Welcome at Festina Lente, the home of the good life! Festina Lente takes its name from the Latin phrase meaning “make haste slowly,” the motto of Emperor Augustus. While it may sound contradictory, it’s not. Our guests live the bustling city life but also like to take a moment to enjoy the small and fine pleasures.

Our motto  is “all the good things,” and we are eager to showcase the best of it. We serve drinks ranging from local craft beers to exotic cocktails. In our kitchen, we prepare fresh dishes daily, from Amsterdam classics to worldly tapas. Delicious food, reasonably priced, good music, and cultural activities, such as the famous Poetry Slam. Experience it all at Festina Lente!

Take a seat on our terrace by the Amsterdam Looiersgracht! Enjoy a cozy table or sit next to our famous bronze guest, “The Regular Customer,” a sculpture by Albert Zweep. Albert drank on credit and paid his high bill with this artwork, inspired by the famous Dutch writer Simon Carmiggelt.

You’ll also be comfortable on the bench by “Tante Leen”, a mural designed by street art collective Kamp Seedorf. As a tribute to this true Amsterdam icon and the 750th anniversary of Mokum, Brouwerij de Eeuwige Jeugd and Kamp Seedorf designed this character and brewed a special beer. Tante Leen sang and served beers in her own pub. Now you can enjoy her presence at Festina Lente!

All day service at Festina Lente! What are you having? One of the Amsterdam specialties like the Broodje Mokum or smoked mackerel  made with ingredients from local suppliers. Or maybe a dish with a cosmopolitan touch, like Argentine street food Choripán, Indian Bombay Masala or Portuguese Caldo Verde soup… All homemade!

Be sure to check out our special Tapas menu. From 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM, you can enjoy a wide selection of snacks from around the world, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available as well.

Festina Lente brews a cup of coffee that will keep you coming back. A perfect espresso, velvety cappuccino, and a pretty impressive latte.

But that’s not all! We’re also famous for our wide variety of craft beers, both on tap and in bottles.
Or would you like us to mix one of our inventive cocktails for you?
Bring it on!

For groups of up to 4 people, please use the reservation form on Formitable.
For larger groups, please contact us via eetcafe@cafefestinalente.nl or by phone at +31 (0) 6816 31532.
We do not take reservations for the terrace

A party with family and friends?  Festina Lente is the place to be!
Our downstairs bar is ready for you, where we serve the most delicious drinks and snacks.
Please send your requests to eetcafe@cafefestinalente.nl or call us at +31 (0) 6816 31532.

Poets and literature lovers, take note! The Poetry Slam could be your breakthrough ! Festina Lente has been hosting Amsterdam’s most enjoyable poetry stage for over 25 years. Once a month, poets compete for both the jury and audience awards, followed by the grand finale at the end of the season.

The Poetry Slam has already produced an anthology of the most beautiful poems. Several talented poets who made their debut at Festina Lente have since gained recognition in the official literary circuit. Come and present your best work!

From September to May: every first Monday evening of the month at 7:30 PM. Third Saturday in June: Grande Finale.

Sign up: poezieslagamsterdam@gmail.com

Eatery Festina Lente is regularly bursting with coziness and healthy competition during the legendary pub quiz! Whether you’re a walking encyclopedia or just in the mood for a fun evening, everyone is welcome. Play as a team with your friends, enjoy a cold beer, and challenge your brain with a variety of questions.

The quiz night is always a blast, with not only the fight for glory but also cool prizes up for grabs! Don’t miss out and keep an eye on Festina Lente’s Instagram page for upcoming quiz dates.

Eetcafé Festina Lente is located on the Looiersgracht in the heart of the Jordaan.
The famous Nine Streets are just a stone’s throw away.

public transport
Tram 5,7 & 19, stop Elandsgracht, 5 minutes walk
Tram 4 & 14, stop Rokin, 12 minutes walk
Metro 52, stop Rokin – exit Spui, 12 minutes walk

parking
Parkige Q-park Europarking, Marnixstraat 250, 7 minutes walk