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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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