Amsterdam’s FLINTA / Lesbian Bars: Where Queer Women* Gather
- Sanne Pols
- Oct 1
- 5 min read
Amsterdam may be known for its glittering gay street and iconic men’s clubs, but lesbian and queer-women-friendly bars are just as vital to the city’s nightlife. They are places to flirt, dance, talk, and simply exist without compromise. From historic cafés to newer spaces shaped by inclusivity, here’s your guide to the best lesbian+ bars in the city.
Here are the names of Amsterdam lesbian (coded) bars:
Saarein
Step into Saarein and you’re walking into history. Opened in 1978 by a collective of ten women, it quickly became a cornerstone of lesbian nightlife in Amsterdam. The bar’s name combines “Saar” and “Rein,” but locals affectionately know it as one of the last true brown cafés of the Jordaan. Today the crowd is more mixed, but it still holds onto its lesbian soul. Its pool table, dark wooden interiors, and down-to-earth vibe make it a spot for endless conversation as much as for drinks.
Neighborhood: Jordaan, on Elandsstraat.
Vibe & Crowd: Relaxed, intimate, cozy. A strong lesbian presence alongside a mixed queer crowd.
Opening Times & Parties: Wednesday to Sunday, with longer nights on weekends. Sundays close earlier. Occasional events but mainly a social café vibe.
Trans-Friendliness: Welcoming, loving, and inclusive, with a community-first spirit.
Why Go: To experience one of Amsterdam’s oldest lesbian bars, where history and community mix seamlessly.
Bar Buka
Bar Buka is the new kid on the block compared to Saarein, but it has quickly become a hub for Amsterdam’s queer women.
Opened in 2019 in De Pijp, its name comes from the Indonesian (Bahasa) word for “open,” and that’s exactly the atmosphere you’ll find: open, friendly, and playful. Cocktails, small bites, and board games set the tone early in the evening, while karaoke nights, game nights, speed dating, and themed events keep things lively as the night goes on.
Neighborhood: De Pijp, on Albert Cuypstraat.
Vibe & Crowd: Vibrant, youthful, welcoming. A mix of queer women, non-binary people, and allies.
Opening Times & Parties: Open most evenings, with weekends running late until around 2:30 a.m. Events range from pub quizzes to DJ nights.
Trans-Friendliness: Actively inclusive, with a clear “good vibes only” policy.
Why Go: For a modern, playful take on a lesbian bar. Part social hangout, part party space.
Bar Bario
More than just a bar, Bar Bario is a queer creative hub. Founded to center BIPOC and marginalized queer communities, it offers cocktails alongside spoken word nights, panel discussions, and art showcases. The space is warm, inclusive, and politically conscious, making it a rare and precious place for queer women of color in Amsterdam.
Neighborhood: Oud-West, on Bilderdijkstraat.
Vibe & Crowd: Creative, intersectional, community-driven.
Opening Times & Parties: Opening hours depend on the event calendar, best to check ahead.
Trans-Friendliness: Deeply inclusive and activist-minded.
Why Go: To connect with queer culture beyond nightlife, in a space where diversity is celebrated.
Pamela
Pamela brings queer nightlife into the nineties with a feminist, sex-positive twist. Known for its playful aesthetic and vegan-friendly menu, this Oud-West bar attracts a young, stylish crowd ready for cocktails, laughter, and a little bit of chaos. DJs often spin until late, and the atmosphere shifts from food bar to dance floor as the evening progresses.
Neighborhood: Oud-West, Jacob van Lennepstraat.
Vibe & Crowd: Sexy, retro-inspired, full of energy.
Opening Times & Parties: Evenings until late, with DJ nights and themed parties on weekends.
Trans-Friendliness: Open and welcoming, with a focus on inclusivity and self-expression.
Why Go: For a queer women’s night out that mixes food, drinks, and dancing with unapologetic flair.
