Last verified: April 2026

The Jordaan: Where Locals Smoke

The Jordaan is a former working-class neighborhood west of the canal ring that has transformed into one of Amsterdam’s most desirable residential areas. The streets are narrow, the canals are postcard-perfect, and the atmosphere is a world away from the Red Light District’s neon. Independent boutiques, art galleries, and brown cafés (traditional Dutch pubs) line every block.

The coffeeshops here match the neighborhood: quiet, personal, and character-driven. There are only a handful, but each one has a distinct personality. Prices are generally €2–3 cheaper per gram than equivalent quality in Centrum. The clientele is a mix of locals and visitors who have been to Amsterdam before and know where to go.

The Jordaan is a 10-minute walk west from Dam Square. Tram lines 13, 17, and 19 all pass through or border the neighborhood.

Paradox

Paradox at Eerste Bloemdwarsstraat 2R is the Jordaan’s most celebrated coffeeshop, and its reputation rests on two things: a health-conscious approach that is unusual in the coffeeshop world, and what many locals consider the best space cakes in Amsterdam.

The drink menu is dominated by fresh juices, smoothies, and herbal teas rather than the coffee-and-milkshake standard. The food menu leans organic and wholesome. The interior is bright, clean, and feels more like a juice bar than a smoke-filled lounge — partly because most customers here use vaporizers or step outside.

The Space Cakes

Paradox’s space cakes are the reason many visitors make the walk to the Jordaan. Priced at €5–7, they are widely regarded as the most consistently potent edibles available at any Amsterdam coffeeshop. The staff will tell you this directly: start with half. Many tourists who ignore this advice have learned the hard way that “extremely potent” in Amsterdam means something different than it does elsewhere.

• Address: Eerste Bloemdwarsstraat 2R
• Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
• Known for: Best space cakes in Amsterdam, fresh juices, smoothies, health-conscious menu
• Price range: Mid-range (€8–14/gram flower, €5–7 space cakes)
• Best for: Edible seekers, health-conscious consumers, a calm daytime experience

La Tertulia

La Tertulia at Prinsengracht 312 is one of the most distinctive coffeeshops in Amsterdam — not for its cannabis, but for its character. Run by a mother-and-daughter team since 1983, the interior feels like walking into someone’s living room. The space is filled with houseplants, crystals, fossils, and curios collected over four decades. A Van Gogh wall mural covers one side of the main room.

The location on Prinsengracht — one of Amsterdam’s grand canal streets — means there is a small canal-side terrace where you can sit and watch boats pass. The cannabis menu is modest compared to Centrum’s mega-shops, but the quality is solid and the prices are fair. This is a place you visit as much for the atmosphere and the story as for what you smoke.

• Address: Prinsengracht 312
• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed Mondays)
• Known for: Mother-daughter ownership since 1983, houseplants and fossils, Van Gogh mural, canal terrace
• Price range: Mid-range (€8–14/gram)
• Best for: Atmosphere, canal views, a glimpse of old Amsterdam coffeeshop culture

Siberië

Siberië at Brouwersgracht 11 sits on what many consider the most beautiful canal in Amsterdam. Brouwersgracht (“Brewers’ Canal”) is quieter and more picturesque than the tourist-heavy Prinsengracht or Herengracht, and Siberië’s corner location offers views down the water in both directions.

Operating since 1984, Siberië has built a reputation around two things beyond cannabis: rotating art exhibitions on its walls, featuring local Amsterdam artists, and occasional live music events. The interior changes regularly, giving repeat visitors something new to see. The cannabis menu is curated rather than exhaustive — expect 8–12 strains of flower and a smaller hash selection, all at fair Jordaan prices.

• Address: Brouwersgracht 11
• Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
• Known for: Most beautiful canal location, rotating art, live music, since 1984
• Price range: Mid-range (€8–14/gram)
• Best for: Canal views, art lovers, a relaxed afternoon smoke

Why Choose the Jordaan?

The Jordaan coffeeshops share a common character that sets them apart from Centrum:

• Peace and quiet — no queues, no crowds (except sunny terrace afternoons), no stag parties
• Lower prices — expect to save €2–3 per gram compared to Centrum for equivalent quality
• Personal atmosphere — these are small, owner-operated shops where the staff know the regulars
• Neighborhood charm — the walk to and from your coffeeshop is half the experience in the Jordaan
• Earlier closing — most Jordaan shops close between 7 PM and 11 PM, earlier than Centrum’s 1 AM standard

The Jordaan is ideal for visitors who have done the Centrum circuit and want something quieter, or for first-timers who find the Red Light District overwhelming. Pair a Jordaan coffeeshop visit with lunch at one of the neighborhood’s many cafés and a walk along Brouwersgracht for one of the most pleasant afternoons in Amsterdam.

Getting to the Jordaan

The Jordaan is walkable from Amsterdam Centraal Station (10–15 minutes) and from Dam Square (10 minutes west). Tram lines 13, 17, and 19 stop at Westermarkt, at the Jordaan’s eastern edge. The Anne Frank House (Prinsengracht 263) is at the neighborhood’s southern entrance, making it easy to combine a museum visit with a coffeeshop stop at nearby La Tertulia or Siberië.