Even though the uncertainty surrounding Covid and all of its variants has upended a lot of international travel plans, many people are now raring to travel internationally this year. So now that The Netherlands is open to visitors again and to get you excited about a place that I recently had the opportunity to visit, I want to share my thoughts on some of Amsterdam’s best luxury hotels.
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Heads of state and pop royalty alike call the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam home when they’re visiting the Dutch capital. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage site along the iconic ‘Gentleman’s Canal,’ this hotel is comprised of six 17th & 18th century palaces and offers 93 beautifully appointed guest rooms, lofts, and suites overlooking the canal or the courtyard garden.
The rooms are spacious by European standards and have high ceilings and large windows, making the space feel even bigger. The décor is elegant and classic, with natural and more muted tones and colors, bringing a modern feel to the historic characteristics of the property.
On the top floor of the hotel are the King Lofts, which feature their classic décor combined with the natural charm of exposed wooden beams. There is also one Grand Premier room on the top floor with its own private balcony and one Grand Premier room on the ground floor with its own private outdoor space. And for those seeking a more private experience, there is the option of closing off one of the palaces and renting it out for your own group.
The Waldorf also has a gorgeous lobby, a large courtyard garden, a fitness center, an indoor pool, and the award-winning Guerlain Spa. You can dine at the legendary Peacock Alley for lunch, Afternoon Tea or dinner, or have a gourmet experience at Spectrum – the property’s two Michelin star restaurant.
The hotel is located in the prestigious Golden Bend neighborhood, which is just a 10-minute walk from Museumplein, the site of Amsterdam’s most famous museums – the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum – and close to theaters and shopping, as well as the Anne Frank House. And if you don’t feel like walking, the hotel offers complimentary bicycles, which come in handy in a city with significantly more bicycles than residents!
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam is where you’ll find plush colors and designs set against traditional brick and stained glass windows. Housed in a former convent built in the 15th century, this property also once served as Dutch Admiralty headquarters and the City Hall of Amsterdam. The 179 rooms and 52 suites were all redecorated during the Covid lockdown in 2020 to seamlessly combine contemporary French design with the historic architecture of the building.
Since the property is situated between two historic canals, all guestrooms have canal views and are decorated in different color schemes (let us know if you’re partial to a particular color!). The 52 suites come with complimentary butler service and range from Junior Suites to Royal Suites. The bathrooms are a bit on the small side, but with the 49 different connecting options and dedicated family rooms and suites, this property offers families a variety of options. When booking entry level rooms, upgrades for our clients are guaranteed at time of booking to a luxury canal view room.
The Sofitel also has 12 Canal House Suites, which are private split-level apartments located at the back of the property. Canal House Suites come with butler service, a fully-equipped kitchenette, private roof-top terrace, a private entrance, and access to all hotel facilities – allowing you to enjoy the perks of a private residence with the convenience of staying in a hotel.
Dining options on the property include the Garden Terrace, the Library ‘Or’, fine dining restaurants Bridges and Oriole Garden Bistro, and the Flying Dutchman. The hotel also contains the Sofitel Spa, a fitness center, and most unique to this property – a 1925 Marriage Chamber, where wedding and other small ceremonies can be performed.
Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the Sofitel is a 5-minute walk to Amsterdam Central Station and close to the Royal Palace, the Anne Frank House, Dam Square and the shopping district Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets).
Hotel de L’Europe
Hotel de L’Europe is a 125-year-old hotel located in the heart of Amsterdam just finished a complete redesign of their public spaces. Its classic French décor complements its classical architecture, combining to create a luxurious atmosphere with modern touches. The guest rooms are currently being redesigned and will be complete in April 2022.
The Hotel de L’Europe has 97 guest rooms, including 48 suites and a 6-bedroom penthouse. Half of the guest rooms have river views and a third of the rooms have balconies, and there are many connecting options between rooms and suites. The rooms on the lower floors have high ceilings, giving them the airier feel of upper floor rooms.
Owned by the Heineken family, the property boasts Freddy’s Bar – a ‘Gentleman’s Pub’ and the late Freddy Heineken’s favorite hangout – where you, too, can enjoy his eponymous beer. And if you’d like to know more about Heineken, the hotel can arrange a tour and tasting at the Heineken factory for you.
Dining options include Brasserie Marie, named after Gerard Heineken’s wife and featuring classic French cuisine. I had the opportunity to dine here during my visit and I enjoyed the food immensely – particularly the halibut pictured here! There is also Trattoria Graziella and the conscious fine dining, 11-seat restaurant Flore, whose young chef emphasizes vegetables and clean eating by removing butter, cream, and most meat from the menu.
The hotel also has Le Spa by Skins Institute, a hammam, a fitness studio and a waterside terrace, as well as an inhouse florist who can teach floral classes for guests.
Like the Waldorf and Sofitel, the Hotel de L’Europe is close to shopping and tourist attractions. It is within walking distance to the Royal Palace, the Flower Market and Dam Square, as well as the Museumplein.
