Amsterdam’s Queer & Lesbian Nightlife – Where to Go, Who to Meet

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most LGBTQ+ friendly capitals. But within that broad scene, there are special corners, bars and events that cater to queer women, non–binary folks and lesbians — safe, warm, community–orientated spots. Here’s a curated guide with addresses, websites and what makes each venue shine.

How to use this guide

Each venue below includes a direct link (opens in new tab), a short description of its character, and its address. At the end you’ll find meet–ups/events and tips for building your queer women’s night out in Amsterdam. Always check the venue website (times, theme nights, entry rules) before heading in.

Featured Bars & Clubs – Full Venue Cards

1. Bar Buka – “The Living-Room of Queer Women”

Official site | Google Maps

Vibe: 80 % women & NB crowd, board-game tables, disco in the back after 23:00.
Hours: Tue-Thu 17:00-01:00, Fri 17:00-03:00, Sat 15:00-03:00, Sun 15:00-01:00, Mon CLOSED.
Cover: Free Tue-Thu, Fri-Sat €5 after 00:00 (card only).
Card/Cash: Pin preferred; no AMEX.
Smoking: Small heated patio (legal). Indoor = no smoking/vapes.
Accessibility: Step-free entrance, gender-neutral toilet on ground floor.
Age: 18+; no ID = no entry.

Albert Cuypstraat 124, 1072 CV Amsterdam

Insider tip

Arrive 19:00-21:00 for a free “kopstoot” (genever & beer) if you tell the bartender “I’m new in town and queer”. Really, they’ll wink and pour.

2. Café Saarein – Heritage Lesbian Brown Café (Est. 1978)

Official site | Google Maps

Vibe: No-frills Jordaan local; mixed age 30-70; pool table; lesbian memorabilia on walls.
Hours: Mon-Thu 16:00-01:00, Fri 15:00-02:00, Sat 14:00-02:00, Sun 14:00-01:00.
Cover: Always free.
Card/Cash: Cash until 22:00, then PIN only.
Smoking: Outdoor pavement benches only.
Accessibility: 2 shallow steps at door; toilet on ground floor but narrow doorway (not wheel-chair perfect).

Elandsstraat 119-HS, 1016 TB Amsterdam

History snippet

Saarein started as a women-only squat bar in 1978; the name is an anagram of “Arsiene”, the cat in the Dutch comic “Suske & Wiske” – a secret wink to lesbians at the time.

3. Café ’t Mandje – World’s First Openly Gay Bar (1927)

Official site | Google Maps

Vibe: Museum-like interior; motorbike on the ceiling; mixed crowd; lesbian regulars on Sunday afternoon.
Hours: Daily 16:00-01:00 (kitchen till 22:00).
Cover: Free.
Card/Cash: Both accepted.
Accessibility: 3 steep stairs – not suitable for mobility scooters.

Zeedijk 63, 1012 AS Amsterdam

4. De Lellebel – Alt-Drag & Karaoke Dungeon

Official site | Google Maps

Vibe: 50 % trans/NB, 30 % women, 20 % allies; punk-drag shows; karaoke Wed & Sun.
Hours: Wed 21:00-03:00, Fri-Sat 22:00-04:00, Thu/Sun occasional – check IG.
Cover: Wed free, Fri-Sat €7 (card only).
Smoking: Indoor smoking allowed (legal small-room exemption).
Accessibility: 1 step, narrow toilet – not great.

Utrechtsestraat 4, 1017 VT Amsterdam

5. Club NYX – 3-Storey Queer Temple

Official site | Google Maps

Vibe: 40 % women/NB on Fri; pop & techno; dark-room on top floor; toilets become dance podiums after 03:00.
Hours: Thu 23:00-05:00, Fri-Sat 23:00-08:00 (yes, 8 a.m.).
Cover: Thu €8, Fri €15, Sat €18 (card only).
Age: 18+ (ID scanned).
Accessibility: Lift to all floors; gender-neutral toilets on 1st floor; strobe warnings.

Reguliersdwarsstraat 42-44, 1017 BM Amsterdam

6. PRIK – Cocktail & Bubble-Bar

Official site | Google Maps

Vibe: Early-evening warm-up; 60 % queer women before midnight; giant prosecco bubbles projected on wall.
Hours: Sun-Thu 15:00-01:00, Fri-Sat 15:00-03:00.
Cover: Free.
Happy Hour: 17:00-19:00 €5 cocktails.
Accessibility: Step-free, gender-neutral toilet, low music volume until 22:00 (handy for autistic visitors).

Spuistraat 109, 1012 SV Amsterdam

Queer-Women & Non-Binary ONLY / Majority Events

Event	When	Venue	Cover	Extra
BFemme	1st Saturday	Blend XL (West)	€12	22:00-04:00; 90 % women/NB; R’n’B & house
Galaxy	2nd Friday	Club Church (Kerkstraat)	€15	Fetish-friendly but women+NB only until 02:00
Venus Rising	Quarterly (check IG)	Parallel (West)	€18	Live indie bands + DJ, 80 % sapphic crowd
Milky Way Festival	1st weekend October	Various	Weekend pass €45	3-day queer women art & club take-over

All tickets via Paylogic or door (card only).

