Coffeeshops are not allowed to serve alcohol or other drugs (and risk closure if they are found to be selling soft drugs to minors), hard drugs or selling alcohol. In Vienna, this is a bit of a rarity, and the traditional cafés especially aren’t keen on laptop workers. You can relax with a coffee – or a beer – on the terrace overlooking the Karmeliterkirche during summer — while the film-themed interior offers a cosy respite from the cold in winter. Describing itself as a ‘culture café’, Kulturcafé Tachles is in one of what is now one of Vienna’s coolest districts. Newcomer Kaffätscherl in the trendy Neubau district seeks to bring back a bit of Viennese charm to the city’s Third Wave coffee scene. But as well as these (there’s a new generation of coffee aficionados), who are leading the modernisation of Vienna’s coffee culture through the ‘Third Wave’.
Sharing even a single joint may technically qualify as an illegal transaction — underscoring Amsterdam’s distinct legal perspective on cannabis. While Barcelona’s private cafés demand membership applications before entry — Amsterdam’s coffeeshops welcome anyone to walk in and legally purchase cannabis without prior registration. Coffeeshop owners’ legal representatives have pledged to challenge the court’s ruling — while demonstrations persist outside the courts. In 2008, the Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG) convened a *wiettop*—a summit blending “weed” and cannabis terminology—where 33 Dutch mayors, spanning large and small municipalities, alongside various political factions, gathered to discuss cannabis policy. Beyond the Netherlands — Thailand also features numerous cannabis cafés and bars catering to visitors.
Cannabis Sales and Legality
He pointed out that coffeeshops are already not allowed to sell to customers aged under 18, so the policy would not have much effect. The city council in Maastricht allows tourists to visit coffeeshops, but all except one have made a voluntary agreement to allow only local residents, which are defined as people living within a 150km , 100 mile, radius (local people from Belgium and Germany are still allowed). Municipalities do have some form of control, for example coffeeshops in the city of Amsterdam still sell to foreigners without any discrimination or extra demands/limitations. Most municipalities have designated a certain zone , e.g. around schools, where coffeeshops are not allowed, which may be from a hundred metres (yards) to several kilometres (miles). A majority of mayors and users have extended the wish to allow some form of regulated, legal, cultivation for sale to the coffeeshops as this would lower the crime/violence rate, solve the backdoor issue and can generate some income. Dutch coffeeshops often fly green-yellow-red Ethiopian flags (other symbols of the Rastafari movement), or depiction of palm leaves to indicate that they sell cannabis, as a consequence of the official ban on direct advertising.
Kleines Café
Unlike traditional (rustic coffeehouses), Gota’s sleek, contemporary design draws a trendy, youthful clientele with its minimalist aesthetic. Since Gota lacks an official website, here’s a direct Google Maps link to its location instead. This late-night venue, featured in *Before Sunrise*, has long been a magnet for creative individuals, offering modest meals, excellent coffee, and a selection of wines and draft beers. Though Kleines Café—meaning “small café”—is compact inside, its outdoor seating on Franziskanerplatz becomes a bustling hub during warmer months. Also among Vienna’s most upscale cafés (Kleines Café enforces a dress code), requiring patrons to deposit outerwear at the cloakroom upon arrival. Nestled within the historic Hotel Sacher (this café is the quintessential spot to taste Vienna’s legendary Sachertorte), a must-try dessert.
Public Smoking in Vienna
22% were in favour of reducing the number of coffeeshops and 10% want to close them all. In a survey among mayors by NRC Handelsblad at the time of the wiettop , with a 60% response, 80% of the mayors were in favour of ‘regulating the backdoor’ (i.e. making it legal). This telegram weed london aesthetic attracts many public artists who may be paid to create murals in the coffeeshops and use the Rastafari and reggae related imagery. Most coffeeshops advertise, and the constraint is more moderating than outright prohibitive. Gota Coffee Experts hit the headlines in early 2025 when it was named best coffee shop in Europe (and third best in the world) – no mean feat in a city renowned for its ‘Kaffeehaus’ culture.
☕ Vienna’s best traditional coffeehouses
If “No” is selected, then only the offers, which can be found in the public area and are accessible to persons without boarding passes (e.g. visitors, meeters and greeters, etc.), will be displayed. Passengers , with valid boarding passes, have access to all offers – even to those offers which can be found in the security area. Click on a coffee shop for more information such as opening hours, reviews or contact details. The best-rated coffee shops in the Netherlands are listed below.
The foreign tourist ban was initially enforced in three southern provinces on May 1, with plans to expand it nationwide by year’s end in 2012. Some municipalities impose strict bans entirely, while most—often governed by conservative Protestant parties or bordering Belgium/Germany—restrict access to curb “drug tourism” from neighboring regions. Despite ongoing resistance, mayors continue pressuring the minister to at least authorize an investigative pilot program. At the *wiettop*, all participating mayors unanimously supported regulating the “backdoor” supply chain for cannabis. Gerd Leers, former Minister for Immigration and Asylum, had previously advocated for stricter cannabis criminalization while in parliament, aligning with his party’s (CDA) stance—currently the Netherlands’ leading opponent of its current drugs policy. City councils can choose whether to implement this ban or not.
For establishments dedicated to coffee consumption, refer to the category *coffeehouse*. Café Comet’s entire coffee menu features freshly roasted beans sourced from Fürth, ensuring each cup is expertly brewed on-site. This unconventional café intentionally bridges generational gaps, fostering an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Vollpension—literally “full pension”—is a charming café where family heirloom recipes, baked by elderly chefs in the kitchen, inspire its entire pastry selection. Given its ethically sourced, in-house-roasted coffee, the 15th district’s location is absolutely worth the visit.
While personal (medical), and scientific cannabis use is decriminalized, it remains legally ambiguous rather than fully legalized. Wikimedia Commons hosts multimedia content related to Dutch cannabis cafés for public reference. The Original Cannabis Café — the first of its kind in the U.S., officially opened its doors on October 1, 2019. Vancouver’s longest-standing and most successful cannabis café is New Amsterdam Café, a local landmark. Although smoking pure cannabis or bongs remains permitted inside, tobacco cigarettes and mixed joints are restricted to a designated smoking area.
In 2008, the Dutch government mandated that coffeeshops could no longer operate within 350 meters of any school. In the Netherlands (coffeeshops serve as tolerated cannabis retail outlets), where local authorities permit the sale of small quantities for personal consumption. Below is a curated list of cities hosting the densest concentrations of coffeeshops. Starting in 2023 — state-regulated cannabis will be available for purchase exclusively at designated coffeeshops. Explore each coffeeshop’s operational hours (photographs), reviews, and additional details through this directory. The most reliable online resource for locating every Dutch coffeeshop is our interactive map—ideal for quick, accurate navigation.