A curated wine list with food to match at Bar Pif
By Andy Fenner
Tweede Tuindwarsstraat 10A, 1015 RZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
BOOK NOWThe problem with wine bars, often, is that the food seems like a bit of an afterthought. And the problem with restaurants, often, is that the wine feels like a bit of an afterthought. The hallmark of a good wine bar, then, is surely when the wine list is beautifully curated with interesting wines, but…also when the menu has been considered, composed and executed with as much attention. For a good wine bar, these two need to work in harmony. And Bar Pif is a good example of this.
The room is double volume, with a long bar stretching down one side and tables forming the balance, with additional ones taking a place on a mezzanine.
A food menu kicks off with a few small, nibbly-ish things, all showing enough promise to let you know that you are in a place that cares more than most. There’s an attention to detail here. Oysters, for example, are dressed with salsa verde and really good olive oil. (The peppery kind that makes you sort of cough but, like, in a really good way.) Special shoutout to the charcuterie too, all made from pork reared from animals raised in biodynamic and regenerative farms. The quality, here, is a far cry form those made from factory-farmed animals.
Elsewhere, smoky mackerel is punched up with creme fraiche and offset with bitter white onion. Yellowtail gets drizzled with heady shellfish oil. Beef gets doused in massive flavours from gochujang and miso.
Big flavours, little plates.
To compliment it all, the wine list dances between France, Austria, Spain, Italy and even Portugal, leaving you with all of your bases covered. And more. You can sip a slightly chilled Gamay, indulge in a crisp Riesling, or try something a bit more progressive like an orange Sauvignon Blanc (a nice amount of skin contact, nothing too “funky”.)
The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable, with a good grasp on a wine offering that could easily overwhelm a less capable team. The room itself is lively and it begs for you to linger, and order that extra glass. Bar Pif is what hospitality is supposed to feel like.
Bar Pif
The Space: Welcoming. Buzzy. Winey.
The Base: €50-70 pp
The Face: This is the new wave of wine drinkers. Young, but educated. Not interested in pretense.
The Ace: The same group owns Rebel Wines, a retail store a few blocks away. You can shop online, or go visit next time you are in the area. It has a beautiful selection.
The Veg: A good selection of offerings throughout the menu.
Opening Hours: Tues- Thurs 17:00-00:00, Fri 16:00-01:00, Sat 15:00-01:00, Sun 16:00-00:00, Mon Closed
Images from barpif.nl, ©Bar Pif
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