House Bar, the sleek craft cocktail bar within the super-stylish Kimpton DeWitt luxury hotel epitomises all that?s buzzing in Amsterdam right now, writes Andrew Forbes.

The Netherlands has always punched well above its weight, thanks to the country?s open-mindedness, and international perspective; and more than ever before, Amsterdam is a global city, of trade, commerce and the arts ? supporting a vibrant hospitality scene.
House Bar @ The Kimpton DeWitt Hotel
Kimpton has recently brought it signature style of hospitality to Amsterdam with the opening of the DeWitt Hotel, a 274-room property that includes 17th century buildings.
It?s within one of these original, fine Dutch houses, dating to 1645, that one finds the House Bar ? a contemporary cocktail bar, with a sophisticated interior that harmonises the historic setting with the chic urban cues of a Manhattan style bar. spirited evening of creatively mixed drinks and satisfying gourmet bites
Cocktail expert and manager Thomas Datema was our host last month as we dropped in for a spirited evening of creatively mixed drinks and satisfying gourmet bites.

There are discreet tables in the warmly lit space, or you can opt to pull up a plush stool at the bar as we did and enjoy banter with the bartenders of the House Bar Amsterdam.

The bar is rich in subtle tones and textures from the myriad of bottles, bespoke glasses, copper beakers, and terracotta cups, as well as of course all manner of cocktail paraphernalia from gliste...