B’Femme
Tucked next to Blend XL on Reguliersdwarsstraat, B’Femme is one of the few lesbian+ dance bars in Amsterdam. It’s all about the music here: shots with cheeky names, pulsing beats, and a crowd that dances until late. With direct access to Blend XL, you can move between the broader queer party scene and a women-centered dance floor in one night.
Neighborhood: Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amsterdam’s famous gay street.
Vibe & Crowd: Party-heavy, lesbian-focused, flirty.
Opening Times & Parties: Open late, especially on weekends. DJs spin pop and R&B.
Trans-Friendliness: Inclusive of queer women, non-binary people, and allies.
Why Go: For nights when you want to dance among women and feel the energy of Amsterdam’s busiest queer street.
Bar Lellebel
Bar Lellebel is a gem near Rembrandtplein; a small bar with a big personality. Known for its drag shows, karaoke nights, and campy spirit, it’s a space that blends lesbian, trans, and drag communities under one roof. The crowd is international but the atmosphere feels like a living room party, with queens singing, locals cheering, and everyone welcome to join the fun.
Neighborhood: Utrechtsestraat, near Rembrandtplein.
Vibe & Crowd: Campy, intimate, theatrical.
Opening Times & Parties: Open evenings with regular drag and karaoke nights. Best later in the evening.
Trans-Friendliness: Hugely welcoming, with drag and trans communities at its heart.
Why Go: To experience a queer Amsterdam classic where drag, lesbian culture, and community overlap.
Lesbian bars in Europe
Pinning down an exact number is tricky, since queer spaces often overlap and the Hospitality world is in constant flux, but we can estimate that there are around 30 lesbian bars across Europe.
Compared to the number of gay bars, that’s a drop in the ocean. Why so few? Well, if gay bars are already struggling with gentrification (rising rents, higher cost of living, the blow of the Covid-19 pandemic), lesbian bars have been hit even harder. Add to that the reality of the gender pay gap (women still earn less on average, meaning less disposable income to spend on nights out) and you see why sustaining lesbian venues has been such a challenge.
But let’s not get too gloomy: in recent years, new lesbian and FLINTA spaces have been opening in different countries. These places are not only bars, but also statements of solidarity; proudly inclusive of trans women and non-binary folks, and creating fresh, open-minded communities.
Lesbian bars in Amsterdam and the trans* community
The trans hostility we’ve seen bubbling up within parts of the queer community (especially in the UK and US) is a poison to our collective strength.
United we stand, divided we fall. And division is exactly what those who oppose us are hoping for.
Some of my trans female friends have confided that they feel anxious about visiting lesbian spaces, unsure if they’ll be welcomed.
To me, that’s heartbreaking — and absurd — when we consider how much trans people already face: relentless harassment, deep marginalization, and the fact that they are one of the smallest subgroups in our community. And let’s not forget: our liberation was paved, quite literally, by trans women of color (hello, Marsha P. Johnson!) who unpaved the roads beneath their feet, hurling bricks and pavement to spark the riots that changed history.
All this to say: I really want you to know that lesbian bars in Amsterdam are firmly trans-inclusive.
(Open) bigotry isn’t tolerated, in fact, it could get you banned. These are spaces where lesbians, dykes, and the whole spectrum of queer women stand proudly with their trans siblings. So if you’re a trans person reading this, or a friend wondering whether they’ll feel safe, hear this: this is Amsterdam. Not perfect (nowhere is), but here the bars (and about 95% of the community, if I had to put a number on it) have your back.
Wrapping Up: Lesbian Nights in Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s lesbian+ bars may be fewer than its gay men’s clubs, but they’re rich in character. From the historic walls of Saarein to the playful cocktails of Bar Buka, from B’Femme’s sweaty dance floor to Bar Bario’s activist stage, each of these venues adds its own voice to the city’s queer nightlife. They remind us that lesbian spaces are not just about drinks. They’re about community, creativity, and claiming space in the heart of the city.
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