Baba

Hashemite from USA sent 16 Jul 2013
One of the very first coffee shops I went into way back in 2003. I stop in there every time I am in Amsterdam. It has Hindu/India theme and this is it. Keeping it short, it is for kids. There is no vibe here. Staff is usually there like a vending machine, that is, no personality. The place, like an amusement park ride with all the lights and sounds but when you get on, the ride just goes around in circles. This place is not for serious tokers.

Marcel from Netherlands sent 9 Aug 2011
Stay away from here if you're local or a mature smoker. Obviously focussed on tourists and beginners like most shops around. But also to them; the menu is decent, selling lots of regular strains, but at insane prices. You can find better places nearby, with a lot more value for your money.

Brad from USA sent 7 Jan 2007
The staff are very friendly and helpful. I didn't try any of the bud but the space cake I got was expensive and didn't work at all.

Tyler H from USA sent 21 Jun 2006
This place is for rich people! You pay almost 6 euros for this special milk shake that fits in a glass that measures about one cup measured out which is not much for the money! Music sucks, people inside were annoying but the staff was very nice and tried to be helpful I'm not taking it out on them.

Enrico from Germany sent 26 May 2006
We buy 2 spacemuffins (with grass) and one spacecake (with hash) and eat them, and no turn. The spacecake wasn't fart-dry.

Dave an Shtu from UK sent 2 Mar 2006
Spent a good hour or so sat by the window ledge just people watching with a nice Silver Haze just after the C Cup 2005. Good location for most types of visitor as the station is close by as is the Red Light District (for those who venture) but all in all a good shop all round with a decent dealer and good furnishings, music was a touch too loud but we cant have it all can we. If you can get a seat by the window I recommend this to anyone who has an hour to kill and wants to do it properly. 10/10

Ross from USA visited Aug 23-30; sent 8 Oct 2005
One of the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam, with a fabulous gift shop. The techno music was intoxicating, the wonderful Asian motif made me feel relaxed and calm, and the weed selection was extremely impressive. The dealer/barista was super friendly and nice. In my opinion, Baba has the best ambiance and has the best looking interior, of all the coffeeshops in Amsterdam.

Rob from USA visited 1-10 Oct '04; sent 12 Oct 2004
Noisy place, but they have good Hash Brownies. Had coffee and a pre-rolled spliff on a couple of different occasions. Had a room for a couple of days at a bed and breakfast across the street, upstairs from a falafel shop, so Baba was right there, very convenient and open early, but I prefer Sheeba across the street.

Jackislost from USA sent 6 Oct 2004
Best fresh smoke I bought, and as an American and thus a purist (I don't mix tobacco and marijuana) this matters a lot to me! Also - they have a great collection of short old school Graffix style waterpipes that they keep clean and nice by the front door. If you use one, please wash it out in the bathroom sink and put it back, be kind people! The staff was standoffish until I started coming more often and each time I bought something, a coffee an energy drink or a water. Something. Just make yourself a customer and that is a start! It is loud trancy and small. Be prepared to sit with strangers and expect they will not necessarily know your language or feel like using it. Not unfriendly at all, just multi-national in a global sense. If you talk to the staff politely and as if they are people, they respond very well. They are not there to take orders and this is a real touristy area. It doesn't matter what country you are in, a flow of people you will never see again can be a hell of a drag, so give them a smile and a nice word and you will get the same. Baba gets my highest recommend for anyone, don't be scared to chill there for a while. What the hell do you have to lose by trying?

Claire & Andrea from UK visited 15 Sept 04; sent 16 Sep 2004
The name says it all! Biggest pile of Baba we have ever stepped in. This place really is the pits. Techno music, mind numbing pile of crap, with very unfriendly staff. Nuff said!

Craig from UK sent 26 Aug 2004
Really nice little place this, air conditioned and quality décor. I didn't actually buy any weed here but dropped in on my way home for a beer. Found the place to have a nice vibe despite the fact I expected it to be a lot more commercial considering the location.

