Amsterdam: High Wine at wine bar Paskamer, 3-rounds

Paskamer turns a simple wine tasting into a compact lesson in food pairing. Over three rounds, you receive a quality wine and a small matching bite, while a WSET-certified sommelier explains why the two work together. The setting is Amsterdam’s De Pijp, a good neighborhood for an evening out.

I like the clear format and the personal guidance. Three wines keep the pace lively without making the tasting feel like homework, and the option to add another round is useful if you want more time at the bar. The main drawback is portion size: this is not a full dinner, so plan another meal if you arrive hungry.

Key points

• Three wine and food pairings: Each round includes one quality wine and one small bite chosen to complement it.
• WSET-certified guidance: A sommelier explains the wines and the thinking behind each pairing in Dutch or English.
• De Pijp setting: The tasting takes place at Paskamer, a local wine bar in one of Amsterdam’s popular neighborhoods.
• About 90 minutes at the table: The experience is advertised as two hours, but you should reserve roughly 90 minutes for the tasting itself.
• Private group format: You can enjoy the session as a private group, with wheelchair access available.
• Easy to extend: Add one extra wine and bite for EUR 11 per person, or request more food and wine in advance.

Three glasses, three small lessons

Paskamer’s High Wine is built around a simple idea: wine makes more sense when you taste it with food. Instead of serving three unrelated glasses, the bar matches each wine with a small bite and talks you through the connection.

That makes this a good choice if you want more than a casual glass at the end of the day. You do not need to know wine beforehand. The sommelier’s job is to point out how the pairing works, so you can pay attention to the contrast between the wine and food rather than trying to identify every grape or region.

The format also keeps the experience manageable. Three rounds give you enough variety to compare styles, but not so much that the tasting becomes a long drinking session. You will receive three wines in total, each with its own bite.

The portions are intentionally modest. Think tasting portions, not plates that replace dinner. If you are planning this for an evening out, I would place it before or after a proper meal rather than treating it as the meal itself.

Inside Paskamer in De Pijp

The tasting begins at Wijnbar Paskamer in De Pijp. The bar was named Wine Bar of the Year in the Netherlands in 2022, which gives you a useful clue about its focus: wine is the center of the experience, not an afterthought beside a large restaurant menu.

De Pijp is a practical setting for this kind of outing. You can make the tasting part of a longer neighborhood visit, then continue elsewhere for dinner or drinks. The information provided does not specify a particular meeting point inside the bar beyond Paskamer itself, so check your booking details before setting out.

Paskamer is also described as a local hidden wine bar. That does not mean you should expect a secret entrance or a theatrical setting. It suggests a more focused wine-bar atmosphere, away from the city’s major sightseeing stops. The appeal is the time spent at the table, not a view or a large-scale show.

The private group format matters if you want to discuss the wines freely. You can ask questions, compare impressions with your companions, and keep the pace comfortable. It is less suited to someone looking for a big social party with many unrelated groups.

How the three rounds work

The first round gets you into the rhythm of the tasting. You receive a glass of wine and a small bite designed to suit it, then the sommelier explains the choice. The useful part is not simply learning what is in your glass. You also hear what the food contributes and why the combination makes sense.

In the second round, you can start comparing the wines rather than judging each one on its own. Pay attention to the changes in body, acidity, sweetness, or aroma as you move from one pairing to the next. The sommelier can help connect those differences to the food on your plate.

The third round completes the main tasting. By then, you have seen three examples of the bar’s approach to pairing, and you can decide if you want to continue. A fourth round, with one additional wine and bite, costs EUR 11 per person.

The exact wines and bites are not fixed in the supplied details. That is useful to know before booking. You should expect a selected sequence rather than a menu in which you choose every bottle and dish. If you have a dietary requirement, add it to your booking. Paskamer says it can adjust the pairings with prior notice.

What the sommelier adds

The strongest reason to book this instead of ordering three glasses on your own is the instruction. Paskamer uses WSET-certified sommeliers, and the session is available in Dutch or English.

A certification does not guarantee that every explanation will match your personal taste, but it does signal structured wine training. You are paying for the context as well as the liquid in the glass. The sommelier explains not only the wine but also the pairing decision, which gives the tasting a clear purpose.

I would ask questions as you go. If one wine appeals to you more than another, ask what made that bottle work with the bite. If a pairing seems surprising, ask what would happen with a different food. That kind of conversation is where the value of a guided tasting becomes clear.

The available feedback includes a top score from a verified booking in May 2025, with the food praised for pairing well with the wine. That is a short comment, but it points to the heart of the experience: the match between the glass and the bite is more important than sheer portion size.

