The Amsterdam Hotels We’re Obsessed With

From a retro-fitted 70s tower block to a curio-filled city-centre townhouse, these are our favourite home-from-homes in the Netherlands’ capital

Following a recent flurry of high-profile construction projects and hot-ticket refurbs, Amsterdam's accommodation offering is as diverse as the variations of kroketten - the crunchy, fluffy Dutch counterpart to the French croquette - scoffed in the Venice of the North (for our money, best enjoyed squished onto a piece of soft white bread, dipped in mustard and accompanied by a side of frietjes and a cold beer).

From well-trodden cobbled streets to reborn industrial zones made vibrant with street art, and from edgy former warehouses to plush grande dames, these seven design-savvy stays are the ones to have on your radar when escaping for an Amsterdam city break.

Seven of our favourite cool Amsterdam hotels

A dove-grey bedroom

hotel

Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park

Bringing opulence to Oosterpark, this former university laboratory has been transformed into a sophisticated 88-room stay overlooking the leafy borough of Oost's beloved green space: you know you're in good hands from the moment you check in. Inside the property - the seventh from Pillows Hotels - an earthy colour palette makes for soft, airy interiors. An up-and-coming hotspot for those looking for a pampering sojourn, the hotel is home to a stellar line-up of in-house restaurants. Try brasserie Spring for seafood specialities such as roasted cod with white beans, mussels and chorizo sauce, and round things off with a selection of fine European cheeses with pane carasau (Sardinian flatbread).

Address

Mauritskade 61, 1092 AD

An adder-green bedroom

hotel

Hotel the Noblemen

Built during the Dutch golden age by a marble merchant, this elegant canal house overlooking the Leidsegracht takes its name from the string of notable Amsterdammers who once called it home. Its richly coloured, refurbished interiors offer a nod towards its former mercantile owners, with rooms decked out in marble, adder-green woodwork, gleaming brass and copper accents, well-oiled wooden ceiling beams and elegant canopy bed frames. Curios are scattered throughout; expect to encounter taxidermy pheasants atop heavy oak sideboards, telescopes poised for use beside windows and astrological models in your en-suite.

Address

Leidsegracht 14, 1016 CK

A 70s-infused hotel bedroom

hotel

Hotel V Fizeaustraat

Raw concrete, textile wall hangings, shag pile rugs and oiled wooden floors add a distinctive 70s edge to this 91-room suburban stay housed within a 1971-built former office block designed by famed post-war Dutch architect Piet Zanstra. The retro-infused interiors ooze Farrah Fawcett-esque energy, with an enthusiastic use of wicker, green leather and a glamorous chandelier (actually made from bike chains) in the lobby. Rooms are more industrial, but soft fabrics and plush beds keep them feeling cosy. Head to The Lobby restaurant for brioche toast breakfasts, pizza-like flammkuchen lunches and a dinner menu that features a melting pot of international flavours. Despite the quiet beyond its floor-to-ceiling windows, you're just a 10-minute walk from the Amstel metro station, from where a train will whisk you into the city centre in a further 10 minutes.

Address

Fizeaustraat 2, 1097 SC

A pink hotel bedroom

hotel

Jan Luyken Hotel

Art enthusiasts will appreciate this eclectic manor. Positioned in the Museum Quarter, within easy reach of the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum, it's the perfect weekend-break perch for a culture vulture. Tucked away from the canals on a quiet side street, the 19th-century, no-frills red-brick townhouse exterior belies the recently refurbished rooms inside, which play with a rich colour palette and are peppered with art nouveau touches. Expect arching, houndstooth-patterned headboards, fringed lampshades and bay windows with stained-glass edging. Downstairs, you'll find a smart bar and library. There's no restaurant, but staff will happily offer recommendations for good dining options within walking distance.

Address

Jan Luijkenstraat 58, 1071 CS

A colourful aparthotel bedroom with wood floors and raw concrete ceiling

hotel

BOAT&CO Amsterdam

Designed by city architects Kollhoff & Pols, this waterfront hotel is located in Houthaven, Amsterdam's historic timber harbour district, a recently revitalised area just a quick bike ride from Westerpark and the Jordaan. Once a commercial trading port, Houthaven has been transformed into the city's latest happening neighbourhood, home to a weekend flea market, the Zonnehoek garden and a hive of restaurants, bars and offices. BOAT&CO is a landmark in the area - a recently opened aparthotel that was built with sustainability in mind, with solar-panel roofing, water-saving plumbing and a thermal-energy storage system to reduce usage. Each apartment comes fully equipped with a kitchen, living space and desk space, with some offering views across the water. Make a reservation on the restaurant terrace and dine on the likes of zesty fish crudo, fresh oysters and burrata salad. All ingredients are sourced locally.

Address

Revaleiland 500, 1014 ZG

Soho House Amsterdam

hotel

Soho House Amsterdam

Check in with the cool crowd at Soho House's Amsterdam outpost. The Netherlands' branch of the London-based club is a little more distinguished than its English counterpart - rooms are wood-panelled or offer Deft Blue tiles; some have copper soaking tubs; others, quilted headboards. All have a well-stocked minibar, so you can make yourself a drink garnished with fresh lemon, lime or orange upon arrival. Downstairs, there's a dimly lit screening room filled with velvet armchairs and cashmere blankets where guests can catch the newest blockbuster, old classic or art-house film, as well as two restaurants. Guests also have access to the hotel's health club, which includes a gym. You'll find us skipping a Pilates class to lounge in the rooftop pool, though.

Address

Spuistraat 210, 1012 VT

Pulitzer Suite at the Pulitzer Amsterdam

hotel

Pulitzer Amsterdam

Opened in 1970 by the grandson of Pulitzer Prize founder Joseph Pulitzer, this lavish hotel was recently renovated. Now, its 225 rooms, Jansz. restaurant and bar seamlessly meld contemporary design with quirky townhouse touches (note the piano suspended from the ceiling of the entrance hall, and the maze-like network of stairways and passages you'll need to navigate to find your room). Standard rooms come in three classifications - Cosy, Classic and Generous - but we'd recommend splashing out on a night surrounded by classic novels (some by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, of course) in the Book Collector's Suite, a dark academia-style study for literature lovers. Don't miss Sunday-brunch crab toasties and smooth lattes at the Pulitzer Garden. For drinks, head to the art deco-style Pulitzer's Bar. Our order? The golden fields fashioned - a heady blend of coffee-infused Michter's Rye with banana and bitters.

Read our review

Address

Prinsengracht 323, 1016 GZ

This article contains affiliate links, which means SUITCASE may earn a small commission if you click through and book.

Discover More
Amsterdam's Coolest Cafés