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Review by wilfred, 09-21-06 still one of the best

always worth a visit, despite being so small there are times that it is easier to get a seat here than in some of the larger establishments...amnesia is now really crowded for instance, and as long as you are willing to share a table its always nice to pause and use the superb bongs here in grey area. in a sense the general rise in the standards of coffeeshops over the last few years has peripherised grey area...this place was always excellent but small, now there are many other decent sized places serving high quality weed, so the need to go here has diminished. but i still reckon this is a great place to visit, it will always be on my list as one of the top ten coffeeshops in amsterdam. and it was me who put that tiny bob dylan sticker on the wall! a rather sad claim to fame, but it took me years to manage to remember to bring the sticker so in stoner terms that was quite an achievement!

Review by a visitor, 09-21-06 great weed, ok atmosphere

stopped in at the grey area a few times while in amsterdam. we tried the grey berry, cantaloupe haze and super cream (or sour cream, can't remember hehe). all of which were excellent smoke, my favorite being the cantaloupe. there kif here is great as well. we smoked many 'ultra-joints' while in amsterdam which basically consisted of our best weed we could find, grey area's kif, and some great hash like the waterworks at de dampkring. surprisingly enough each time we went here we were able to get a seat so that was nice to sit in there chiefing away watching the crowd pass by out the open window. even met and smoked with a very friendly amsterdam local who is originaly from my home state, wisconsin.

Review by a visitor, 09-21-06 grey area rocks...

went here with my brother last fall...really small, so we didn't hangt out, but it's a great place to score and then leave...i got a gram of the iso-lator hash....it was extreemely mean....my bro got the hawiian sativa...it was beautiful..long, stretchy, bright green...perfect for a morning smoke to get the day started off right...the dude who was extremely cool gave us a really good deal, and weighed it out in front of us...also turns out he's from the same area of the states that i'm from...all in all a really cool shop..

Review by juror, 01-10-06 friendly atmosphere

best part about the grey area is puccini's across the street. has the best chocolate anywhere.

Review by a visitor, 11-07-05 surprise

ok: i was actually there last year but ... the only place in amsterdam that actually surprised me was grey area resume - been smoking for 25 yrs... so i don't impress easily

Review by drumdemon44, 05-20-05 best smoke in town !

this place rocks !!! it is the best shop in town. they have the best smoke and the best vibe. some of the shops i went to didnt treat the americans with as much respect as the grey area. they played good tunes and had great service. the grey berry is killer !!!!! ak47, yellow cab and the kief were all the best i had in town. if you miss this place you totally suck ! just hope ya can get a seat to chill, it gets kinda packed

Review by aigin, 05-03-05 an american's dream

okay, this place is run by americans, and it feels like the u.s. basically, it's a stoner's dream -- incredible reefer (try the grey mist or the bubblegum), cool music, lots of visual stimulation. the two owners are real different. john is immediately cool, nice, friendly, and helpful. steve is a lot more standoffish, until you speak to him in dutch. then you find out he's a real nice guy too. yeah, it's small, but small is beautiful.

Review by birdman, 02-14-05 fun, but small.

this place has great people and great smoke and great music. it's just that there is no where to smoke it! get there early!

Review by brother john, 01-27-05 grey area rocks!

the grey area is a must! if you visit a'dam and do not visit the grey area you have not been to adam! john is extremely cool and a helluva a generous guy! steve is also very cool but he doesnt tolerate fools! so there is a very good chance that if someone doesnt like the grey area's dealers, they have a tendency to be a fool! the place is tiny....but that makes its charm! make sure you spend at least one visit smoking in the grey area! greyberry, grey haze, bubblegum and ak-47 are major standouts!

Review by bigbird, 08-17-04 take a cab

i purchased some yellow cab here.this was my favorite walkng around gear of my trip.dealer was not that friendly but who cares.he sold me some good weed and did not hassle me when i chilled for about 2 hours at a table there.

Review by bigbird, 07-30-04 drive the cab

it is true the service can be interesting here.i happened in when no one else was there.i ordered 2 grams of yellow cab and sat down to smoke.i sat smoked and had a great time people watching out of the big,front window.great gear.some people who came in after i did had a little slower service but my experience was great.

Review by pianodude, 06-01-04 farm out!!!

this place is my home away from home for the short visits i make to amsterdam twice a month.john is a great host who also just happens to sell the best smoke in amsterdam.it appears that most people are aware of this and therefore attracts huge numbers of cool,friendly and sophisticated people.....see you there the evening of the 4th,june.

Review by ttboy, 04-18-04 great weed, one dealer was a wanker

easily the best weed of the trip. my fav was the greyberry, my friend (randomguy) liked the grey haze, both were excellent. the first dealer was cool, but the other one was truly a turdburglar. i wish the shop was bigger, so i would advise anyone to just pick up your gear and head somewhere else. also, a word of caution: do not smoke too much of the grey mist crystals- you will be too stoned and will start talking like stephen hawking!

