One of Amsterdam’s most visually striking coffeeshops, De Dampkring is worth stepping into even if you have no intention of smoking. The interior is an explosion of colour — mosaic tiles, sculpted walls, and ornate lanterns that give the place an Ali Baba-meets-Gaudi atmosphere. The name means "atmosphere" but also loosely translates as "smokers’ circle."
De Dampkring gained wider fame after appearing in the 2004 film Ocean’s Twelve, and it won the Cannabis Cup in 1997. The location on Handboogstraat, just off the Spui, is central and easy to find. Staff are friendly and happy to explain the menu to first-timers.