Skip to content
Hello Amsterdam
Café Chris

Brown café

Café Chris

One of the oldest brown cafés in the Jordaan, pouring since 1624.

  • Brown café

4.7· 1,240 reviews

Photo: Fred Beaufils / Google

Café Chris is said to be the oldest café in the Jordaan, pouring drinks since 1624 — reputedly the spot where the builders of the nearby Westerkerk once collected their wages.

What to expect

It's a classic brown café: dark wood, old fixtures, a low-key local crowd and centuries of patina.

Come for a quiet beer and a strong sense of history rather than a buzzing night out — this is Amsterdam café culture at its most authentic.

Good to know

It's a small, traditional place in the heart of the Jordaan, a short walk from the Westerkerk and the Noordermarkt.

Unhurried by nature — it's best enjoyed without a rush.

Highlights

  • Beer house since 1624

  • Often called the oldest café in the Jordaan

  • Time-capsule wood-beamed interior

Gallery

Café Chris — 2
Café Chris — 3
Café Chris — 4
Café Chris — 5

Photo: Jenny Wiscombe / Google

Location

Bloemstraat 42, 1016 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands

FAQ

Where is Café Chris?
On the Bloemstraat in the Jordaan, a short walk from the Westerkerk.
What is it known for?
Being one of the oldest brown cafés in Amsterdam, with a genuinely historic, unpolished Jordaan atmosphere.
Do I need to book?
No — it's a walk-in brown café. Just drop by, though it can get busy on rainy afternoons.