Review by randomguy, 03-27-04 grey haze was quality herb...

during my visit to a'dam i visited maybe 8 or so coffeeshops. while i didn't make it to some of the well rated ones, in my visits here, i would say i was most impressed with the herb here more than any other shop. the grey haze had me stoned beyond belief and the the grey berry was outstanding as well. then there's the crystals they had there....again, very potent high. couldn't really get a seat as it was packed both visits. you can expect no less though from a good shop with quality weed. i will be back for sure.

Review by exedore, 03-27-04 best smoke in town

place is closed on mondays (growl). also heard its closed on sunday's as well but i cant verify that. place opens somewhere around 10:30 or so and closes early like 8 or 9. easy to find, though crowed everytime you go there. picked up some grey crsytal to sprinkle in my joints and some bubblegum. both excellent. went there when john was there each of the times i went (glasses). he was very polite and friendly and willing to give ya a hand with what ya want. place only has 2 tables with a total of maybe 7 seats in the whole place. very cramped every time went in there with the seats being taken as soon as they open. place can literally fit maybe 12 people in the store and thats cramped.

Review by donkey dick, 11-18-03 re-disocvered

at the moment the best weed in the dam hands down. buy from here & the same strain somewhere else and look at the diference. never had bad service here, what do you people want. i ask for weed the guy gives it. if i have questions they're answered knowledgably. thats all i need thats what i get. agree with whoever wrote below wondering why other c/s can't cure their weed like this place............. i'm not a fan of the u.s. stoner vibe & agree its not a place to linger but if we're talking purely about the bud then this is it!!!!!!!

Review by seouleast, 11-05-03 best weed.....best weed.....best weed.......

i don't know about everyone else, but if bud is what you are looking for, then this place is it. i don't know why others can't grow or even cure their weed like this place. i guess that is what makes this place a diamond in the ruff. true, freedom to smoke without persecusion is great, but you also need to have some quality gear. 4077, yellow cab, double bubble, trichomes, and their new greyberry. next time, for weed, this place will be my only stop. wanna get high? got to the other shops. wanna get baked? then go to the grey area!

Review by a visitor, 10-28-03 rocks

went there a couple times on my return visit to the dam third week of oct 03. everytime i stopped in the dude in the black glasses treated me like i was the greatest customer in the world. he was probably ripped of his ass with a grin that big. always polite and eager to hear and answer any questions in the calmest laidback fashion. there were three types of hash. alright. didnt try the dry trichrome? tho. the weed was incredible. grey myst and double bubble as the doctor ordered! never stuck around but always had a free table - which is awesome considering theres only two or three.

Review by a visitor, 10-20-03 hideaway

the shop is small and a bit hard to find but well worth a visit. the grey mist crystals and buds are of the highest quality and in three trips i have not seen or heard anyone being rude.

Review by foxie, 08-12-03 hmmmmm, not sure.....

yep the grey mist was good but after making a special effort to find the place out the service was discusting. i asked if john was about and was told by a bald headed geezer no. he didnt seem to want to sell us drinks,speak or even really acknowledge us at all. i wouldnt bother again.

Review by joe420, 07-12-03 great weed

i was there june 1-8th and while they were a lil ' flakey ' so is almost everyone there ! the weed was great burns cleaner than most others and gets you stoned as hell but i liked the grayx blueberry haze better !

Review by trekknhil, 07-04-03 i will disagree

sorry, i don't find their gear to as mind blowing as others...to each his own. the shop is tiny and no one has ever been nicer than normal...even jon the ny'er...which is where i am from. the accent should get me at least a smile.

Review by titus wong, 06-03-03 go for the weed; bail for the poor service

grey area - an established shop owned by a couple of americans, who will sell you eighths and quarters instead of grams if you prefer (but why?). a lotta folks bitch about the service, but i suspect that this is partly due to the fact that the owner/dealers are perpetually stoned. they tend to flake out alot, resulting in erratic opening/closing times, but their potent gear makes a visit worthwhile. it's a tiny shop though, and usually crowded, so most punters will buy 'n fly. killer gear. double bubblegum is great, walking-around weed. grey haze will tear a hole in your cerebrum, but the grey mist crystals are what really stand out. the latter are pure trichromes sifted from the coffeeshop's famous grey mist weed. expensive but well worth it since it is guaranteed to set your brain on fire -- you can sprinkle some of this magic pixie dust on any otherwise low-grade schwag for an incandescent boost. i found the decor to be depressingly reminiscent of a teenager's bedroom i.e. riddled with inane stickers and posters relating to cannabis culture. you might be able to snag a bong (usu. filthy) being passed around by the customers. no alcohol.

Review by mikaro, 05-21-03 still keeping erratic opening hours

oh, this place is slipping down the list of best coffeeshops, at least in part because it still seems to open and shut whenever it wants...when i found it shut though, i went around to herengracht and 'discovered' the newly-taken over amnesia- it now has the title of best coffeeshop in amsterdam in my mind, and frankly the reasons for going to grey area are shrinking by the day...do yourself a favour and head to amnesia instead...

Review by richard townend, 03-09-03 great little place

went out of our way in the driving snow to try this place with 8 other tired and wet travellers in tow! the guy behind the counter was friendly and helpful and we got some top notch gear. surprisingly there were a few seats spare but unfortunately too many of us to stay. will go here again.

