A

A
stone’s throw away from Amsterdam‘s
museum square, Pillows Anna Van den Vondel is ideally located for
those looking to explore the city’s art and design scene. True to
the understated nature of the Dutch, this

boutique hotel is elegant, unpretentious and “gezellig”
(loosely translating to mean “cosy”). Following refurbishment, the
19th-century property reopened its doors in January 2017, offering
31 rooms and a beautifully appointed lounge and restaurant area. If
you want to escape the tourist hordes and stag dos, you can’t do
much better than this; the hotel is tucked away on a small street
in one of Amsterdam’s upscale areas, surrounded by former palaces,
townhouses and the city’s biggest green space, Vondel Park.

Rooms

Much like the rest of the hotel, guestrooms are carefully
crafted for comfort and warmth; wooden interiors are paired with
marble and meet soft furnishings in a rich blue hue. With
minimalistic design throughout, it’s the attention to detail that
sets the hotel apart, such as the bespoke beds and walk-in showers
filled with blue toiletries to match the décor. And yes, the hotel
does offer numerous different pillows.

What’s for lunch and dinner?

The restaurant offers a modern take on classics such as a croque
monsieur, Ceasar salad and parmigiana. The concise menu covers all
bases, from bar snacks through to dessert, with every dish is made
to order in the open-plan kitchen, which looks more like your
friend’s house rather than a restaurant. Even the traditional
“pepermunt”, a staple of every Dutch café, restaurant and bar, is
homemade. The restaurant is open 24 hours to satisfy any night
cravings which may follow days spent in Amsterdam’s coffee shops.

Is there a bar?

The lounge and bar area is called “Living’, implying that this
is a more of a place to relax, flick through a book or warm your
hands by fire place rather than dance all night. The menu offers a
selection of classic champagnes and wines, but the barman makes a
mean old fashioned.

Amenities

This is a small city hotel, so it doesn’t have a gym or a spa,
but with the Vondel Park on the doorstep, there’s plenty of room
for alfresco yoga.

Things I should know

If you need a break from waffles and apple pie, Amsterdam’s hip
chain of organic stores and cafés, Stach Food, has a branch just
down the road. Stock up on healthy snacks or pick up a lunchtime
poke bowl.

Within a short walk I can find…

The area around the hotel has good links to all parts of the
city with the closest tram station just a five-minute walk away.
It’s also a short cab ride away or a 30-minute walk from the up and
coming area of De Pijp, originally home to working class and
immigrant families and now a melting pot of cultures and cuisines.
Head to De Japanner, a Japanese-inspired bar and restaurant that
serves classic drinks and finger food with a twist until late.
Monday to Saturday sees the area transform as the streets fill with
pushcarts and stalls at the local Albert Cuypmarkt, reputedly
Europe’s largest street market. Don’t forget to pick up some
Stroopwafels, which are freshly prepared at the market.