Shakerato opens in Amsterdam after 18 month delay
The sister bar to Handshake Speakeasy, Shakerato, has opened in Amsterdam after a year-and-a-half-long delay.
Located on Stadhouderskade, close to the city’s Leisdesplein square, Shakerato was initially announced in May 2024 with a slated opening date of August that year.
Co-owner Eric van Beek said construction and licensing caused the lengthy delay, with the bar announcing it was finally ready to open in December 2025.
At the time of the initial announcement, Shakerato marked the second project from the Handshake Speakeasy team, who have since gone on to also open Ahorita Cantina in Mexico City.
Located in Mexico City, Handshake Speakeasy ranked top of The 50 Best Bars North America list last year, and was then named second best bar in the world. It was also a top four finalist for Best International Cocktail bar at the Spirted Awards 2025.
Speaking to The Spirits Business when Shakerato was initially announced, Van Beek, who was born and raised in Amsterdam, said: “Some of the drinks [from Handshake], especially for the first menu, we will be put on there [the first menu], just to ensure we have a clean start and we’re experienced with those drinks – and of course, people like them. It makes it easier for us.”
As such, Handshake’s Paloma and best-seller Salt N Pepper have made the trip over to Europe, along with a few other serves.
The Olive Oil Gimlet, made with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, olive oil, green apple, rosemary and Lillet blanc, is on the menu, as is the miniature Dirty Martini – also available in normal size –made with Grey Goose Vodka, served ice cold and garnished with a blue cheese olive.
There are also a number of new cocktails, including the Once Upon In Amsterdam, which is described as herbal, fresh and short, and contains Ketel One Vodka, jenever, mint, cucumber, lemon, whey and absinthe.
The bar’s eponymous Shakerato cocktail sees bitter apéritif and yuzu sake shaken over ice to create a serve akin to the Italian coffee-based serve of the same name.
Shakerato, located at Stadhouderskade 7, 1054 ES Amsterdam, Netherlands, is open from Thursday to Sunday, 6pm-1am local time.
For more recent global bar openings, see our latest roundup from autumn 2025.
In other bar news, it was announced that the inaugural list of Europe’s 50 Best Bars will launch this year.
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