Glou Glou

This “bar à vins naturelles”, modelled on Parisian establishments such as Aux Des Amis or Café de la Nouvelle Mairie, kickstarted a natural wine revolution in Amsterdam when it opened in April 2015 – before then, there was absolutely nothing like it. The cosy shabby-chic interior has been packed almost constantly since opening, and the generous back-street terrace also gets mobbed in the summer months.

There are, of course, no airs and graces here – basic glassware, a crumpled paper wine list and service that can sometimes struggle to keep up with the hoards that pour in. That said, it’s wonderfully atmospheric, authentically bohemian and just loads of fun.

An easygoing lunch menu is served until 15:00, but during evenings the kitchen just offers plates of cheese,​ charcuterie and occasional warm snacks such as snails.

​There’s always a generous selection available by the glass – around 20 choices spread across bubbles, white, orange, rosé and red. Staff will bring bottles to the table and let you taste first. The list is French focused, but with honourable mentions for the rest of Europe – especially Italy, Spain and Austria. There are plenty of natural wine classics such as Axel Prüfer’s Temps de Cerise, Radikon or Le Coste.

If you want to go hardcore and drink only no-added-sulphite wines, it’s easily possible here. But there are also plenty of options that won’t scare your parents or those yet to “go natural”.

There’s a small shop at the back of the bar, where bottles can be purchased at a €15 discount on the bar prices – and this gives you an idea of the very fair markups at this establishment.