Review by lasthamlet, 03-04-03 reconsider thoughts.

after careful review of my thoughts and a refresher of my trip book, i have to re-clarify my last review/post. i had stated other shops had their buts kicked. this was a false statement. with my apologies, i have to withdraw that part of my last review. let me just say one fact about my trips to grey area: as far as best bud and grey mist crystals, there is no better that i have smoked anywhere, than there. i have always been when john is there and always had a wonderful time. i will have to think twice before making a statement as bold as on the last review again. the only thing i was really trying to make note of was the odd hours. i should have simply stated: if you want some of the best smoke in a'dam, here are the hours... so sorry grey area, i will be cautious of my wording from now on. your wares are top notch, off the charts, and awesome...

Review by a visitor, 02-27-03 big buds big buds

very small shop but world class gear. for 3 vists in a row grey area has had the biggest best buds i could find. the trichromes will literaly blow you away.

Review by excitableone , 12-06-02 don't believe what you here.

this shop is very small but the gear you'll buy will make up for it, we sampled a gram of the kif and an 1/8 of grey haze and both rocked our world's!! the dealer was super friendly, his name was jon! he even came from behind the counter to take a picture of me and my fiance

Review by charlie, 11-13-02 average place good smoke the man behind the counter was very ignorant

visited g/a on sat 9/11/02 sampled some grey mist crystal it took me out of this world ,what spoiled our visit was the man behind the counter.there was no 'hello' nothing just 'fifteen' when he lobbed my gram of crystal at me across the counter . all he wanted was the money. you people at g/a get rid of this guy

Review by matt, 10-28-02 grey area rocks the house

the grey area was one of my top 5 coffee shops in a'dam. the staff was very willing to offer their advice about their fine fine products. this place also has the best selection of bongs anywhere in the city. seriously. try the 3 foot grey area custom jaromme baker glassware. it's 3 feet tall and a true work of art. best bong in the city. the only thing that i didnt like about this place was that is was a pretty small and crowded sometimes.

Review by a visitor, 10-14-02 avoid the toilet

the place is small so if you are looking for a place to hang out in for a few hours this is not the place. the gear is first rate and the service was friendly and full of information about their products.

Review by ds, 09-22-02 fantastic smoke, avoid the toilet

the grey mist and grey mist crystal were out of this world, but for the love god, avoid the toilet. seriously.

Review by lasthamlet, 07-23-02 still good smoke, but now every shop has scuff...

well grey area, your goods are fantastic but the other shops, especially siberie, has your butt kicked. other shops have the scuff (tricimones). that was a good exclusive for a short period. you might have to keep regular hours now, to keep past clientel. the long lines in front are not long as they were. i just visited july 4, 2002. and all during that two weeks, no crowds. i actually got to sit down inside the shop this time. both tables were open. nevertheless, your smoke is still very well cured...

Review by m1, 06-08-02 owners never showed up!

we arrived just after it was supposed to open. had read many good reviews about the tricomes etc. and wanted to get a sac. waited outsied for 15 min and no-one came. came back an hour later, no one. came back 2 hours later, no one! if you aren't going to open until 4:00pm don't say you open at noon!!!!!

Review by nozza, 05-17-02 fantastic weed - rude staff - small and pokey

this c/shop is famous with high times readers and is consequently usually full of americans, which is no bad thing as far as i'm concered. it is very small and only has stool-chairs to sit on so it's not very relaxing when you feel that 10x gravity effect in full force! the staff are very rude. that bald dutch guy can't even be bothered to serve you and when he does, he takes an age. but...the weed they sell is wicked and they have nice glass bongs. i recommend buying here, maybe taking a toke and moving on. me and a friend did 2 bowls each of their 'double bubble'. the first bowl didn't seem to be doing all that much but half way through the second the ceiling came down, the room expanded, the music warped and we were soaringly out of it in the nicest possible way. i only stopped grinning and laughing when it wore of 2 hours later leaving me with a pain in the face! can't recommend their bud highly enough.

Review by whitedog, 04-26-02 patience is good

stopped in this shoe box of a shop - dont turn around or you will bump into your self. walked out once - not patient. i like that you can buy less than a gram here. tried the 4077 medicinal bud and was pleased with the lack of coughing / hacking this strain provides.they have well used glass bongs available for customer use.

Review by a visitor, 04-14-02 good buds

gear's good, clientel idiotic know-nothing us airheads. the bald guy's a complete wanker - i never shop if he's there ( he sells in 1/8th's even if you want grammes and i don't trust him). best gear in town?? maybe. least atmosphere? definitely

Review by pher, 03-08-02 dig it

small place with great smoke their yellow cab is a must try. i also saw pictures of willie nelson, and woody haroldson(not sure if thats how it is spelled but who cares.)on the wall.

