The Dutch bartender behind some of the world's best cocktails shares his personal guide to Amsterdam, from historic brown cafés and late-night kebab orders to what to try in his new bar.
Amsterdam means many things to many people: canals crowded with bikes, brown cafés glowing into the night, tourists drifting through the Red Light District and art lovers queueing for Van Gogh. But for Eric van Beek – the Dutch cocktail expert and co-founder of internationally acclaimed Mexico-based bar Handshake Speakeasy – the city is something far more personal.
Amsterdam-born Eric van Beek has led Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy to global acclaim
Born and raised in Amsterdam, van Beek spent his childhood and early adulthood in the Dutch capital before building a career abroad. Now, with the recent opening of his own Amsterdam bar, Shakerato, he's returned to the city with a fresh perspective: part local, part global bartender, part prodigal son returning home.
Here he shares his Amsterdam.
What's your earliest memory of the city?
"I remember being on the tram with my parents heading into the city for King's Day (the Netherlands' largest national holiday, taking place every year on April 27 in celebration of King Willem-Alexander's birthday). The whole city was orange with everyone dressed in the national colour, there were street sellers everywhere, people drinking in the streets. It felt massive and exciting as a kid."
How has Amsterdam changed since you first knew it?
Bars such as Flying Dutchman have made Amsterdam an exciting global cocktail destination
"It feels much more international now, especially in the city centre. There are far more expats and tourists than when I was younger. But once you get outside the centre into the outskirts, a lot of the city still feels very familiar to me."
What Dutch phrase should every visitor learn?
"'Hoe gaat het met je?' – it means 'How are you?' Every Dutch person appreciates when someone makes the effort.
"And because we work in hospitality, it's also useful to know 'de rekening, alstublieft' – 'the bill, please'."
If someone had one day to understand the real Amsterdam, what should they do?
The Rijksmuseum is one of the city's must-visit attractions
"If you're a tourist, walk the canals first. Then visit Anne Frank's House and the Rijksmuseum. Seeing Van Gogh's work in real life is still incredible – I was there yesterday actually, because my bar, Shakerato, is almost next door so you can combine the two when you visit."
Which neighbourhood best represents the Amsterdam you love?
"Probably Jordaan or De Pijp. They're fun, creative, slightly hipster neighbourhoods with local markets and lots of energy. That feels more like the real Amsterdam than the city centre."
Where Eric van Beek eats and drinks
Kamer spotlights seasonal ingredients and low-intervention wines
Where do you go for a great meal?
"If I want something more refined, I go to Restaurant Showw. It has a Michelin star but it's not stiff or overly formal. The tasting menu with wine pairing is always excellent.
Restaurant Showw is one of the city's best fine dining spots
For something more relaxed, I love Kamer. I usually let the team curate the experience because the menu changes constantly."
Best late-night food in the city?
Grab a döner kebab after a day of sightseeing and bar hopping
"A döner kebab. I like it spicy, with extra hot sauce, pickled chillies and salad. No garlic sauce."
What's the most underrated Dutch drink people should try?
"Jenever is hugely underrated, but don't order jonge (young) jenever, because it can be bland. Order korenwijn (grain wine) instead. It's richer, aged and more complex like whisky, and tastes similar to mulled wine.
The place to drink it is Wynand Fockink, this incredibly historic tasting room that dates back to 1679. It's one of the best places in Amsterdam to taste korenwijn and jenever."
Best coffee in Amsterdam?
"For me it's Bocca coffee. If I'm not dieting, I'll order a flat white with real cow's milk. Otherwise it's usually a drip coffee or a double espresso."
Drinking in Amsterdam: then and now
"At 17, I actually didn't drink at all. I was obsessed with basketball and dreamed of becoming a professional player, so I was constantly training.
By my late twenties, I was spending time at places like Pulitzer's Bar at the Pulitzer Hotel, which was already doing very creative cocktails. Later in the night, I'd usually end up at Flying Dutchmen or Wallace Whisky Bar, which sadly no longer exists."
Pulitzer's is a go-to for classic cocktails
"Late night was usually whisky and beer – but at Pulitzer's, I'd probably order a gin or tequila-based cocktail.
"I also love the old brown cafés – there is one called The Doctor (Café de Dokter, Amsterdam's smallest bar secreted just off the Kalverstraat shopping street) that I go to a lot."
Inside Shakerato, Eric van Beek's new Amsterdam bar
"We've just celebrated the bar's four-month anniversary.
Shakerato opened its doors in early 2026
"I always wanted to open something in my own country. It felt important to give something back to the city that raised me, and it's also good to diversify as a bar owner.
"It's going well, but honestly, until we're consistently breaking even, I'll probably still be stressed about it."
What was the vision for the drinks menu?
"I wanted to establish a style that takes inspiration from Handshake Speakeasy, with some Mexican influence, but still feels distinctly European and aperitivo-driven.
Drinks at Shakerato are deceptively simple in appearance
"We do mini cocktails like we do at Handshake – nobody really does that in the Netherlands, and it's a great way to introduce people to drinks they might be nervous to order.
"There's lots of Campari, lots of negronis and martinis. It goes back to European drinking culture more than Mexican drinking culture for sure."
What should people order?
"The House Shakerato – it's a shaken bitter Italian aperitif with yuzu sake.
"I also love the Tomato Is a Fruit: tequila, strawberry, St-Germain, coconut and tomato. It's very light, fresh and easy to drink."
Where should people head for a drink after Shakerato?
"If you want something elegant, go to Advocatuur for a martini in an elevated setting.
Super Lyan is the creative, neon-hued bar of Ryan 'Mr Lyan' Chetiyawardana
"For something historic, I'd recommend Blue Parade (De Blauw Parade). It's the oldest bar in Amsterdam and supposedly the first building in the city to have electricity. The ceiling is original Delft Blauw tile and protected because it's so valuable.
"For more experimental cocktails, Taxman is great. It's set inside the old tax building where coffee, tea and sugar were once taxed, and the menu references that history.
"And then there's Super Lyan. It's been around for eight years now and the manager, John Papastylianos, is one of my best friends – he's awesome and doing amazing things."
If Amsterdam disappeared tomorrow, what would you miss first?
"My family. They all still live there – and they're definitely not moving to Mexico anytime soon, so I'll always have to come back."
The inaugural edition of Europe's 50 Best Bars will be revealed in Amsterdam on Tuesday 30 June 2026.
