Sometimes a closed door is actually a good sign. At Bar Oldenhof, you ring the bell, you get a personal welcome, and only then are you allowed inside. That's not a gimmick. It fits exactly what this bar is: small-scale, conscious and with a distinct character of its own. On the Elandsgracht in the Jordaan sits one of the few places in the city where you drink cocktails in a space that feels like an American pub from the 1920s. Stylish, dark and just a bit different from the average cocktail bar.
The menu is the first thing you notice when you sit down. Bar Oldenhof works with a movie-themed cocktail menu that is completely renewed each season by the house bartenders. Not a static menu that stays the same year after year, but a living entity that moves with what the bartenders want to create. The Oldenhof Specials are the house's own signatures: cocktails made with the latest techniques and the best spirits they can get their hands on. Those who prefer to order something classic can count on an Old Fashioned that is well balanced. An Old Fashioned that is truly right says more about a bar than many a complicated drink.
The space was deliberately kept small. No big room, no noisy crowd. The decor has the feel of a classic brown pub, but one that has been thoroughly redesigned by mixologists. Another thing that stands out: the whiskey list and the beer list are both extensive. That's unusual for a bar at this level, where the menu usually stops at cocktails. Not so here. Those who don't want a cocktail don't have to settle for that.
An Old Fashioned that really rings true says more about a bar than many a complicated drink.
Reservations only make sense here for a limited group: only parties of more than eight can secure a spot at Bar Oldenhof in advance. Are you with fewer people? Then just walk in, or rather, ring the bell. The bar is open seven days a week, until one in the morning on weekdays and until two in the weekend. Bar Oldenhof is on international rankings of best cocktail bars, and you'll understand that once you've spent an evening there.