Review by dapoopa, 02-22-02 some of the best buds anywhere, but music was kinda disappointing

spent parts of three days at grey area, which proves that the place was cool. bought some bubblegum, grey mist and moroccan hash, all of which was super. john was very cool and cut me a good deal on the buds, a chocomel and a t-shirt. although i heard how crowded the place could get, i had no problem finding a seat when i was there (you have to go in the off-season). my only complaint involved the music, which was laid back but not what i was expecting. all i seemed to hear was a cd by a band called the strokes, over and over again. where's the dead, phish and jam-band music i was anticipating? otherwise, i can't recommend the smoke highly enough. next time i want to try out the flow (sort of like cali-mist), 4077 (medicinal herb) and ak-47. actually, all their buds are just primo and the moroccan hash was scrumptious. grey area you get my thumbs up! and thanks for letting me take photos of the place.

Review by mike, 02-16-02 hmmm!

i reviewed this place last time i was over & it has changed very little - the only difference is the guy behind the counter was very friendly (a kind of wheatus looking guy, american, i think, as opposed to the wary, hippy-hat wearing bald guy who served me last time). he gave me a free coffee & extra half gram for buying a large amount - fair play to him!! after a few minutes & taking in my surroundings - i realised why he would be glad to see an 'older' customer buying a nice whack of the most expensive stuff on the menu - the place is full of kids, binned outta their heads, gaping around at all the stoner memorobelia on the walls, 17yr old backpackers with chunky socks & jumpers (again, binned) & italian/spanish tourists, all of whom have feck all money to spend & a lot of time to waste, which doesn't amount to a high or even fast turnover. if they redcorated (it looks like a 16 yr olds bedroom) & opened a bit later (it closes around 8), i might actually like the place...well at least the smoke was good (kif - a big bag of powder basically -very easy to skin up with!!) & the dealer was sound, so i cannae complain much!! while i was there an english bloke came in & sat down with his mate who had been there since i came in - his mate was wondering where he had gotten to for the last hour - the excuse was that he got 'mad lost & had to ask directions'. yeah me bollix ye were up the road with the hookers (there's another smaller red light area - basically one street- up the road)...the only thing he got lost in was a nice wet box!!! if ye start itching, scratch it!!

Review by a visitor, 02-11-02 good place to score

this was the only place that would show me all the types of weed and let me pick my buds....it opens late and closes early...and is a tad bit hard to find...but well worth it...next time this will be my first stop.....about a 15 or 20 minute walk from central station

Review by a visitor, 12-27-01 too many americans but a great spot

this is one of the only places i found that has glass bongs with glass pulls. kind of small but the owner was really cool and they had great grass/great hash. could be very cozy at times when there was little crowd.

Review by mike, 12-13-01 good smoke - bit of a kip though

i didn't like this place at all - too small & well, dirty - bought some smoke, went to puccini's on the corner & bought some of the most amazing chocolates ever then consumed both products on a bench by the canal - most enjoyable...the hash was almost as tasty as the chocolates!!!!

Review by tiko, 12-08-01 disaster

too small and too crowded, they got me pissed off, i ordered a tea but never got it and when i asked that bald guy for some filter tips he looked at me in a strange way, like i swore at his mama or somethin'. even though their variety was good( grey mist hash-but not pressed) i'll never ever go there again...

Review by mikaro, 11-19-01 nowhere better for a quick hit...

still, all i get in here is strong, impressive buds and the use of superb glass bongs. i can't stay for more than about a half hour, as i go into maximum smoking overdrive due larglely to the perfection of the place...the staff do view serving customers as a not inconsiderable distraction from their persistent mobile phone calls/conversations, but the coffee is top class, and a quick series of hits here is almost guaranteed to push you onto a very intense high...

Review by lee, 11-03-01 top place in all respects

i have never had rude service or a bad time in this place. over and over, i find the finest weed in town here. i only go during the day, and the guy there then is great. why criticize them for being small? that's their choice, isn't it?

Review by matty4star, 10-19-01 best buds in town!

i have been to amsterdam 3 times and i must say the grey area has the best buds! the yellow cab & bubblegum are incredible. the ak-47 has so many crystals they are falling of when you pick it up. and its the only place i have found kief, knocks you on your ass. i'll be coming over to visit you guys again soon, the buds in dc can't compete.

Review by bonnie, 10-07-01 no service

love the gray area website and got lots of information from it. looked forward to going to the shop, 1st time, wasn't open on time, went back, and there was a line out the door. it is very, very small. went back another time to get some 'great' weed and were told they were out. didn't try a third time.

Review by lasthamlet, 09-25-01 the scuff (tricimones)

that scuff is like taking 20 hits off a joint at one time. i dam near knocked me off the stool i was on. which was in another place, grey area is best in the 1:00 pm time, with the day guy on duty. it is best to buy what you want and bolt, seeing how the place can only hold 4 people comfortably. but of course room for the customer line. the grey mist, is a top notch calibur of weed. all of the weed i bought their was perfectly dried as well. some shops sell their weed just a little wet, not quite dried enough. the products give this coffeeshop it's clientel, which is mostly american, let's face it we do hear about the good weed in america, word travels. the grey area is not one of the best coffeeshops in a-dam, but it's weed and such are dam sure top notch. and that to me is enough, i will be back. grey mist and scuff are still in my freams. mmmmmm.