Troy from USA sent 13 Aug 2004
We dropped by several times and enjoyed the open window feel and low key atmosphere, nice even though this place is very small but you're in Amsterdam and that is how things are. Cozy and nice to grab a tea and smoke before you go for a walk as they say.

Cezy from England sent 9 Aug 2004
I thought it rocked, the music was the main highlight for me. It was upbeat all the time and kept your mind alive however long you sat and smoked. The cat is scary though if you're not expecting it to move, so beware! And the massive elephant thing of the wall is pretty freaky too. Smoke in there is some of the best. Therefore size doesn't always matter.

Dave from USA visited 18-19/06/04; sent 20 Jun 2004
What a great little place, the smoke and coffee (some of the best around) was awesome. The music was great, but watch out for the cat. He or she likes to lay on the Elephant by the window and if you are at that table use caution. It acts all friendly when you first pet it but will lash out with claws when it has had enough. Best music in town.

Will and mates from UK visited 4-7 Feb 04; sent 15 Feb 2004
Uplifting music and very friendly staff, who where happy to answer any questions. Very large selection of smokes. One of my favourites.

Jen from USA sent 10 Feb 2004
I think it was the best I had been in all night. The staff was extremely pleasant and nice, they offered to take pictures for my husband and I and even gave us a souvenir sticker to take home. The coffeeshop was an excellent place to come hang out and relax. The music was loud but not so loud you couldn't hear, definitely good taste in music though. The menu was fantastic and the dealer was very nice and even let us take a look at a few different ones. I give this coffeeshop a five star rating in my book as well as my husband. We went into a lot of coffeeshops and none were any where close to this one. They are clean, their tables are clean and they have great coffee and the best hot chocolate ever. They also have a very nice souvenir shop to buy all kinds of stuff and the prices are very good, cheap!! So by far the best coffee shop in Amsterdam, even went back next day twice before we had to catch bus back to airport.

Dave from UK sent 29 Jan 2004
Found Baba to be a great coffee shop. First time I went to the dam had a ready rolled mild spliff. Had 5 tuggs and lost it, had to go for a walk. Wish I could got one of the comfy seats at the top of the stairs, might have stayed longer.

Natasha from UK sent 20 Jan 2004
Themed coffeeshop in Red Light District, very commercial but great place to hang out. Friendly staff and OK if you are travelling alone.

Rob from USA sent 24 Nov 2003
(1/10): By far the single worst coffeeshop I visited. They somehow manage to have the single unfriendliest dealer in the world who is also the dumbest dealer in the world. I ask for something a bit more fruity tasting and he says, direct quote, "There's the menu, make up your mind." At that point I cruised it and decided not to return.

Koikkalainen from USA sent 14 Nov 2003
You like Techno and you're 19 ...... go here. We turned immediately away after entering because of the very loud techno music. We probably could've dealt with the tunes but the loudness was just too much, this was middle of the day, just weren't on that mood. We needed a mellower place.

Greg BP from England sent 16 Jul 2003
Baba's location sits it on the corner at one of the red light districts main entrance. On entering the shop seems spacious and well presented, the pleasant ambience is that of an Asian temple mixed with conservative gothic overtones. Baba's plays some fantastic trance.. the music was a highlight, definitely some of the best tunes in any coffee shops. The coffees, cola and their excellent hot chocolate (with squirty cream) were all reasonably priced..and every customer seemed to be trying one of their space muffins or brownies, which I must admit were the best ever.. very fresh..moist... quite tasty weed wise too.. Baba's weed menu was quite extensive especially their hashish menu. I tried 2g of red berry weed which seemed OK, a little dry but smoked nice, their Nepalese temple ball was excellent at 11 euros per/g, Staff were great , and the cat is friendly( he sits at the window on the elephant) , only one miff was that the door was kept wide open all the time.. it was soo cold, but if you can get a seat , stay and chill for a while .. you'll be back..

