Cineac is hands down the coolest lounge in Amsterdam. Go on a Wednesday and have a relaxed catch-up session with a friend over a glass of wine and reasonably priced oysters. Go on a Saturday before heading out to a nearby club (like Sinners) and sit in one of the crushed red velvet booths and people watch. If you're lucky, you may catch a performance from, well, the ceiling. Cineac is an old movie theatre turned brasserie/lounge. The ceiling is very high, like that of a 3-D theatre, and concave. In the center, there is a circle for performances. And on nights when you're not lucky enough to catch an energetic performance from this unique stage in the ceiling, there's a live singer walking around--engaging guests--but as much as they want. You won't get haggled at this trendy Dutch bar that attracts a wide array of people in their mid- to late twenties. At 24, I was on the younger side.
There's a pretty long cocktail list at this lounge that's all in red, with dimmed lights. But if I were you, I'd stick to more simple mix drinks, bottled beers, and wine. I paid 12 euros for an overly sweet mojito that didn't pack a good punch. In line with everything at Cineac, it came well presented, but it wasn't worth the money. At the lounge level, they have appetizers, like the oysters I mentioned earlier. Some of the best I have had in Amsterdam--certainly better than those at one of the Jordaan's hidden, but delicious restaurants--Gespot. Apart from the oysters (you receive five or six for 25 euros), a few other finger foods are available for your consumption. Upstairs on the second floor there is a brasserie. Reportedly good, I never had dinner at Cineac. With so many places to go in Amsterdam, I always chose to have dinner at another restaurant, go have a few drinks at Cineac, and then go dancing at a club.
If you're not into the dancing scene, you can make a night of Cineac. This chill out lounge lets out good vibes all night--until its 2am close, that is. There is dancing on some Friday and Saturday nights, but it doesn't dominate the scene--go up to the mid-level of the lounge (the main bar is downstairs in the dead center of the room and circular and the space in front is where some of the dancing happens) and you can admire the dancing from afar. Cineac is awesome--classy, trendy, and unique. Instead of shipping the Jimmy Woo's opium bar/lounge/club groove to NYC, Cineac owners should try to replicate this lounge in the States. It's hands down one of my favorite places to go in Amsterdam. It won't disappoint.