Review by destroyah, 09-15-01 nothing special

there was a line out the door, and the guy at the counter was a bit of an arse. i wouldn't advise going out of your way to find this place, its nothing special. go to de dampkring instead

Review by smoker bill, 09-10-01 owners an asshole

i visited this shop a few times for some kif. everytime that i went in he would not sell me more that 3 grams of kif... he also refused to sell my wife some. i just wanted to grab enough for the entire trip so i would not have to visit this postage stamp again. i also tried some hash (black morracan) that felt 50 years old. all of the weed i got was also subpar. all in all this shop sucks. the best thing sbout this shop is the kif (very harsh) and puccini's chocolate that is located right across the street.

Review by justin time, 09-09-01 glass,glass-the choice of professionals.

was there in april of 2001 for 5 days,read about this place in a boom chicago mag. and decided to visit.upon entering the owner greets me with a fimilliar american voice hands me a menu,i already had more weed than i could smoke in a day but got a gram of grey mist anyway,glad to see the water pipes behind the counter i asked to use one and the owner happly handed me a 2 footer,it went well with the mist and before i knew it i had taken 10 good ones.in summary-good smoke,great bongs=small space and odd hours.

Review by headmixer, 08-02-01 roomy it ain't

i was told this place is a must, well it is if you're a yank as 99% of customers seem to be. the grey area is just off the singel but in a quiet side street, it must be one of the smallest coffee shops in the dam, take 5 steps inside the door and you'd be the wrong side of the service counter! i seem to remember it has seating for about 5 people. if it's a bit chilly outside, you'd better hope the front window is closed or you'll have to huddle round yer spliff to keep warm. at least there are some public bench seats on the bridge over the singel if you need a rest walking back into dam square.

Review by gutless, 07-31-01 so good!

this shop is so good because unlike a lot of shops - you can buy joints ready to go... with good stuff in it... and qalso the guy there is really nice and its not a dark shop or anything... really nice [place...

Review by moley, 05-23-01 skip this shop

in a town full of wonderful friendly coffee shops, why go here for the rude service. the bald owner is really a jerk. this place is run by americans who haven't learned a thing from the dutch. they do not deserve a license to operate. the best thing about going there is the candy shop across the street, get a 'honey', delicious.

Review by Larry, 05-02-01 Avoid the crowds

Without realizing it I lucked out to the way to enjoy The Grey Area and that's to go there at opening time. That's Tuesday through Sunday at 12 noon. It was merely crowded, didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes to buy some trichomes- 2G for 50NLG. I even got a seat, any other time you've got to have mucho patience. The opening clerk guy is pretty mellow compared to the evening guy.

Review by cooter, 05-01-01 Good your bud and go

I was looking forward to this place more than any other and was dissapointed as most of the more recent visitors. The place was smaller than my bathroom in my one bedroom apt. I got there around 6:30 pm and the guy basically told us to leave by telling us that they were closing in 10 min. The bud was good seems like they had everthing they said they had but the bald guy at the counter acted like it was a severe inconvinience just to look at the different buds before purchase. They do have a nice selection of glass pieces although look like they haven't been cleaned in acouple of years. Yeah I would come back to try some other bud but get the hell out right after

Review by KaliMist, 04-21-01 No reason to go here

Out of all the overrated shops in Amsterdam, this is by far the worst. Rude and indignant staff that act like selling you a bag of smoke is a major hassle. If you're lucky enough to get waited on, they'll just throw down the bag of weed and take your money without saying a word. I've seen plenty of people simply leave after standing around for 5 minutes while the guy behind the counter reads a book and ignores them. Another problem with this place is that it seats literally 6 people. Add to that the couple of people that are always standing around waiting for seats, and it gets really crowded. The shop is closed on Mondays, and the rest of the time it's only open from noon until 7pm, sometimes earlier. It's not uncommon to walk by in the middle of the day and the shop is closed up because the owner didn't feel like being there that day. Basically this shop feels more like something that's being ran as a hobby, rather than a real business. Expect to be jerked around, for them to be out of their most popular strains, and nowhere to sit.

Review by DWANE B SHARP 420, 03-28-01 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIEF

Not a place to hang out,to small.Good buds,great kief.If your going to go there get the kief.Don't go to early,the lazy staff don't get there until 12.

Review by Rando Pando, 03-28-01 Skip This Place!

Hey...I've said it before and I will say it again, this place is WAY overrated. Better weed and better vibes are to be found in numerous places in the 'dam. Maybe it would have been better if didn't feel like a sardine in a can when I was there. Spend your time and money elsewhere, you'll be glad you did!

Review by Dogbreath, 03-26-01 Not a Place to Hang Out

Stopped in the other day. Bought a gram of some gray area haze, and found it moldy tasting and not too potent. The owner, an american fellow w/ dark hair, glasses, while talking to an apparant us expatriot airhead chick in the store, came off with this arrogant, 'Ain't I cool living in amsterdam' vibe, while the store was filed with american tourists, 90% of the clientelle. Then he goes into a rant badmouthing the Greenhouse coffee shop. Last time I was there a year and a half ago he was badmouthing the Sensi cafe. Methinks I smell sour grapes. After all, what kind business smarts are there to open a shop that fits 4 people comfortably? There really sems to be no complelling reason to visit this shop, either to hangout (way too small) or for the weed, of marginal quality as are the vibes. Ya just really don't feel comfortable there. Either these boys need to grow up or move on to their true lifes work.

