Sweat, Glitter & Beats: Amsterdam’s Gay Bars for Dancing and Partying
- Sanne Pols
- Oct 1
- 6 min read
Amsterdam’s queer nightlife has always been more than just music and drinks; it’s been a stage for rebellion, liberation, and joy. Behind every dance floor is a story: a story of how a space came to be, who built it, and why it matters.
Here’s your guide to the city’s gay bars made for dancing and partying — the places where music pulses until sunrise and where queer history is written in sweat and glitter.
Table of Contents:
Taboo
When you walk down Reguliersdwarsstraat on a Saturday night, Taboo is usually the first place you’ll hear. Its big open windows spill out pop remixes into the street, and you’ll see a mix of drag queens, locals of all age groups, tourists, and friends / lovers pouring onto the terrace between songs.
Taboo wasn’t always this polished. When it opened, the idea was to break the “taboo” of Amsterdam’s divided nightlife: one bar for leather men, another for queer women, another for drag. Here, everything mixes. The result is a party that feels like a family reunion — loud, a little chaotic, but irresistible.
Neighborhood: Reguliersdwarsstraat, the city’s most famous gay street.
Vibe & Crowd: Pop-heavy, international, buzzing. The perfect mix of locals and visitors.
Opening Times & Parties: Daily until 3–4 a.m. Weekends feature DJs and pop parties.
Trans-Friendliness: Warm and welcoming. Taboo prides itself on being a space for everyone.
Why Go: To feel the pulse of Amsterdam’s busiest queer street and start your night with a bang.
Bar Blend (XL)
Bar Blend feels like Amsterdam’s answer to a Miami lounge: sleek interiors, big cocktails, and a crowd that’s dressed to impress. Step next door to Blend XL and the vibe shifts into full-on club mode! Think big dance floor, packed weekends, and DJs who love to keep the energy high with house, R&B, and Afro beats. Together, they’re the heartbeat of Amstel’s queer nightlife.
These spots are especially popular with Amsterdam’s Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities, but everyone’s welcome. Expect sharp looks, strong drinks, and plenty of flirting. The crowd spills out onto the street on warm nights, making the whole stretch feel like one big block party.
Note to my queer women* out there: B’femme is an adjacent lesbian dancing bar, which can be reached either from the street or from Blend XL. The music is popping, the drinks are pouring, and the crowd is dancing! Try out their unique shots with explicit names and delicious flavors.
Neighborhood: Reguliersdwarsstraat
Vibe & Crowd: Stylish, diverse, international — heavy on Afro-Caribbean and R&B energy.
Opening Times & Parties: Open late; Blend XL brings peak dancefloor energy from around 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. on weekends.
Trans-Friendliness: Very inclusive! You’ll find a welcoming, community-focused atmosphere.
Why Go: For nights when you want cocktails first, beats later, and a crowd that knows how to move.
SoHo
On the corner of Reguliersdwarsstraat, SoHo looks like just another busy bar. But step inside and it’s a different world: two levels, flashing lights, bartenders balancing trays of rainbow shots, and a soundtrack that refuses to let you sit still.
SoHo’s secret is its terrace. It has long been the unofficial living room of the gay street. You’ll see drag performers fresh from gigs dropping by for a drink, (queer) bachelorettes ordering rounds of prosecco, and couples sneaking outside for air between dance sets. Inside, it’s pure chaos in the best way: Latino pop, Britney, Beyoncé, iconic hits, and a crowd singing every word.
Neighborhood: Reguliersdwarsstraat (corner location, impossible to miss).
Vibe & Crowd: Euro-pop party crowd — high-energy, diverse, playful.
Opening Times & Parties: Open late afternoon, peak party from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
Trans-Friendliness: Welcoming, though the atmosphere is more mainstream than the underground scene.
Why Go: For nights where you don’t care who you bump into. You’re here to dance, sing, and laugh until closing.
Eagle Amsterdam
Amsterdam has always had a leather heartbeat, and Eagle is where you still hear it loudest. Born in the Red Light District, it has decades of history as a space for gay men to cruise, connect, and dance. But in recent years, Eagle has evolved into something more open, welcoming respectful newcomers while keeping its underground edge.
