Skatecafe: Restaurant in Hamerkwartier, Amsterdam

★★★★★ 4.5

Skatecafe, in full Skatecafe Karin & Yvonne, is a restaurant, bar and concert venue in an old industrial hall on the Gedempt Hamerkanaal in Amsterdam-Noord, built around a concrete mini-ramp. People come to eat, to skate, to catch a band or to dance, and often all of that on one night. It was dreamed up by Colin Vlaar, once a welder and ramp builder at Nine Yards, who wanted skate culture in the middle of the hospitality rather than beside it. The ramp sits in the main hall with the tables, bar and DJ booth around it, so you may well have dinner while someone drops in behind you. There are two kitchens. Skatecafe Karin & Yvonne serves a seasonal menu of small dishes for sharing, with natural wines and vegetarian and vegan options. Next door, Spelletjescafé Dick & Dick has a changing pizza menu, a cupboard full of games and a small bruine kroeg for parties. In the evenings there are concerts and club nights, and club visitors must be 21 or over. Skatecafe opens from Thursday to Saturday at 15:00, closing at 01:00 on Thursday and 03:00 on Friday and Saturday. Dick & Dick opens at 17:00 on the same days. Both kitchens serve dinner from 18:00 to 22:00. Book online or on 020 210 0232, and groups of more than eight email reserveren@skatecafe.nl. The entrance takes cash only and the bars inside are cashless. Lockers take €2 coins, which you can get by card at the entrance or the bars. Dogs are welcome in the restaurant, not at club nights.