Review by a visitor, 03-26-01 Bad weed, bad service

This place sucks, bad weed , bad service.

Review by Monica, 03-21-01 Jam-packed

Went out of our way to find this shop, only to discover it SO full of patrons that you couldn't even get inside. Walked away disappointed and weed-less. There are plenty of other fine coffeeshops in the area. Avoid the crowds and seek your buzz elsewhere (we liked 'Cafe Amnesia'...right around the corner on the Herengracht).

Review by a visitor, 03-16-01 Nice bongs, tiny shop

The Grey Area is so tiny. It can get crowded in there very easily. The glass pipes and Jerome Baker bongs are a real nice treat. Indeed it was the bongs that kept me coming back to the Grey Area. One of the few places to get trichomes- also known as kief or skuff. Although owned by Americans the service is typical European which might be interpretted as rude by most customer service oriented Americans. The prices are alright and the weed was always good to me. If you like good chocolate try the Puccini Bonboni right across the alley from the Grey Area. There you can expect some really indifferent European customer service!

Review by a visitor, 03-13-01 Bad vibes, bad weed

I used to go to Grey Area when in A'dam because everyone else raves about it. The tall bald dude must not like me because he's always been RUDE and the weed they have is either out of stock or shitty. He acts like he's doing me a favor to interrupt his side conversations and wait on me. Needless to say, I have given up on them. There is plenty of other good weed in the Netherlands sold by friendly people. The funny thing is that I'm a friend of one of the bald guy's friends but he doesn't know it (shouts out to the always lovely Kenya)!

Review by Mikaro, 03-13-01 Buy With Confidence...and get a seat elsewhere!

Tiny, overcrowded with Americans, short opening hours and awful, awful coffee... yet its probably the best shop in town. Why? Because the pot is king here; grab familiar 1/8th's of whatever is in stock (there seemed almost daily deliveries), and the only disappointing smoke I had was the Blueberry...The Yellow Cab is a morning delight, and the new 'No Name' a certain can.cup contender. With probably the best bongs in town, the Grey Area is worth a daily visit in my book. Stock up, and smoke it in other places with more seating, if that is what you require...and by the by, for a European, this little place IS a cultural oasis: You can sample all the joys of college drug-taking without ever setting foot on American soil. Laborious, spun-out tales of events both real and imagined fill the air...but hell, the people are friendly, and when taken cum grano salis, provide an entertaining backdrop to an excellent smoking experience.

Review by Kipling, 02-21-01 I made multiple visits on my stay in Am*Dam! Well worth the visit!!!

I was in Am*dam this past Nov. and it was perfect. Plenty of seating for that time of the year, nice an cozy. Yes it is a very small place, but who cares when you have weed like that to choose from!!!! Not to mention the crazy ass bike wreck I saw out the front window!! They were lucky they didnt get killed!! Nice glass to smoke out of and good people that you can trust that work there. Not that I had any bad experiences when I was there, everyone was nice. I cant say enough about this place, except that when I am back in March Ill be looking for the landmark Multituli statue outside. It's only about 30 steps to the Grey Mist from there! Gotta have the Grey Mist!!!!

Review by B-Li, 02-18-01 Cramped hole in the wall with FANTASTIC Trichomes!

After two previous trips to the 'Dam without being able to find this shop, I decided that on my third visit, I would make it a priority to finally find, at any cost, the Grey Area coffeeshop. I had been looking for 'kif', or the crystals from the dope plants in basic refined form, and had been told by an online tip that Grey Area was pretty top notch with their Grey Mist kif. After consulting the rough guide, Boom Chicago guide (great, funny helpful guide from and American expatriate comedy troupe), asking a vendor at La Canna, and generally fumbling right by it for a day or two, I finally found my mark. Only problem was, it was a Monday, and they just happen to be closed on Mondays. Frustrated, I retreated and decided to find it the next day. On Tuesday they were open, so I went in to check it out. This is basically just like everyone says--a super crowded hole in the wall that you have virtually no chance of getting a seat in, with high profile dope and flocks of Americans descending on it 24/7. While I myself am American (and proud of it), the notion of hanging out with my fellow yanks on a holiday in Europe is not real high on my to do list. If you're looking for a multi-cultural hangout, then avoid this one. I purchased a bag of Grey Mist, which was fantastic, and a bag of the Grey Mist trichomes. The trichomes were absolutely, without a doubt, the most knock me on my ass in as little as possible buzz I have had in all my trips to A'Dam and years of weed sampling. It even beat out the 40 guilders a gram hash from the Tweede Kamer, and the Super Silver Haze (for amount it took to render comatose). My advice: Forget about even getting a seat here. Buy heavy on the trichomes, try the Yellow Cab, Double Bubble (they were out of the latter and have yet to try the former), and the Grey Mist. The guy behind the counter was a skinny guy with glasses that was very helpful under the extremely crowded circumstances, and even recoginized me when I came in the next day to pick up yet more trichomes. All in all, a great place for weed, but you have a better chance of nailing Famke Janssen than getting a seat here. -B-Li

