Amsterdam Bars off the Beaten Path

Café Hesp

This locals' favorite brown café near Amstel Station draws the after-work crowd and other resident regulars in search of its authentic, cozy atmosphere and its riverside terrace prime for catching the late sun. Out-of-the-way enough to remain unknown to tourists, Amsterdam visitors seeking a typical local bar scene will find it here.

Pacific Parc

This trendy restaurant transforms into a funky nightlife spot -- usually with live music and/or DJs -- starting at about 11 p.m. Some Amsterdam visitors may have begun to hear the buzz about the Westergasfabriek culture and entertainment complex, which comprises a collection of former gasworks buildings, but the area is largely popular with the local young and hip. Come during meal-service hours to enjoy the huge canal-side terrace.

Café de Doffer

I guess you could say this café is on a well-beaten path. But the adorable little street -- one of the Negen Straatjes ("Nine Little Streets") district -- is usually home to shoppers and lunch-goers, as the area is filled with unique boutiques and perfect places for post-retail-therapy refueling. De Doffer isn't a place most tourists would stumble upon, an unassuming dark-wood café that draws a primarily Dutch crowd sharing beers with friends.