Secret restaurants and hidden bars: places worth visiting

During MASTERS SUMMER EDITION, Friday June 21 celebrates De Mooiste Dag van Amsterdam.

During MASTERS SUMMER EDITION, Friday June 21 will be all about 'The Most Beautiful Day in Amsterdam'. The day that invitees have the opportunity to enjoy all the scoops from the participating brands and companies. To get you in the mood, MASTERS highlights a number of hidden gems in our capital: from secret bars to hidden restaurants. And don't tell anyone else...

Paindemic | Kinkerstraat 122

This sandwich shop that Guillaume de Beer came up with during the lockdown has grown from a pop-up to a permanent fixture on Kinkerstraat. The atmosphere and menu are nothing short of 'extraordinaire'. Don't expect a simple ball of old cheese here, but culinary delights based on it pain de mie, a soft-crusted French white bread, chosen by Guillaume with his French roots. 

However, the business consists of two floors. Downstairs feels like you've entered a Tokyo subway station, while upstairs offers a warmer, more intimate atmosphere. Via a somewhat hidden staircase you reach an art-deco bar with a boudoir-like ambiance. You can settle down here and take your time pain de mie while enjoying spinning vinyl records and a nice drink of course… 

By 74 | Reguliersdwarsstraat

Hidden behind an inconspicuous door on Reguliersdwarsstraat, you will find Door 74. This speakeasy bar exudes the atmosphere of the roaring twenties and serves world-class cocktails. To enter this hidden hotspot, you must make a reservation by calling or sending a text message to the mobile number. Once you find the unmarked door and ring the bell with the secret entry code, you enter an intimate sanctuary far from the tourist crowds and neon lights. Visits? Make sure you book in advance, because the popularity of this place unfortunately remains no secret. 

Hiding in Plain Sight | Rapenburg

Imagine a brown café, combined with an exclusive living room from the 20s, and you have HPS. This chic cocktail bar, just a short walk from Central Station, is the ideal place to start or end your evening. The aptly named cocktails, such as the Coco Chanel and the Brooklyn, the live music, and the stylishly dressed staff provide a complete experience. To enter this hidden gem, look for the discreet entrance at Rapenburg 18. Good luck, because: 'Hiding in plain sight...

Shigure | Andreas Bonn Street

Shigure is all about it omakase, Japanese for 'I leave it up to you'. So all you have to do here is relax at the bar and enjoy the culinary delights that are prepared for you. This small but attractive location – hidden in the Sushi Fanatics restaurant – offers an extensive selection of sushi and other Japanese specialties that will certainly surprise your taste buds… 

Graphite* | Horse Street 

Take the QR code you receive with your reservation, go to the Paardenstraat and look for the door with a scanner... This speakeasy restaurant is mysterious, and that also applies to its decor. Starting with a glass in the attractive cocktail bar, you then move on to the lounge dining room to discover the contemporary creations of chef Peter Gast.