Review by Keith Hopkins, 02-12-01 Good quality herbs

Found this place on accident just tripping through the streets of Amsterdam.What a nice surprise.I had read reviews and the like before i went,but once there I was so completley blitzed the entire time that I had abandoned hope of finding it.Well one day just out stumbling around town i lucked onto it.It is a very small place,but like the old saying goes'big things come in small packages'I sampled the Yellow Cab for bud and of course the 'skuff'(Trichomes,'crystals')The yellow cab was a very sweet tasting and clean high.Alot of bud in Amsterdam tastes like ammonia and can come with a slightly paranoid buzz.This herb was very mellow and not at all like that.The skuff was absolutley killer.It has a sort of tan and yellow appearence and packs a hell of a punch.Was among the most potent of all the smokes i had while in Amsterdam.The only other smoke I had that was more potent was the Dutch Moonshine at Dampkring.Grey area is my #2 choice for all of Amsterdam,although you may want to score and then smoke elsewhere being as its so small.I happened to visit at a time that was not busy and it was fantastic.So relax and pull up a char and have a Coke,a Toke,and a Smile. Peace

Review by a visitor, 01-16-01 Another top 10 coffeeshop in AMS but very very small.

I had some grey mist and was fairly impressed. I lucked out and got a seat and had a great conversation with the guy at my table. House glass bongs were everywhere (almost 1 per person seated). Good stop for smoke but too damned small. The huge glass window in front was cracked in half when I was there. I would definately go there again, but only during off-peak hours so I could get a seat.

Review by a visitor, 12-20-00 Very nice place

Went twice - once for the crystal haze (very, very lame) and the next time for the bubblegum (very, very good). Nice to take massive bong hits and walk back to the Dam Square.

Review by DeadheadWeedSmoker420, 12-09-00 Get the Keef(kif) if You Can

This place is definately all that. It's the only place I heard the dead playing, which was like a cross of cultures. Usually when in the dam you get all caught up in the dutch culture. The grey area reminds you it's ok to be american. Despite what everyone else will be telling you. The keef was the best, if a little pricey, they actually ran out rather quick. Phat glass bongs. Store is TOO SMALL. Drinks are priced good. Finally a staff I can talk to.

Review by Hiram Abiff, 12-04-00 My 'Kind' of shop

The funny thing about coffee shops in Amsterdam is that they all seem representative of a different aspect of the international pot smoking counterculture. Some will be Euro-pub style (Bulldog et. al), some all New Age hippy style, some old school - in Amsterdam there's room for all of them. But the Grey Area is the one shop that represents me and my culture - nineties American stoner.... The weed is by far the best in Amsterdam - partially because its cured American style and partially because the strains themsevles are extra special. The atmosphere is not dissimilar for any American dealer's loft - replete with handblown glass pipes and Phish tapes playing - providing a uniquely homey experience for the American traveller. This is fine in the middle of the afternoon for a few bong hits...but isn't the place to hang for an evening - (see Dampkring, Rokerij)

Review by skyhigh420, 11-24-00 small but great

11\1\00-Good buds, good prices. Nice glass bongs, and friendly people. A must see!!

Review by a visitor, 10-25-00 Why such an attitude?

I have visitied the grey area two times. On both occations I found the person behind the counter didn't want to help me. I found the weed good, but not good enough to take the attitude. There are plenty of other shops with weed that is just as good and nice people behind the counter.

Review by a visitor, 09-27-00 Too Small

So damn small can never get in the place. Hey dudes, ever heard of expanding?

Review by BigJohn420, 06-24-00 Too Many Missing Menu Items

I was so excited to go to the grey area and try some double bubble gum. However when I got there they had sold out. When I picked something else he told me that was sold out to. Needless to say I picked something else, this time hash. Out of that to. What kind of damn coffeeshop runs out of three menu items? A poorly managed one if you ask me. I was forced to buy some orange crap. Definately not worth the trip I took out of my way.

Review by justin-hail, 06-11-00 great weed

forget the size, sowhat its small the weed is supurb, the bongs the best, by the way its one of the few places Americans can smoke from a bong and not look out of place. Very friendly staff. A must go for getting good herb, of course the grey mist is great but also try the 4077 and the yellow cab

Review by BB, 04-04-00 small CS with a BIG Reputation

Stopped in for takeout as the place was stuffed full when I was there. The guy at the counter made me wait while he showed some guy a magazine article that the shop was in. Don't get me wrong, I waited because I knew I was there to procure some of Adam's finest, and I was not let down. Yellow Cab and Grey Mist, both were outstanding. Add 1 star if you like hanging out with 18 year olds from US in cramped quarters. Agree with Bob from June 99 post, take out only. Attitude of staff could use a retread. As a bonus Puccini Bomboni Chocolate shop is right across the street on the corner. They have the best non-green bon-bons in the city!

Review by skyhigh420, 03-29-00 Still Great

Went for third trip in late Feb and had a great time here. Kief(uncompressed tricomes) was superb, nice golden color, great high. Aside from a lack of interior space a great shop.