Pre- or Post-Game Food (Queer-friendly & Late)

Foodhallen (Bellamyplein 51) – indoor street-food court open till 23:00 Sun-Wed, 01:00 Thu-Sat; queer staff, vegan options.
Meatless District (Bilderdijkstraat 65) – 100 % plant-based kitchen till 22:00; 5-min cycle from Bar Buka.
Kebab-queer @ Kebabi (Lange Niezel 8) – drag-queen owned döner until 04:00 Fri-Sat, 02:00 rest; rainbow sauce is vegan garlic.
Thuis bij Saar (Tweede van der Helststraat 3) – lesbian-owned tiny pancake house; open 10:00-02:00 Fri-Sat, perfect after NYX.

Safe & Fun – Practical Stuff

Night Transport

GVB night buses (marked with “N”) run every 30 min 00:30-05:00. Buy €4.50 night ticket in GVB app or tap bank card.
Queer-friendly taxi apps: TCA (yellow cabs), Bolt, Uber. Add “Rainbow Code” in Uber notes – drivers see you’re LGBTQ+ ally.

Useful Dutch Ice-Breakers

English	Dutch	Pronounce
Cheers!	Proost!	prohst
Are you queer?	Ben je queer?	ben yuh kweer
What time does the party start?	Hoe laat begint het feest?	who laat buh-HINT het fayst

24h Pharmacy & Health

Pharmacy “Benz” Leidsestraat 74 (24h) – PEP, morning-after pill, earplugs.
Test-Aankoop drug-check – free anonymous MDMA/pill check Wed 18:00-20:00 @ Jellinek (Weesperzijde 120).

Queer Women & NB Sports / Culture Clubs

HotScots Football – women & NB training every Sunday 14:00 @ Vondelpark (free first time).
Queer Climbing Amsterdam – Tue 19:30 @ Kunstberg Bouldering (€12 incl shoes).
Amsterdam Lesbian Book Club – monthly, English language, location rotates (DM @ALBC_Amsterdam).
Pink Choir Amsterdam – welcomes all voices; rehearsals Thu 19:30 @ Oostkerk (first visit free).

52-Hour Model Itinerary (Fri-Sun)

Friday

17:00 – Happy-hour cocktails @ PRIK (€5)
19:00 – Vegan burgers @ Meatless District
21:00 – Drag karaoke warm-up @ De Lellebel
00:30 – Night bus N85 to Club NYX, dance till 05:00
06:00 – Pancakes @ Thuis bij Saar

Saturday

14:00 – Cure hangover @ Foodhallen (vegan dim-sum)
16:00 – Queer history shot @ Café ’t Mandje
18:00 – Chill board-games @ Bar Buka
21:00 – BFemme party (if 1st Sat) or Galaxy (if 2nd Fri)

Sunday

12:00 – Queer climbing try-out
14:00 – Saarein for Sunday “dyke date” pool tournament
17:00 – Ferry to NDSM for sunset, back to centre 19:00
20:00 – Early flight? Take train @ 20:31 from Centraal (runs 24h on weekends)

FAQ – First-Timer Questions

Do I need to speak Dutch?: No, everyone speaks English. A simple “Proost” earns you smiles.
Is there a dress code?: NYX & Galaxy: fetish encouraged but not required. Elsewhere: jeans & sneakers fine.
Can I pay cash?: Most venues are card-only; keep €20 cash for street food or emergency cigarettes.
Are the spaces trans-inclusive?: All venues listed explicitly welcomed trans & NB guests. Toilet policies are flagged per venue.
Solo safety?: Amsterdam is safe; still share live location with a friend. Night buses are well-lit and monitored.

Amsterdam Queer & Lesbian Nightlife Guide: 🌈 Bars, Clubs & Meet-ups (2025)

How to use this guide

Featured Bars & Clubs – Full Venue Cards

1. Bar Buka – “The Living-Room of Queer Women”

Insider tip

2. Café Saarein – Heritage Lesbian Brown Café (Est. 1978)

History snippet

3. Café ’t Mandje – World’s First Openly Gay Bar (1927)

4. De Lellebel – Alt-Drag & Karaoke Dungeon

5. Club NYX – 3-Storey Queer Temple

6. PRIK – Cocktail & Bubble-Bar

Queer-Women & Non-Binary ONLY / Majority Events

Pre- or Post-Game Food (Queer-friendly & Late)

Safe & Fun – Practical Stuff

Night Transport

Useful Dutch Ice-Breakers

24h Pharmacy & Health

Queer Women & NB Sports / Culture Clubs

52-Hour Model Itinerary (Fri-Sun)

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

FAQ – First-Timer Questions