Local Pub Wins My Heart, Best Beer Bar Award

March 19, 2009  |  Good  |  , , , , , , , , ,

draft_coverDraft magazine described Amsterdam Bar as:

Not your average yuppie-filled pub, the Amsterdam is a low-key, TV-free zone where you can concentrate on the drinking menu full of beers (try the Live Oak Hefe Weizen brewed in Austin). Kick it inside the airy, high ceilinged bar, or out on the patio during that nice Texas weather–just watch out for beer-juggling bartenders.

Amsterdam Bar, located at 831 Exposition Avenue, is your neighborhood Cheers, where even Sheldon, one of the best bartenders in town knows your name. The atmosphere is always friendly and the girls are hipster-ishly cute. With very little pretentiousness if any at all, this place has been my Austin away from Austin for a couple months now. It lies in the struggling but regrowing area of Fair Park next to Victory Sport Taekwondo, and Rob’s Chop Shop and offers an array of draft choices served with a hat-trick and  smile. Prices are very competitive, which makes it very difficult to try any of the other nearby establishments.

Bonus: Monday nights include free jazz from a handful of musicians. According to the Amsterdam blog, the lineup is based on the members of The Shelley Carrol quartet, but the lineup changes weekly as individuals take a night off and friends and guests sit in for a set or even for the entire evening.
jazz_amsterdambar1

Got the case of the Mondays? Come out and chill with the cool cats at Amsterdam. And if you’re feeling a little hesitant about the heavy drinking, try the ACE Pear Cider, described by one patron as “liquid candy”.


6 Comments


  1. best bar in town, hands down.

  2. Went there with my co-worker L.Lemon. The jazz and good beer made for a delightful ending to such a shitty day. Thanks Amsterdam.

  3. I was here with a couple of friends last weekend. The tables were small and the seats were uncomfortable. Too many creepy weirdos hanging around. I definitely would NOT come back.

  4. Live across the street. Used to go there a lot till I got engaged. I miss that place…

  5. Man, I love that place. I’m not into the whole bar/pub scene at all, but Amsterdam was pretty rad — and that pear cider was definitely delicious. The back patio was the place to be.

  6. Re: Chelsea

    B, get your prissy butt back from whence it came. I can only assume it’s daddy’s lap.

Leave a Reply