Door 74 🍻 Amsterdam 🇳🇱
Could this be Amsterdam’s best kept secret?
The lesson learned in my first trip to Amsterdam is that if I ever want to experience anything ultra-cool anywhere in the entire world, all I have to do is ask Hero Traveler’s own Sofia Mogliazzi.
Located on Reguliersdwarsstraat hidden among a bevy of rowdier drinking establishments, Door 74 is a Prohibition-themed bar that’s a must-visit for aficionados of innovative cocktails.
The Bar’s Exterior
First thing’s first; how to find it and get in. A true speakeasy, the bar’s entrance is an unmarked, nondescript black wood and glass double door located immediately to the left of the Shiva Indian restaurant. The entrance is *not* the ivy-covered black wooden door between numbers 76 and 74; it’s the glass doors to the right.
Look for the dark wood and glass double doors
To book your visit, text 31634045122 with your name, arrival time, and the number of guests in your party. You’ll receive a confirmation via call or text at some point later in the day. I didn’t make a reservation but was allowed entry – most likely because I was a party of 1 and arrived very early in the evening.
To enter, ring the doorbell and wait to be greeted. You will not be instantly ushered in; you’ll need to tell the doorman how many people are in your party and if you have a reservation on the books before being invited in. This sounds a bit intimidating, but I assure you that everyone on Door 74’s staff was incredibly friendly. I actually experienced this type of knock-and-greet at several bars in Amsterdam.
Door 74’s Interior
The first words that come to mind upon entering the bar are class and sophistication – but I mean this in the warmest, most inclusive way. The tasteful use of leather, mahogany, red velvet, and Art Deco accents give you the feeling that you’re walking the line between the darkly exotic Prohibition-era past and a cozy, familiar present. The soundtrack to your visit is a seamless mix of ragtime, swing, and early jazz music.
Where the magic happens...
The cocktail theme speaks to New York City in the Prohibition years, which I of course found incredibly endearing as a New Yorker myself. The ‘Nathan’s Famous’ is nothing less than a Coney Island hot dog in a glass. It blends authentically-Dutch genever with tomato juice, mustard syrup, BBQ bitters, and pickled sauerkraut shrub, topped off with an honest-to-God cocktail wiener. It’s not for everyone, but if you appreciate a bloody Mary as much as I do, you’re in for a treat.
If you’d like to sample something more booze-forward, try the State of Deception, which mixes genever, vermouth, akvavit, absinthe and cacao butter. The end result is a clear cocktail that’s quite strong. For something more refreshing, try the Big Apple. I know what you’re thinking, and, yes – I tried all 3.
The booze-forward State of Deception