Café 't Smalle

Café 't Smalle is a brown café at Egelantiersgracht 12 in the Jordaan, Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, dating to 1786 when the building served as a jenever distillery. It is one of the city's most photogenic bruin cafés, with dark wood, small tiled tables, a tiny bar and a canal-side terrace that sits over the water. It pours Dutch jenever alongside beer and simple bar snacks rather than running a full kitchen. The signature orders are bitterballen with mustard, a Dutch cheese selection and small glasses of jenever, and snacks cost roughly €4 to €9 while beers cost about €3.50 to €5.50. The atmosphere is historic and cosy, with a sociable buzz that grows louder in the evening, and the terrace is a draw for canal-watching in warm weather. The café is open Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 01:00, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 02:00, and Sunday from 11:00 to 01:00. Reservations are not taken and it operates walk-in. The canal-side terrace seats are the ones to aim for, but they fill up fast on any sunny afternoon, so an early arrival helps. The phone number is +31 20 623 9617. The location on the quiet Egelantiersgracht puts it within walking distance of the Westerkerk, the Noordermarkt and the Anne Frank House, and it makes a natural break during a stroll through the Jordaan. Visitors interested in Dutch drinking culture will find it a good introduction to jenever.