#71 | Advocatuur, Rosewood Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Last Visit: Winter 2025
Now we have the luxury of not only featuring coffee and food for Amsterdam on our site but also having explored the city independently from each other (that is me, John, with Robin having been on a great tour there prior). I recommend maybe reading a bit of those other articles to get an idea of the city and its bar culture. If you want to dive straight into one of the most exciting new European bar openings for 2025/26, be our guest.
The Rosewood Hotels have in recent years had a little bit of a conceptual renaissance when it comes to their bars. Munich has Bar Montez, which received a lot of attention, Paris' Les Ambassadeurs we visited in 2024 and Amsterdam now has Advovatuur. What is noticeable is that each of these bars follow a general conceptual guideline that is equally reflected in the design of Advocatuur. Refined, luxurious interior, what you would expect from a hotel bar at that level, but a degree of independence for the bar team to bring in some flavors, pun intended, of their own.
Copyright: Advocatuur
For Advocatuur it is a seasoned bar team that is picking up the tradition of Genever and Dutch distillation and then using those spirits made in-house for a variety of approachable cocktails. All of those concepts together can make it a little difficult to enjoy it as a whole at the very beginning. The name by the way comes from the building, which previously housed a judicial institution. Then you have a menu themed around 'punk' and 'rebellion', which is based on the PROVO Genever that they have revived and an atmosphere that is much more relaxed than one might expect at a 5-star hotel bar. The team does their best to explain and guide and they don't rush you at all to take a moment to understand what is on offer.
The music, typical 90s Rap, songs you would expect at your local 'bartender's bar', is quite loud. Funny, because they explain their intention quite clearly on the website, but in terms of music the experience was quite different. Staff is talking to guests across the room and while there are servers, they aren't the type that will hold the door open for you upon entering. None of that took away from the outstanding cocktails and the craft and how great of a time I had, I just wish that conceptually it was more consistent. Then again, how many bars do we know that have an 'amazing conceptual experience' but disappointing and lifeless drinks.
Kopstuk
| PROVO Genever
| Advocatuur Dry Vermouth
| Justitin House Beer
| Quail Egg
More of drink and food pairing than a cocktail, I wanted to start with their 'house products'. After all, that is what the entire distillery (see the pictures above) right next to the bar is for. A silky, more diluted, Vermouth heavy Martini in a small glass, their own beer, Justitia Lager, and a quail egg at the side. You can read about the history of this pairing, called Kopstoot, in the menu pages below. Both the Genever and the beer are made for modern tastes, so not necessarily as historical as it could be, but it is a fun start. Just don't expect this to convince lovers of either more neo-classic Martinis or beer. The three Genever perfect serves are also available as a flight, without the beer and egg.
Wild Romance
| Bowmore 12
| Evaporated Stroopwafel
| Salted Caramel Verjus
| Absinthe
A power Sazerac and one of the best I have ever had. Starts sweet and herbal with all the best of Absinthe, highlighting flavors instead of just alcohol. Underneath warms heathery, slightly smoky Scotch, making it feel like a Bowmore perfect serve, rather than a particularly 'Dutch' drink, but I certainly won't say no to that. Seeing those ingredients on a menu might have scared me away, expecting a maple syrup style Sazerac, but the saltiness and caramel are elegantly integrated, showcasing the luxury of building all your spirits and ingredients from the ground up.
Mercy
| Hendrick’s
| Kiwi
| Chinotto
| Fig Leaf Distillate
After the Genever pairing and the mixture of Sazerac & Old Fashioned I was letting the bar team choose for me and this one they were proud of. It is also a crowd favorite, and it isn't hard to see why. Trying this blind, I would have guessed early harvest asparagus, due to its green and sweet notes. Just the perfect balance of sour, bitter and fruity, where the acidity brings out everything. A 'category' of culinary drinks that was also impressive at De Vie in Paris (which the bartender agreed with, when I mentioned the comparison). The only thing I would have loved to see is maybe more of a local connection (or one to the theme of the menu or the location).
Despite a few puzzling choices within their complex concept, Advocatuur earns itself a top spot in my European favorites and is a must visit for Amsterdam. Nowhere else were there more precise, interesting flavors in widely different directions (one being Whisky focused, the other culinary). While the atmosphere wasn't what I expected, the staff did well in making you feel welcome and was always available to answer everything. If you are the kind of hotel guest that maybe wants a more quiet, elegant lobby bar experience, and enjoy the incredible rare whisky selection for example, I am sure they would accommodate you in some other space of the hotel to find a suitable spot. The restaurant itself is worth checking out, since they have an even better wine list and also cocktails at their own counter bar.
Cheers,
/jf
Excerpts from the menu during the visit (click for original size):