Cal from USA visited June 2003; sent 6 Jun 2003
This shop was right around the corner from the hotel we stayed at, and was on my list of places to try. I was not disappointed. I got the best price on weed there of any of the places we sampled. We tried both the "White Widow", and the "Red bud". The "White Widow" went down very smooth and had a nice "buzz" to it. I actually preferred the "Red bud" however. It got me feeling pretty "pasted" within the first few takes. The dealer was not the most cordial, but not a jerk either. He did make us some nice deals and weighed it out on a digital scale in front of me. I will definitely visit this shop next time I'm over. Check out their gift shop in the area also as it has some nice souvenirs to grab up. By the way our hotel was the Terminus and it was very nice.

Jamie from UK sent 9 Apr 2003
[7/10]: Baba was the first coffee shop I hit the last time I went to 'dam. I had never previously been to Baba's but it was along the Warmoesstraat where my hotel was so I thought I'd give it a try. Considering the size of Baba's, and how many people popped their heads around the door seemingly only half expecting there to be a empty table, I suppose me and my friends were lucky to get a seat. We had a table right beside the window which was nice at night to watch people wander by as your mind slowly melts away inside. The bar tender was very friendly and talkative, very willing to speak and give advice to me about Amsterdam and generally gave a good atmosphere to the place. The in house dealer however was somewhat different. A disinterested, grumpy looking man who only bothered to serve, let alone speak to me, when he had finished playing Doom on his computer was not remotely helpful in recommending me with anything which led to me making a small purchase so that I wouldn't spend too much longer there. I bought in the end 2 grams of Orange bud which gave me and my friends a lovely euphoric high that wasn't too intense but just right. Encouraged by the orange bud we gave the dealer another try who had by then become slightly friendlier and gave some genuinely good advice finally selling us 2 grams of a high intensity Indica-Sativa hybrid (can't remember the name given to it now) that rounded off the night nicely. There was also a friendly cat who kept us company while we were there that belonged to the management. Maybe it was because I was stoned but I remember the cat's presence leant a cozy, inviting mood to the shop. I'd recommend Baba's and considering it's location on one of the busiest streets in Amsterdam it's hard to miss but I wouldn't go out of your way to taste their bud. As much as I enjoyed it I have had much better elsewhere in Amsterdam. However, the atmosphere is unique and the music is tolerable trance. The huge elephant statue in one of the windows is also worth checking out. The decor is unique and truly artistic which is nice whilst in the state of an expanded mind. I can't imagine the atmosphere here during the day being terribly nice. To me it seemed a place to be appreciated in the evening. Good selection of free rizlas.

Nik from USA sent 26 Mar 2003
Baba was the first coffeeshop I went into after an all night flight from Tampa, Florida. This is probably one of the best economical shops with the best atmosphere on warmoesstratt. They do a great cup of coffee plus the "Baba Special" was superb and only cost 6 euro a gram. The space cakes are not to be taken lightly, their strength was enough to have me asleep on the flight home for a good 7 hours. If you are into euro-techno , house, trance, or any music of that nature, baba is the place for you.

Alex from UK
Good coffee for f2.50, their hot chocolate is obscene, weed and resin (esp. pollen) reasonably priced and consistently good, people friendly, music loud (with unconnected TV images from TMF) but bearable for even the older punter (I'm 36, my partner is 45). I find all this surprising so close to the main strip, where the philosophy is all too often fleece 'em and fuck 'em (sorry-old cynic). Suppose I've got a soft spot for the place since it's the first coffee shop I went into.

Alyson from UK visited Feb 2000; sent 27 Apr 2000
When we went to Amsterdam (Feb 2000) we stopped off in approx 6 different coffee shops and in our opinion Babas was the best. Nice chilled out seating arrangements, really friendly people, good music, great location.

Jason from UK sent 28 Mar 2000
Baba is busy of an evening and less so during the day. It has comfortable seats, good music, (house and trance), and friendly staff. Whilst Baba is located on one of the main tourist streets in Amsterdam and does have its own souvenir shop, the coffee shop itself is well worth a stop-off when paying a visit to this part of town.

Don from UK sent 2 Jul 1999
Nicest coffeeshop on Warmoestraat for ambience and décor probably. Music was "Eurodance" stuff on the 2 occasions I visited - nice - but I think "222" is much better.