Café 't Mannetje: Pool and Billiards in the Jordaan, Amsterdam
116 reviews
Café 't Mannetje is a brown café on the corner of Tweede Marnixplantsoen and the Marnixstraat, on the edge of the Jordaan, with an old-fashioned billiard table and a long attachment to Jordaan song. Its own website called it a real brown café where sociability comes first, with regular live performances. Go for a beer among posters of Manke Nelis and Willy Alberti, and a game if the table is free.
Contact
- Phone +31 20 421 5993
- Address Tweede Marnixplantsoen 1, 1015 ZP
Good to know
- Billiard table
- Live performances
- Brown café interior
Billiards
The café's own site, last archived in 2019 to 2021, called itself Café Biljart 't Mannetje and mentioned an old-fashioned billiard table for the sporty guest. That is a traditional table rather than a pool hall, and we could not confirm any league, table charge or booking arrangement, so assume you simply ask at the bar. This is a pub first and a games venue second.
A museum of Jordaan song
A 2005 article reproduced on the café's site called it a museum of the Jordaan levenslied, with posters of Manke Nelis, Willy Alberti and Johnnie Meijer on the walls. One story concerns the pair of beer pumps showing Manke Nelis and his musicians, made after the 1987 hit Kleine Jodeljongen and used at Shorts of Londen on Rembrandtplein. When that bar closed the pumps went separate ways. One reached drummer Huub Eikenboom, who passed it to his regular café. The second turned up in a newspaper photo of another bar, and the two were reunited here and unveiled on 20 February 2005.
Who runs it
The café's site said the building had been a café for around 130 years, and named John Elfers as owner since 1995. That information dates from the last archived version of the site, so details may have changed. The same site mentioned regular performances, though no current programme is published.
Getting there
Tram stop Bloemgracht is about 50 metres away on the Marnixstraat, and Rozengracht and Hugo de Grootplein are both around 250 metres. The café has no working website now, and published opening hours conflict, so phone 020 421 5993 before making a special trip.
Common questions
- Is there a pool table at Café 't Mannetje?
- The café's own site describes an old-fashioned billiard table, not a pool hall setup. We could not confirm the exact table type today. Phone 020 421 5993 if it matters.
- What is special about Café 't Mannetje?
- It is known for its link with Jordaan song, with posters of Manke Nelis, Willy Alberti and Johnnie Meijer. Two beer pumps showing Manke Nelis and his band were reunited here in 2005 after years apart. The café has also hosted regular performances.
- Where exactly is Café 't Mannetje?
- It stands at Tweede Marnixplantsoen 1, on the edge of the Jordaan, where the plantsoen meets the Marnixstraat. Tram stop Bloemgracht is about 50 metres away. Rozengracht is a short walk south.
- What are the opening hours of Café 't Mannetje?
- We do not list them because published times conflict and the café's website no longer works. Phone 020 421 5993 before you make a special trip.
More pool and billiards nearby
- Café Marktzicht Westerpark
- Saarein The Jordaan
- Café Duzz Dat! Oud-West and De Baarsjes
- The Minds Nieuwe Zijde and the Dam
- Café de Vos Oud-West and De Baarsjes
- Cafe the Palace Nieuwe Zijde and the Dam
Ratings from MapAtlas.