Bar Botanique, Amsterdam’s Leafy Tropical Hangout

Decked out in colorful retro furnishings and vibrant greenery, this stylish Amsterdam bar & café wouldn’t look out of place in the tropics.

Formerly known as De Ponteneur, this popular corner café in Amsterdam East has a fresh new look and feel, courtesy of Dutch design practice Studio Modijefsky. The space has been completely reimagined and transformed into a lush urban sanctuary, aptly named Bar Botanique Café Tropique.

Taking full advantage of the building’s original soaring ceilings and double high windows, the architects managed to create a beautiful garden-like interior bursting with plant life and natural light. They used railings and balustrades to divide the double-height establishment into various areas and then brought a sense of the outdoors into the decor with organic shapes and a botanical-inspired color palette.

A green concrete path runs throughout, connecting the bar’s different areas, and mirrors hang from above, reflecting the bright, vibrant surroundings. The botanical theme continues to the bar itself, which is a long, marble-topped affair covered in patterned hexagonal tiles that resemble palm leaves.

Colorful and relaxed, the lounge area at the entrance suggests an Art Deco feel, with its warm oak floors and stylish mid-century modern furniture in velvet upholstery.

Salmon pink walls and warm wooden tables & chairs define the lower-level dining area, while in the mezzanine upstairs, soft tawny leather banquettes and pink marble tables stand against bold green painted walls. Everywhere else, vivid palm trees, philodendron, and ferns create a luxuriant jungle effect that’s fun, fresh, and exhilarating.

Bar Botanique is perfect for drinks with friends and people watching, but it also serves tasty breakfasts and lunches as well as delicious French-Mediterranean cuisine for dinner.

Photography: Maarten Willemstein