at night for about an hour, passing by historic merchant homes and picturesque bridges while admiring the breathtaking vistas of this historic area of the city.

Learn about the city’s fascinating history and dynamic character, or relax and take in the sights as dusk falls over Amsterdam.

An evening canal cruise introduces you to Amsterdam’s distinct atmosphere and is something to try when visiting the city.

4. Chill out at an Amsterdam icebox

Amsterdam Icebar is, in more ways than one, the coolest spot in town. e entire interior of the bar, including the walls, furniture, and even the drinking glasses, is made of natural ice.

You will be amazed when visiting this fantastic and distinctive location in Amsterdam.

After donning a warm jacket and gloves, you’ll enter the bar made of 35 tons of ice kept at a constant sub-zero temperature of -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).

Marvel at a watering hole made almost entirely of ice and relax in the frozen bar while sampling a variety of delectable cocktails.

To experience Amsterdam’s coolest venue and enjoy complimentary cocktails at the Amsterdam Icebar, book your ticket here.

5. Discover secrets at the Red Light Secrets Museum

e Red Light Secrets Museum focuses on the lives of sex workers in the Netherlands and it’s the only museum in the world completely focused on prostitution.

It’s housed in a former brothel in Amsterdam’s renowned Red Light District.

Learn about the history of the world’s oldest profession, prostitution, tour the rooms where they work, sit behind the famous windows and listen to stories from the sex workers themselves.

A visit to this unusual museum allows you to learn about their point of view, which they explore in a fun and open way to eliminate the taboos surrounding sex work. Some of the confessions are humorous, some are enlightening, but all are revealing; you can experience all of these with an entry ticket to the museum.

7 ways to explore Amsterdam at night

6. Amaze immersive audiovisual experience

During the Aamaze experience, you can escape reality and explore interactive areas that elicit a range of emotions, from relaxing to intense. e facility is divided into seven rooms, each containing various interactive exhibits with fantastic light, laser, sound and other e ects that evoke a wide range of emotions.

Immerse yourself in a captivating world of images, sounds and technology. e abundance of sensors and cameras allows for easy interaction with the environment, making the experience even more immersive.

Following the experience, guests can relax in the Amaze lounge and enjoy the unique setting, friendly service, and vibrant ambience.

7. Stroll through the Red Light district

Explore the Red Light district in Amsterdam at night. e Red Light District (De Wallen, as it is known locally), is Amsterdam’s most wellknown tourist destination.

You can explore the famous area’s winding alleyways and red-lit windows at night while learning about its long history. is area is home to a few notable museums, including the Red Light Secrets Museum and the Erotic Museum, in addition to street-side brothels. e Amsterdam Red Light District also has brightly lit canals, bustling restaurants, and several bars and Dutch co ee shops where visitors can unwind.

Only adults are allowed on the several tours of the district, which share the history of Amsterdam’s oldest neighbourhood and the ladies who work behind the famous red-lit windows.

A walk through this neighbourhood gives you a peek behind the curtains into Amsterdam’s rich history and relaxed atmosphere.

1. Barcade: Play pinball with a pint

Not all dates need to take place over a candle-lit dinner. Head to Brooklyn for arcade games and an extensive roster of exclusive craft beers for an unexpected date night. e Williamsburg Barcade opened in 2004 as the original location of large-scale gaming, but there are now nine Barcades around the country. You’ll nd dozens of video games and pinball machines from the 1980s to choose from, such as ‘Asteroids’, ‘Donkey Kong’, and ‘Mortal Kombat’.

First date? e activities may help avoid some of the awkward pauses on a night between strangers. e owing taps of craft beer could also keep the conversation owing. Or skip the booze, because whether it’s date one or

2. Fig & Olive: Dinner and a walk on the High Line New York’s Meatpacking district is the ideal date night thanks to its trendy

5 venues for date nights in NYC

restaurants, galleries, high-end shopping, nightclubs, and the sprawling Chelsea Market. You can plan an entire evening by heading to the FrenchMediterranean restaurant Fig & Olive, followed by a stroll on the High Line, a historic freight line turned elevated outdoor park featuring sculptures and unforgettable views.

Instagram e 13th Street Fig & Olive is headed by the award-winning partner and culinary director, Chef Alain Allegretti. e seasonally-focused menu is inspired by avours from the South of France and centreed around olive oils. e restaurant is known for its American red snapper entrée and selection of crostinis. We also recommend the raw bar’s sea bass crudo with a fresh cucumber ginger broth and the unbelievable avour of the lamb crusted with Moroccan ras el hanout spice mix. After a glass of rosé or an espresso martini, you and your date can walk o$ the decadent meal with the entrance to the High Line just a block away.

3. Dirt Candy: Dine on a plant-base tasting menu

At Dirt Candy, award-winning chef Amanda Cohen has been perfecting a luxurious and seasonal plant-based tasting menu in the Bowery since 2009 (via e New Yorker). It’s sure to impress vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. When we went, Dirt Candy’s signature dish, the portobello mousse, came with the mousse shaped into tiny woodland elements sitting alone in the bowl before disappearing under broth poured at the table — now that’s pageantry.

Wine Enthusiast named Dirt Candy one of the best wine restaurants for its program featuring only women-run wineries.

New York Magazine named it as the neighbourhood’s best place, full stop, to eat a meal right now.” According to the restaurant’s website, the tasting menu is $95 a person, and it has a no-tipping policy.

4. Tokyo Record Bar: Izakaya with a side of vinyl

If you can get a reservation at Tokyo Record Bar, you’ll thank us later for all the bonus points you’ll get for being in the know. A vinyl jukebox enhances the tasting menu experience in this underground space that hosts just two or three seatings per night. e seven-course omakase-style menu is paired with a curated vinyl set and a drink menu featuring ltered and un ltered sake and cocktails.

Mad Hatters NYC says the Tokyo Record Bar feels like a speakeasy. Much of that is due to its inconspicuous entrance through the MacDougal St. Air’s Champagne Parlour (guests can reserve a table there to enjoy a glass of Champagne) before descending into the dining room with seating for 12 people. You then get to select from a menu of songs you’d prefer for the night while enjoying sashimi, crab legs, and caviar sandwiches.

5. Loulou: A Chelsea speakeasy to transport your date night

e popularity of speakeasies in NYC is hardly a secret. Loulou is easy to spot thanks to the decadent oral decorations on the corner cafe. To nd the bistro’s speakeasy entrance, you and your date will walk through a vintage Coca-Cola machine for a quirky start to your night to remember. You’ll be greeted by a chandelier setting the mood before heading into the French bistro-style bar o ering specialty cocktails and a full menu.

Secret NYC notes Loulou is named after the owner’s dog and calls the basement one of the “coolest” secret spots in the city.