For anybody looking for a warm, friendly and relaxed place to spend a lazy afternoon, The Dolphin is worth the effort. Downstairs under-water décor seating area with comfortable couches and free wi-fi internet access says it all!

Situated just off Leidseplein and close to many of the happening areas, The Dolphin is easily accessible by feet or tramway car.

The Dolphin is somewhat tacky designed in an oceanic theme. Dolphins are airbrushed on the walls and hanging from the roof and the bar is lit up by goldfish lamps. Seating upstairs is provided by half a dozen cafe tables, and as many comfy bar chairs; fairly typical coffee-shop style. Downstairs offer a comfortable seating area with wall-side benches and large, cozy couches. The room is painted from floor to ceiling as a part of the ocean from under water perspective.

Music is varying, but always relaxed and never too loud. Small TV-sets show sports or other entertainment. Wireless internet access on both floors makes The Dolphin one of the few coffee-shops in town prepared for the laptop-equipped visitor.

The bar offers a good selection of high-class weed and hash. House specialty Dolphin X is well worth a try, and space cakes and muffins are fresh and tastefully baked. Water bongs and vaporizers can be rented. License does not allow alcoholic beverages to be sold.

Score a seat in the bar and have a chat with the friendly bar staff. Make sure to check if their planned cannabis canal-boat tour has moved to action yet! On your way back home, drop down to Spain and get car hire Alicante Airport to visit some of the world’s famous tourist spots.

Open every day from 16.00 till 0.00. Fridays and Saturdays till 2.00.
Web site: www.thedolphinscafe.com

The menu is available at the desk opposite the bar. The most song-about Mother’s Finest, seems to be their top selection. Would you be further curious, the guy behind the desk will certainly also give you a few good tips. Except for the baguettes, some home made cookies and donuts are available – as well as the space cakes that should really work…

A television is down there straight on ground floor, and is on especially during the sports time. Upstairs is the Internet and a yellow bright lounge. For computer use you would need €1 or €2 coins.

Open daily 9:00 am – 20:00 pm.

Pink Floyd
Haarlemmerstraat 44
1013 ES Amsterdam
Web: www.pinkfloyd.nl

Atmosphere
The original Abraxas was decorated very differently to today, with graffiti-covered tables and a rougher feel. Today, the hand-crafted mosaics found decorating the walls and floors combine with warm colours and a rambling layout to give a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Large, low couches mean that even large groups can relax around one table, centered on the huge ceramic ashtrays that form the centerpieces. Music is kept at a decent level and generally steers clear of chart hits or the pounding techno found in some Amsterdam coffeeshops, although there is often a more relaxed electronic beat. If you’re planning to chill out for a while Abraxas offers internet access and board games to keep you entertained, while some outside seating allows those with a penchant for tobacco to have a smoke too.

Offering
A new feature in Abraxas is its redesigned weed bar; with a backlit menu on the front there is no more need to wait for the person ahead of you to make their decision before you get a look at what’s on offer. The menu gives a handy description of each type of weed or hash and its effects, although the staff will generally be happy to elaborate further if you ask. Herbal smoking mixtures are provided free of charge to replace tobacco so that you can smoke joints inside and stay within the law. Close to the weed bar is a single, carved slab of wood that serves as a beverage bar. From here you can order coffees, hot chocolates, juice etc. as well as space cakes and other treats.

Souvenirs
For those who want to take a little bit of the Amsterdam coffeeshop scene home with them, Abraxas has its own giftshop just a few doors away from the main coffeeshop. Here you can buy hemp clothing, bags and Abraxas t-shirts as well as grinders, pipes, bongs, stash boxes, seeds and other smoking accessories.

Location
Abraxas has two locations in Amsterdam, the original shop and the newer, smaller addition, Abraxas Too. To find the original coffeeshop simply start at Dam Square and walk behind the Royal Palace, taking a left on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. Easily visible should be an oval neon sign proclaiming the name Abraxas at the mouth of an alley. Abraxas Too is not far away, just northwest of the Nieuwe Kerk on Spuistraat. If you are going to Italy, use car hire Florence Airport to visit some of the top tourist spot here.

Address:
Jonge Roelenstg 12 -14
1012 PL Amsterdam

Spuistraat 51
1012 PL Amsterdam

Contacts:
Tel: +31 20 6255763
Homepage: www.abraxasparadise.nl