Pulitzer Amsterdam
Pulitzer Amsterdam is one of my favorite properties in Amsterdam because it’s probably the most family-friendly of the luxury hotels in the city and because it has a more casual vibe while still being luxurious. Also a plus is that it’s priced lower than both the Waldorf Astoria and the Conservatorium.
Like the other hotels, Pulitzer Amsterdam is also centrally located, situated along the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht canals and next to the Anne Frank House. It is comprised of twenty-five 17th & 18th century houses, which have all been beautifully restored, and contains 225 bright and modern guest rooms.
There are a number of family-friendly room options, including the family rooms and connecting family rooms, which can accommodate a family of four with a king and 2 twin beds. They also have family suites which have multiple rooms, 2 bathrooms and a dining area in a split-level apartment and feature canal views. And all rooms have various connecting options, which are guaranteed at time of booking.
The guest rooms are all unique and decorated in a manner fitting to the house in which it is located. Their Cosy Suites are junior suites, designed for up to 3 people. For those who want quieter rooms, the garden view room is a better option than the canal view room.
There are also Specialty Collectors Suites – the Antique Collector’s Suite, the Art Collector’s Suite, the Music Collector’s Suite – if you feel like splurging a bit. Each of these suites is entirely unique and decorated with vintage antiques and artwork central to the theme of the room.
The Pulitzer also has a Very Important Kids program that offers fun things for kids like treasure hunts and bedtime stories, as well as a children’s menu available at the hotel restaurant. And one of my favorite aspects of this property is the play garden for kids.
For the adults, Pulitzer Amsterdam also has a silent garden, Pulitzer Garden Café and Restaurant Jansz – featuring modern Dutch cuisine – and Pulitzer’s Bar.
Their concierge service offers private canal cruises on the hotel’s own boats, walking tours and bicycle rentals. All services are for a fee, but of course Journeys Unparalleled can help customize an itinerary for you as well!
The only drawback about this hotel is the number of stairs on the property with multiple levels. But there are some rooms that don’t require stairs.
Conservatorium Hotel
I had the pleasure of staying at the Conservatorium Hotel during this visit and had the opportunity to experience first-hand the unique combination of old and new in this landmark heritage property.
It was originally built at the end of the 19th century and was home to the Dutch Savings Bank for nearly 80 years. The building then housed a music conservatory (hence the name) until 2008, when it was purchased by Set Hotels, who spent 4 years refurbishing the space and combining the original architectural style with modern touches.
The property contains 129 guestrooms, duplexes and suites. The Art Nouveau interiors of the rooms are somewhat more ‘minimalist’ in design, utilizing light, modern materials and natural colors to create a contemporary yet sumptuous feel. The larger duplexes have a sofa bed that can sleep 2 children. And their Concerto 1-bedroom suite comes with a kitchenette and can connect to another room to create a 2-bedroom suite.
On the 6th floor is the Penthouse Suite, which is the largest of the suites in the hotel and features a large bedroom, walk-in closet, kitchenette, spacious living room and dining area set amongst floor-to-ceiling windows. The suite also comes with its own private elevator landing and a second entrance. For those traveling with a large family or group of friends, or those who just wish for more privacy, there is the option of renting out the entire Penthouse Wing (the 6th floor). The private wing would accommodate up to 17 guests in 7 separate bedrooms, including the Penthouse Suite.
Also on the property is the largest hotel spa in the city – Akasha Holistic Wellbeing – where you can indulge in holistic massages and treatments or take fitness classes. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Taiko, serves contemporary Asian cuisine in an upscale atmosphere and has an attached bar with the same name. You can also enjoy breakfast and lunch at the Conservatorium Brasserie, located in the hotel’s impressive central courtyard.
The Conservatorium Hotel, while centrally located, is not along a canal, but is right next to the Museumplein, which makes visits to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum very convenient. It is also close to the Royal Concert Hall or Concertgebouw, Vondelpark and Amsterdam’s shopping district.
One drawback of the Conservatorium for me is that a number of their suites are split-level and the stairs are not suitable for families with small children or older adults. But for those who do wish to avoid the stairs, there are suites that are not split-level.
The Dylan Amsterdam
Another property that I really like is the Dylan Amsterdam, though unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit the hotel on this trip.
Centrally located along the Keizersgracht canal, the Dylan Amsterdam is a contemporary boutique property with 41 guestrooms, lofts, duplexes and suites. Their rooms come in four different styles – Loxura, Serendipity, Lofts, and Amber – and each style has a distinct design and color palette. They are all contemporary but with some classic touches.
On-property dining options include Bar Brasserie OCCO, which is open all day and serves a global menu, and their Michelin-starred Restaurant Vinkeles, which offers modern French cuisine in an 18th century bakery.
The Dylan Amsterdam’s location is in the heart of the Negen Straatjes (or Nine Streets), the city’s fashionable shopping district, and close to the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace and the Flower Market.
If you’d like to learn more about any of these properties or want to know which one I think would be the best for you, email me at info@journeysunparalleled.com.