Review by a visitor, 03-28-00 Good place to buy

Great place to buy. Lousy place to hang.

Review by Charlie, 01-22-00 Better than Greenhouse

The Greenhouse's bud wasn't nice cured like they do it here, and the welcoming's sweet to whoever walks in the door. Check out Yellow Cab for the sweetest 'up' bud that just makes you high and happy for a long long time. One problem for some - the tiny place was 100% full of Americans before I came in, and they all stayed to chat. Lordy!

Review by Bill Baumann, 11-25-99 very good but tight squeeze

Great little shop right off the large shopping strip, a little cramped but great weed and a nice atmosphere. Best buds can be found at Greenhouse though.

Review by Ross, 11-20-99 Tight fit but 5 stars for everything else.

If you are looking for a little of America in Amsterdam, you've come to the right place. A rather small coffee-shop, it offers some of the finest weeds and hashes in the city. It is a former Cannis Cup winner and you can tell why. If you are like me, I enjoy smoking out of glass. There is a fairly nice selection of hand blown tubes and bowls. This is something you won't find anywhere else in the city, as most people roll joints with tobacco, yuck!!!! The music makes the atmosphere relaxing as well. While visiting, I heard everything from the Dead, to Phish, to Galactic. Everything about this coffee shop is great. A friend is at the Cup as I write this and all I want back from Amsterdam is a new Grey Area T-shirt. Mine has gotten a little worn.

Review by steve, 10-26-99 bud dandruff and dream land one of the best coffee shops

high there went to gray area for the 10th annual cannabis cup and will be going to this yrs cup to the staff is very friendly and the smoke was very good I liked the ak47 but the best item there was the bud dandruff (trycroms) if you go to a'dam this should be on your list to check out

Review by Uncle D, 10-25-99 smoke it up

the grey area was a cool place to hang out in however as per usual americans miss out on the coffee here and yes their coffee does suck on a scale of 1-10 a one for the fact that they had to make it........stoner coffee is what it is and anyway they got enough bottles of drinks so no problem anyway......all you got to do to make that happen is open the bottle.......most stoners can do that and then drink it or spill it......have a nice smoke, smoke alot of it and then pass the bong, try to remember good bong ettiquette and roll a joint and welcome the next group in as it is a small place so if you want to hang out ...hang tight

Review by a visitor, 10-15-99 Good Bud and Cool Staff

We heard this is the place o get the good stuff. Nice selection. After going to many coffee shops and continually being dissapointed by the crappy bud we were stoked to go here. We selected the Cali Orange since most of the bud in Amsterdam tastes ans smells pretty poor. My notes are as follows: 'Tastes a little sweet, aroma is ok. Basic run of the mill stone - nothing special. Nice looking buds - little 1/8-inch nuggets. This variety seems to be bred for something besides a good strong buzz.' I imagine the other varieties on their large menu would be better. Wish we would have treid more.

Review by Andy Miller f, 08-24-99 Very cool place, very nice weed

Two really nice guys run this place - they're American, but I don't hold that against them. Great atmosphere, and the grey mist is the best bio I've smoked in the 'Dam. Yellow Cab is a great hydro too. If you're looking for a nice coffeshop with a quiet, relaxed atmosphere (ie no Europop blasting out of speakers and no-one wearing hilarious 'stoned again' t-shirts) friendly staff and a great smoke, then look no further.

Review by Dave Nutt, 08-05-99 The Best

This was the best in Amsterdam. The service was great the weed was spectacular. The selection of glass bongs was incredible. I kept going back for more. The only bad part was this guy from New york sitting at the end of the bar who would not stop talking. Yellow cab is the greatest. Cannot wait to go back.

Review by Armbar, 07-31-99 Amazing bud, nice quiet atmosphere

The weed at the Grey Area was outstanding. The Grey Mist was among the best types of grass I smoked in Amsterdam. A whirlwind of an experience. The owners seemed pleasent enough and were incredibly stoned themselves. The place is tiny and very quiet. The drinks were overpriced though. Definitely a good stop on the way back from the Anne Frank House.

Review by Bob, 06-29-99 Attitudes and demeanor of staff suck.Best to make a purchase and smoke it elsewhere,where the owners of that establishment make the customer and thier experience a pleasant one.

Grey Area has the potential of being an excellent coffee shop. The quality of weed is decent,and the selection is o.k. The attitudes and personalities of the owner and staff suck. The customer,(and his money),are the reason of their existance at all. Word of mouth is by far the best advertisement a business can have,it can make or break a business. The customer should always come first. Personal opinions of proprietors should never enter the picture. My word of mouth recomendation:"Attitudes and demeanor of staff suck! Best to make a purchase and smoke it elsewhere, where the owners of that establishment make the customer and thier experience a pleasant one."

Review by Dogbreath, 05-20-99 Nice Vibes

A very, very small coffee shop run by two Americans. Very good weed, very good vibes. Terrible American style coffee... best to avoid it at this place. Grey Area is one of the coffee shops I seem to visit almost daily when in Amsterdam.

Disclaimer. The reviews listed here are written by the visitors of The Channels website and do not reflect the opinion of The Channels.