Amsterdam's most glamorous club is based on the concept of 'Jimmy Woo', a fictional character concocted by owner Casper Reijnders: Woo is a Chinese Triad tycoon who enjoys throwing extravagant parties for his guests and this is what his home would look like... It has an impeccable oriental style throughout, resembling an 18th-century Chinese opium den. But the pièce de resistance is the downstairs dance area with its state-of-the-art soundsystem complemented by revolutionary lighting. No wonder it's popular with style icons and celebs such as George Clooney and Pharell Williams – or that it's notorious for its selective door policy. Across the street is sister cocktail bar, Suzy Wong and their restaurant Vuong.
KORSAKOFF | Lijnbaansgracht 161 | (020) 625 7854 | www.myspace.com/korsakoffamsterdam
This a fabulous, free-entry, two-floored alternative club in a canal house where DJs spin indie music mixed up with rock, metal and a twist of goth.
ODEON | Singel 460 | (020) 521 8555 | www.odeonamsterdam.nl
Dating from 1662, and originally a beer brewery, this was once the location of infamous gay club, DOK, which opened in 1952 and whose visitors included David Bowie, Elton John, Lou Reed and Jean Paul Gaultier – before becoming a popular students' club. After a major revamp in 2005, it reopened as a plush lounge-style nightclub with a restaurant, cocktail bar, brasserie and concert hall, spread over several floors. It's yet to prove itself as quite the club hotspot it once was. However worth keeping an eye on, especially in 2009 as the legendary RoXY Hard nights have been resurrected here...
PACIFIC PARC | Polonceaukade 23 | (020) 488 7778 | www.pacificparc.nl
This café-restaurant on the grounds of the Westergasfabriek, turns into a serious nightspot on Friday and Saturday nights, regularly attracting a crowd of around 350. It sets itself apart from other nights by staying off the beaten (house) tracks and by being low-brow – not attempting to be hip or chic, but raw and gezellig instead. In fact, the nights are probably best described as a party at a friend's house that's got out of hand. It's also a great place to nurse a hangover the morning after.