Amsterdam’s picturesque tree-lined canals and 17th century architecture lend themselves to a kind of calm and sophisticated luxury, and these nine select properties do not disappoint. Choose from restored canal palaces, 15th-century convents, and even the hotel where John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their 1969 Bed-In protest.
01
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Waldorf-Astoria Amsterdam
Direction
Herengracht 542-556, 1017 CG Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 718 4600
Web
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Luxury hotels
4.7
It’s hard to overstate the elegance of the Waldorf-Astoria Amsterdam, a 93-room property made from six 17th-century palaces along the luxurious Herengracht Canal. Step into the lobby to see an original carved wooden staircase by French architect Daniel Morot, the only functional of its kind in Amsterdam. Look down at your feet to admire the gleaming marble floor in the lobby, a serious sign of wealth when the original owners were building their properties. And look inside the Maurer Room, right next to the lobby bar, a private event space set up as if it was for a Rococco-era dinner. The integration of the story continues in the rooms, where the decor tends towards lapis lazuli and ocher (a nod to the Dutch artist Vermeer) and the turndown service includes a touch of one of the four fragrances by Cire Trudon, the oldest in the world. world, still operates candles and perfume supplier. If you can’t afford to stay in the hotel, consider visiting one of the hotel’s restaurants or bars. Their signature two Michelin star restaurant is Spectrum. Although it’s constantly busy, Executive Chef Sidney Schutte also oversees the hotel’s other restaurant, Brasserie Jilguero. Or you can relax and enjoy a more casual dinner at Peacock Alley or the Vault Bar.
02
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Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
Direction
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197, 1012 EX Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 555 3111
Web
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Historic hotels
4.7
The Sofitel Legend is located in the oldest part of the city and has a historical history to match. Its monumental buildings between two canals have served as a 15th century convent, the seat of the Dutch Admiralty in the Golden Age, the Town Hall and even the site of the wedding of the current Queen Beatrix in 1966. It is also the address of the Michelin restaurant Bridges’ Star Seafood… For drinks, pub food and snacks, you’ll enjoy The Flying Dutchman.
03
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InterContinental Amstel
Direction
Professor Tulpplein 1, 1018 GX Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 622 6060
Web
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Luxury hotels
4.4
The 79 traditionally furnished rooms and suites at this waterside hotel epitomize great European elegance. Guests enjoy a unique idyllic location: a private square along the Amstel River that is both central and quiet. The hotel’s main restaurant, La Rive, one of 14 Michelin-starred kitchens in Amsterdam, serves French cuisine, while its Brasserie Amstel serves seasonal dishes.
04
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Hotel Pulitzer
Direction
Prinsengracht 323, 1016 GZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 523 5235
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Possibly the most exclusive luxury accommodation in Amsterdam, the 230 rooms of the Hotel Pulitzer occupy 25 restored 17th and 18th century canal houses between the picturesque Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht canals.
05
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Hotel de l’Europe
Direction
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 2-14 , 1012 CP Amsterdam , Países BajosGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 531 1777
Web
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Luxury hotels
4.5 4.5
Once a gift from beer magnate Freddy Heineken to his wife, the Hotel de l’Europe is now owned by his daughter. Luxury furnishings include Dutch paintings in the lobby. Overlooking the River Amstel at the Muntplein, the hotel is in the center of one of the busiest areas in Amsterdam.
06
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NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky
Direction
Dam 9, 1012 JS Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 554 9111
Web
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Situated on busy Dam Square, the Krasnapolsky is truly grand, with over 450 rooms and 36 apartments. The hotel’s décor is simpler and more discreet than that of the ornate Amstel Intercontinental or the Hotel de l’Europe. The spectacular Winter Garden is popular with guests and visitors for its breakfast in lush surroundings.
07
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Hotel Okura
Direction
Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 678 7111
Web
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Luxury hotels
4.5 4.5
This high-rise property in the south of Amsterdam caters to business travelers and those seeking luxury in a quieter part of the city. Expect chic, modern rooms and first-class restaurants, as the hotel has three of the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Yamazato serves traditional Japanese food, while Sazanka prepares Japanese teppanyaki dishes; Ciel Bleu offers French-inspired cuisine on the 23rd floor. Its two new restaurants are Serre, a canal-side brasserie open all day, and Le Camelia, which is open for breakfast.
08
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Amsterdam Hilton
Direction
Apollolaan 138, 1077 BG Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 710 6000
Web
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The boxy 1960s building was home to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous ‘bed’ in 1969. You can even rent the room for just € 1,700 per night. Located on a quiet canal in the Old South district of Amsterdam, the hotel is within walking distance of local residents’ favorite shops and restaurants.
09
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Bilderberg Garden Hotel
Direction
Dijsselhofplantsoen 7, 1077 BJ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGet directions
Telephone
+31 20 570 5600
Web
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Just a stone’s throw from the Amsterdam Hilton, this property is equally indescribable on the outside. But excellent service and sleek, modern rooms keep the small hotel in residential Old South Amsterdam on the five-star list.
Edited by Kristen de Joseph.