Why the price can make sense

The listed price is $43 per person. For that, you receive three wines, three matching bites, and guided service from a certified sommelier. The value depends on what you want from an evening.

If you compare it with three ordinary bar pours, the price includes extra food and instruction. It is also a tidy way to sample several combinations without ordering full dishes or committing to several bottles. For a wine-curious visitor, that makes the cost reasonable.

If you compare it with a full dinner, the value looks different. The portions are small, and the experience does not include a complete meal. You may need to spend more afterward, especially if you are booking it at normal dinner time.

The EUR 11 extra round is a fair option if you want one more pairing, but it does not change the basic limitation. More wine and one more bite still do not turn the tasting into dinner. You can ask to extend your stay for more food and wine, but make that request when booking rather than assuming it will be arranged on the spot.

Timing the visit in Amsterdam

The experience is listed as two hours, while the practical instruction says to reserve around 90 minutes. I would plan for 90 minutes at a minimum and leave some extra time around it. That gives you room for the three rounds, explanations, and a relaxed finish.

The shorter tasting estimate is useful if you are building a De Pijp evening around it. You can schedule the High Wine before another reservation, but do not cut the timing too closely. Wine tastings are better when you are not watching the clock.

Because Paskamer can host private groups, the pace may feel more personal than a large public tasting. The supplied information does not give a maximum group size, so do not assume the room will be intimate in the way a one-on-one tasting might be.

The bar is wheelchair accessible, which removes one common practical concern. The activity is for adults only, and it is not suitable for children under 18 or pregnant women.

Food restrictions and dinner planning

Dietary requests should be included with the booking. With advance notice, Paskamer says it can adjust the food to suit any diet. That is important because the food is part of the teaching. A substitute bite should still be able to show how the wine works with food.

Do not wait until you arrive to mention an allergy or strict dietary requirement. The bar needs notice to plan an appropriate match, and the supplied information specifically asks you to provide those wishes in advance.

For dinner planning, I would use one of two approaches. Book the tasting as an early evening introduction before a separate meal, or have dinner first and treat Paskamer as a later tasting stop. If you want the High Wine to be your only meal, request an extension with more food and wine before you go.

Who will enjoy Paskamer most

This experience suits you if you want to learn a little about wine without signing up for a long formal course. It also works well for couples, friends, and private groups looking for a focused stop in De Pijp.

You will likely appreciate it most if you enjoy comparing flavors and asking questions. The small bites are not a flaw if you see them as tasting samples. They let the wine remain central and prevent the session from turning into a heavy meal.

It is less suitable if you want a large dinner, a broad selection of self-chosen wines, or a sightseeing activity with Amsterdam stories. The experience stays at the wine bar, and its subject is food pairing.

Pregnant women and anyone under 18 should not book it. If mobility is a concern, wheelchair accessibility is listed, though you should still confirm any specific access needs when making the reservation.

Booking flexibility and language

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Amsterdam schedule is still changing. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, so check the exact terms attached to your booking before finalizing other plans.

The session is offered in Dutch and English. State your preferred language when arranging the experience if that choice is available during booking.

The activity is listed for private groups, a useful feature if you want the tasting to fit your own pace. It is still wise to allow the full advertised window, since the practical duration can vary with questions and any extra food or wine you arrange.

Should you book this High Wine?

Book Paskamer if you want three carefully matched wine moments, clear sommelier guidance, and a relaxed stop in De Pijp. The $43 price is easiest to justify when you value the explanations and pairings, not just the amount of wine or food.

Skip it if you need a full dinner or want a self-directed wine crawl. For everyone else, the format is compact, useful, and easy to fit into an Amsterdam evening. My best tip is simple: mention dietary needs in advance, plan another meal, and consider the EUR 11 fourth round only if you want a little more tasting time.

FAQ

How many wines are included?

The experience includes three quality wines, served in three rounds.

Is food included with the wine?

Yes. Each wine comes with one small matching bite, for three bites in total.

Does the High Wine replace dinner?

No. The portions are small and are not intended to replace a full dinner. You can request more food and wine in advance.

How long does the experience last?

The activity is listed as two hours, but you should reserve around 90 minutes for the High Wine tasting itself.

Can I add another wine and bite?

Yes. An extra round with one wine and one bite costs EUR 11 per person.

Is the experience available in English?

Yes. The sommeliers can guide the experience in Dutch or English.

Is Paskamer wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Wheelchair accessibility is listed for the experience.