Maastricht Nightlife Tips by johngayton Top 5 Page for this destination

Take One: As Idiosyncratic As They Come

As soon as I walked into this little bar, which I discovered purely by chance during my wanders, I knew this was a John pub. Not only was it a John pub but is now firmly entrenched as one of my top 3 bars anywhere, joining such illustrious company as the Ruggle at Widecombe and the Cardinal's Hat (when it was in its heyday) in Worcester.

Take One is a narrow, elongated, one-room place with maybe a dozen well-worn barstools and about half that number of tables. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in presence. This is a beer lovers Mecca with 152 bottles and 6 drafts, almost all from smaller Belgian and Dutch brewers, and the owners Peet and Merrie are intimately familiar with each and every one - the beers AND the brewers. In fact on their days off (Tuesday and Wednesday when the bar is shut) they scoot around Belgium and the Netherlands in their Take One van collecting supplies from far-flung breweries for whom it would be uneconomic to deliver.

The beers are all served in their individual glasses and at their optimum temperatures and instead of "tasting notes" you get individual guidance as to what to expect from the beers. Both Peet and Merrie are more than happy to suggest a succession of beers according to your own taste, or even mood, although Peet calls me a "Beetch" because I usually finished my night with a sweet nightcap such as the Rochfort 10 instead of continuing with the flavour profiles I'd been following.

Not only is the beer superb but this is also a very friendly locals bar and on each of my three evenings found myself in diverse bar conversation and got useful pointers about Maastricht history and directions for my Vaalserberg trip.

The freebie peanuts are bonus - just throw the shells on the floor - and it even has ashtrays.

"The pub doesn't open and doesn't shut", according to Peet, but the official hours are 4 pm to 2 am Thursday through to Monday.

Cracking place!

Address: Rechtstraat 28

Directions: On a side street on the eastern side of the city, to the right from Wycker Brugstraat as you head towards St Servaas bridge.

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.takeonebiercafe.nl

De Poshoorn: Another One For Us Beer Lovers!

With its 13 taps and 41 bottled beers its no wonder that De Poshoorn (The Posthorn) is one of only 41 members of the Dutch beer appreciation society ABT (there are two others in Maastricht including Take One).

This is a stylish bar, part of its eponymous hotel, but with a very laid-back and casual atmosphere. In summer the terrace facing the performance space in the central divide of Stationstraat is a perfect sun-trap whilst enjoying events such as the local brass band concerts In winter the intimate bar area, with its dark-wooded furniture and beamed ceiling, illuminated by the backlit stained-glass city fresco is positively cosy.

Service is very Maastricht; friendly and professional, and as well the beer selection it also serves reasonably-priced and excellent beer nibbles (as well as a more extensive menu).

In addition to being a member of the ABT it also regularly appears in the top half of the 100 best cafes in the Netherlands which, when you consider the number of cafes there are, is a well-deserved achievement.

Address: Stationstraat 47

Directions: About halfway between the railway station and the old bridge.

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.poshoorn.nl/#/welkomtap

Sway Cafe: Another Idiosyncratic Late Bar

On its homepage Sway introduces itself as "an openminded cafe in a historic building on the market square". For "openminded" read "gay" but it's not exclusively so. For a late drink the bar is open from 5 pm until 2 am Sundays and weekdays and until 3 am on Friday and Saturday - closed on Mondays.

This is a lively, friendly little bar with music and dancing, beers are cheapish and if you are relaxed about this style of venue makes for an interesting night out.

My last visit was on December 5th, Sinterklaas Eve, and barmen were dressed as Sinterklaas's helpers, the "Black Peters" which added a touch of seasonal festivity and by all accounts it is especially colourful during the Carnival in February.

Dress Code: No dress code as such but a touch of flamboyance doesn't render you out-of-place ;-)

Address: Markt 39

Directions: Just off the market square, where the town hall is.

Theme: Adult Spot

Website: http://www.swaycafe.nl/