When it comes to wine (as with many things in life), I believe there are two types of people: the Loyalists and the Explorers. Loyalists know what they like and stay true to their preferences. Explorers are curious beasts who are keen to try everything new and exciting.
I fall into the latter category, scrutinising a wine list in the hopes of discovering something I’ve never tasted before. But there are risks attached: if the most “interesting” wine is only available by the bottle, it’s a gamble – what if I don’t like it? Worse still, if I’m sharing that bottle with someone else and I order something they don’t like – well, it’s a risk I’m not always willing to take.
This is where by-the-glass wine lists come into their own: ordering a glass is a far lower-risk strategy for the consumer than ordering a bottle. And for those of us who love to explore, it’s an ideal way to do it. Fortunately in Amsterdam nowadays, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to wine bars. And more and more of them have a strong by-the-glass offering that allows customers to taste more widely, or simply to drink less but better. I’ve rounded up six wine bars to sate the thirst of the curious drinker!
Oocker
Just off the leafy Frederiksplein and handily close to the Utrechtsestraat shopping street, Oocker is one of my favourite bars in Amsterdam. It’s small and intimate; the somms know their stuff but are always approachable; and the chefs do a great job with the food as well.
I visited again recently to discover Oocker’s “Sommelier Selection”: a more esoteric collection of wines, all served by the glass using Coravin. (It’s a wine preservation system that replaces the air in the bottle with an inert gas, keeping the wine fresh for far longer.) I tasted at least six wines this way, and was impressed by the breadth covered in terms of styles. Joaquin’s Fiano di Avellino from Campania gave quince and tart apples – a far cry from the fleshy Fianos I’ve experienced before. La Rogerie’s Grand Cru Riesling from Alsace was like a viscous grapefruit, if that makes any sense at all. And the Seadragon Pinot Noir from South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde region was in huge contrast to the “Passetoutgrains” from Burgundy that was two-thirds Gamay and only one-third Pinot.
Couple that little lot with Hamachi crudo, shrimp beignets and steak tartare with bone marrow, and you’ve got a lot to explore.
Wijnbar Vindict
As a lazy Amsterdam Oost dweller, I rarely cross the water to Noord – but I make an exception for Vindict. They have both a shop and a wine bar within walking distance of the ferry drop-off point, and both are worth a visit. The bar serves over 50 wines by the glass, with Coravin allowing them to offer bottles you’d rarely see poured any other way. There’s a wide range of different styles and price points, from a floral Langhe Nebbiolo to buttery white Burgundy.
However, one of Vindict’s major selling points is its representation of the Netherlands: they serve and sell more Dutch wines than anywhere else in Amsterdam. Orange wine made in Brabant from hybrid Souvignier Gris grapes? Barrique-aged blanc de noir from Limburg? Pinot Noir from our most famous PDO, Mergelland? Yes to all of the above. If you’ve never tried Dutch wine before, this is your nudge to go try it.
Wijnbar Clos
Beukenplein is one of my favourite foodie squares in Amsterdam – home not only to Clos but also to cheese shop Erik’s Delicatessen, which tells you something about my neighbourhood’s priorities.
Clos’s wine list features dozens of options by the glass, with a particularly well-curated “Coravin selection” that lets you explore the kind of bottles that rarely make it onto a standard by-the-glass list. The staff are genuinely knowledgeable and helpful at steering you towards something you’re likely to love.
My recent highlight was Fitapreta’s “O Ancestral,” a white blend of Portuguese native grapes from Alentejo made by winemaker António Maçanita – a producer I’ve admired ever since I visited Fitapreta. I drank it as part of Clos’s “High Wine”: an afternoon wine-and-nibbles arrangement for those who’d rather reach for a glass than a teacup. Keep an eye on their website for other special events: Clos has form for celebrating King’s Day, Mother’s Day and even just Sundays with oysters!
Wijnbar Paskamer
Paskamer (Dutch for changing room, bizarrely) is on a quiet side street in De Pijp – making you feel like you’ve stumbled across a well-kept secret. Inside, you’ll be treated to a by-the-glass list of at least 30 wines, plus an inventive food menu that makes for some creative pairing opportunities.
Think smoky pulpo (octopus) with spicy mayo alongside a Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) from Pfalz, umami-rich soy-marinated salmon paired with an Alsace Pinot Blanc, or a classic cheese plate with a Catalunyan blend of Syrah, Carignan, Mazuelo and Grenache – tastes like Priorat but for a fraction of the price.
Wijnbar Paulus
Also in De Pijp but on the busy Ceintuurbaan, wine bar Paulus is a haven of calm on a hectic street. Inside, it’s a bit like being in your cool uncle’s living room – if your cool uncle had great taste in wine.
Paulus’s by-the-glass list leans adventurous: I loved their chestnut barrel-aged Catarratto from Sicily and their Hungarian red blend named after bull’s blood. Neither were wines I’d ever seen before or since. The food is a little simpler than other bars on this list, but no less delicious. Last time I was there, Paulus served a mean flammkuchen.
Bubbles & Wines
An oldie but a goodie: Bubbles & Wines was the first and only wine bar that existed in Amsterdam when I moved here 20 years ago – and it’s still going strong. Its handy location just off Dam square undoubtedly helps, attracting many tourists as well as locals. But you can’t fault their wine list either, with dozens of options by the glass.
Perhaps fittingly, Bubbles & Wines has the most classic collection of wines compared with the others on this list. Traditionalists will be pleased to see old-school Champagne, Petit Chablis and Ribera del Duero. The wine list is helpfully split into different styles of wine, with each section available as a tasting flight of half glasses – ideal for those who like to taste their way around a particular style.
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Of course, there are many more wine bars in Amsterdam, with this article covering just a few personal favourites! For more ideas, take a look at The Coravin Guide – featuring not only wine bars but also wine-led restaurants with outstanding by-the-glass offerings.
This feature is brought to you in partnership with Coravin, and is a paid collaboration. That said, I have visited – and loved! – every wine bar on this list personally, on my own dime, and I already owned the Coravin Pivot for use at home. Needless to say, it’s a brand I’m very happy to endorse.