The first floor is all about the beats. Techno, house, and deep basslines that make conversation pointless. Head upstairs or downstairs, and you’ll find spaces that recall Amsterdam’s old-school cruising culture. It’s not a place for everyone, but for those who want nightlife that’s raw, it’s a must.
Neighborhood: Warmoesstraat, in the Red Light District.
Vibe & Crowd: Leather, cruising, and sweaty dance floors.
Opening Times & Parties: Late evenings until dawn. DJs focus on house and techno.
Trans-Friendliness: Historically men-focused, but increasingly open to all genders who respect the space.
Why Go: For a slice of Amsterdam’s leather culture — part party, part heritage.
Café Montmartre
Step through the door of Café Montmartre and you’re in another era. Affectionately labelled “the après-ski hut for gays”, Café Montmartre is tiny, decorated with mirrored walls, a disco ball barely larger than a grapefruit, and prides itself of a playlist stuck in the best possible time warp: ABBA, Donna Summer, and Whitney on repeat.
This is where Amsterdam’s queer nostalgia lives. Drag queens perch on the bar to sing along with the crowd, bartenders know the regulars by name, and the dance floor feels like someone’s living room party — only with more glitter. Café Montmartre has survived trends and gentrification by refusing to change. It’s small, it’s kitsch, and it’s utterly beloved.
Neighborhood: Binnenstad, near the flower market.
Vibe & Crowd: Retro, cozy, camp. A mix of longtime locals and curious visitors.
Opening Times & Parties: Open until 4 a.m. on weekend evenings and welcomes you from Wednesday to Sunday, with karaoke and disco nights throughout the week.
Trans-Friendliness: Hugely welcoming. Café Montmartre thrives on inclusivity.
Why Go: For a night of glittery time travel, where disco still reigns supreme.
Bears Amsterdam
A newbie in town! Bears Amsterdam opened in May 2025 in the former location of The Web, a legendary men-only cruising bar. For years the Amsterdam bear community had been so active with events and meetups that it was only a matter of time before a permanent space appeared. The result is a dedicated bar that combines the cozy, social side of queer nightlife with the cruising edge that the location is famous for.
Inside, the ground floor is a casual bar where all are welcome: bears, cubs, chubs, daddies, admirers, friends, and allies. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with plenty of opportunities to meet new people over a beer. Upstairs, the tone changes. The cruising area is strictly for men (both cis and trans), featuring darkrooms, slings, and cabins that continue the fetish heritage of the space.
Women and non-binary people are welcome at the bar itself but not in the play zones. A warm relationship exists between the bear and lesbian communities in Amsterdam — women are often affectionately called “Ursulas,” from the Latin word ursa meaning she-bear, reflecting a sense of mutual support and closeness.
Bears Amsterdam also hosts themed nights, from BLUF leather socials to casual Sunday gatherings. It’s more than a bar: it’s the long-awaited home for Amsterdam’s bear community, balancing cruising culture with a neighborhood-bar feel.
Neighborhood: Sint Jacobsstraat, just around the corner from the Red Light District.
Vibe & Crowd: Bear-focused, friendly, sexual, fetish-positive. A mix of locals and international visitors.
Opening Times & Parties: Monday–Wednesday until midnight, Thursday until 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m., Sunday until 1 a.m. Occasional themed parties and bear socials.
Trans-Friendliness: The bar space is open and inclusive, while the cruising area is men-only (cisgender and trans men). Clear rules emphasize consent and respect.
Why Go: To connect with Amsterdam’s bear community, enjoy casual drinks, or step into a cruising space that feels both new and rooted in tradition.
Honorable Mentions
Melkweg & Paradiso queer nights: Not bars, but legendary venues worth catching during queer takeovers.
Wrapping Up: Queer Amsterdam After Dark
Amsterdam’s gay party bars aren’t just places to drink and dance — they’re living stories. Each has a role: Taboo and SoHo keep the gay street alive with glitter and pop; Montmartre reminds us that disco never died; Eagle holds space for leather and history and dares us to be free in every sense.
Together, they form a constellation of queer joy. And when you dance in them, you’re not just moving to music — you’re moving inside Amsterdam’s ongoing story of liberation. If you're looking for more chill gay vibes, I've written a blog article about chill and cosy gay bars of Amsterdam (I told you, Amsterdam queer possibilities are endless!). If you wanna take further into the night, here's an article about the gay clubs in Amsterdam to dance until sunrise.
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