Hill Street Blues, Amsterdam, Netherlands - pub details
Address: Warmoesstraat 52A, Amsterdam, 1012 JG NETHERLANDS
> Current user rating: 6.2/10 (rated by 5 users)
user reviews of Hill Street Blues, Amsterdam
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
| Waaaaah. Wub-wub-wub. Waaah! Excuse me crying like a baby, but sadly Hill Street Blues as I knew and loved it is no more. An absolutely crushing blow to me as it was in my top 5 favourite watering holes on Earth. Oh sure, the building is still there, and it's still called Hill Street Blues but thereafter all similarities to the real thing that for the thick end of ten years I considered my home away from home when in Amsterdam is gone. You know the lived in decor with the customer graffitti covered walls? Gone. You know the wicked atmosphere? Gone. Worst of all, remember the alcohol? Gone as well!! Now it's just another nondescript "coffee shop" in a city already overloaded with such establishments. There has long been a second Hill Street Blues in the city that has always resembled what this revamp has turned this once great bar into and it seems that nowadays in Amsterdam the bar/coffee shop owners are being forced (presumably by local government) to choose between offering beer or cannabis but not both, so more and more places are specialising in one or the other. Given that the other HSB already existed and that it already catered to the coffee house corwd, surely to goodness it would have made more sense to get rid of the smoking in this HSB and left it as the drinking den half of the chain, complete with charming in grubby features? Still what do I know? I know that one of the best bars in the world is now effectively dead to me...that's what I know!!!! Mr.Monkfish - 21 Oct 2008 16:33 |
| P.S and as monkfish points out it is one of the most laid back and chilling out pubs in amsterdam with great location and brill staff and it's not the pretentious rip-off places like those on the damrak, i.e grasshopper. No1Britguy - 11 Nov 2006 15:52 |
| I have been to Hill street blues many times over the years and it's the cheapest you'll find for city centre with a pint setting you back 2.90e in jan 2005, I will be back there next week and will post another review with prices. No1Britguy - 11 Nov 2006 15:49 |
| Yes I can still remember this coffee shop... just... Rather dark and pretty small, so is prone to overcrowding, and I only drank the nasty Heineken they seem to sell in every bar in Amsterdam... Not the best place to drink, but definately not the worst! drunkmarv - 22 Mar 2006 15:41 |
| Best place for a good time in Amsterdam. Sure it's also a "coffee shop" but it doesn't neglect drinkers like myself like some other places and has nice draft and bottled beers as well as Magner's Cider on draft. The atmosphere is welcoming and laid back and it has become a home away from home for myself and many of my friends. The music is varied but always good. Good on evenings at the weekend when it is packed and lively, but perhaps at it's best on a quiet morning or afternoon if you sit downstairs right at the back overlooking the canal and Damrak. Cheap as chips as well and the staff is friendly. The charmingly ramshackle decoration consists of hundreds of messages scrawled on the wall by previous visitors as well as various beer mats,etc. stuck on once there was no wallspace left to write on. Absolutely lovely, don't get caught in the usual tourist traps (The Grasshopper-this means you!)and head straight for this wonderful watering hole. Just writing this has made me all misty eyed and nostalgic, so I'm off to book a flight to Amsterdam immediately as I am really missing this bar. Mr.Monkfish - 3 Feb 2005 14:20 |
