Hill Street Blues

Set on Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam’s Old Centre, Hill Street Blues sits between Centraal Station and the Oude Kerk, right on the edge of De Wallen. From the back windows you look onto a lively canal, and step outside into one of the city’s busiest historic quarters packed with cafés, bars and sightseeing. It’s a central, easy stop whether you’re arriving from the station or exploring the Red Light District.

Hill Street Blues is an iconic, long-running venue that began life as a coffeeshop and evolved into a café‑bar with a distinctly underground, artsy edge. Inside, the story is told on its walls: layers of graffiti, stickers and signatures left by generations of visitors give the place a raw, creative feel. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming during the week and livelier on weekends when DJs spin hip‑hop, reggae, drum & bass and more.

Today, Hill Street Blues no longer sells cannabis, so think of it as a social hangout rather than a buying stop. That clarity makes it easy for first‑timers and mixed groups: come for a drink, sit by the canal-facing windows and soak up the scene without the pressure of a dispensary counter. Regulars, locals and tourists all filter through, and the staff keep the tone friendly and unpretentious.

Cannabis Menu

There isn’t one - Hill Street Blues has stopped selling flower and hash. Many visitors pair a visit here with a separate stop at a nearby coffeeshop for purchases, then come to Hill Street Blues for its distinctive setting, music and drinks. If your goal is to buy cannabis on the spot, choose another venue; if you want a central place to relax, this is a dependable option.

A Great Stop in De Wallen

Location is the real draw. Warmoesstraat runs along the western edge of De Wallen, minutes from the Oude Kerk, Dam Square and the historic canals. It’s ideal for a mid‑walk break: take in the canal view at the back, then continue to nearby museums, side‑street boutiques or the bustle of Nieuwmarkt just around the corner. The area is lively day and night, so Hill Street Blues works as a daytime pause or an atmospheric pre‑ or post‑dinner pit stop.

You can easily combine a visit with a self‑guided Old Centre loop: start at Centraal Station, wander down Warmoesstraat past bars and shops, detour to the Oude Kerk, then drop into Hill Street Blues before heading on to Dam Square or the canals that web the district. The convenience is hard to beat for travelers on a tight schedule.

Why Visit Hill Street Blues?

Come for the attitude and setting: a creative, graffiti‑lined institution with canal views, famous milkshakes, fresh juices and a weekend soundtrack, all in the heart of the Old Centre. Even without cannabis sales, it retains the easygoing spirit many people associate with Amsterdam hangouts.

Hill Street Blues suits travelers who value atmosphere and location over a long weed menu. If you’re building an itinerary around De Wallen and want a casual, central spot to sit with a drink and absorb the neighborhood’s energy, this place remains a classic choice.