Amsterdam is home to so many luxury hotels, that it can be very hard to choose the right one. To help you make the right decision, I’ve compiled a list of my own 10 preferred luxury hotels in Amsterdam.
Pro Tip: Check out our guide to where to stay in Amsterdam for more planning resources, this Amsterdam in 3 Days Itinerary for a memorable trip, and how to get from Amsterdam airport to city centre.
10 Best Hotels in Amsterdam
1. Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam
Part of the immense Hilton group, this hotel combines six old mansions – termed ‘canal palaces’, all dating from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
There are 93 rooms altogether, and the whole building exudes good taste, whether it is found in the Maurer Room, a nearly pristine and exquisitely maintained eighteenth century private dining room – a time traveller from those days might not be aware of the passage of three hundred or so years! – or in the other spaces which are beautifully contemporary as to décor.
The in-house restaurant, Spectrum, has two Michelin stars, but there are also other eateries to try out: a cocktail bar, a brasserie and more.
The rooms range from elegant and roomy, to even more elegant and roomier.
While the staff are friendly and well-trained enough to cope with anything that might come their way, the hotel is probably not best suited for children, being aimed at those with sufficient wealth and/ or status to value discretion, comfort and aesthetics over family friendliness and wallet kindliness
This is reflected in the room décor which melds soft bursts of colour with neutrals and earth tones to create spaces that offer comfort and tranquillity to the guests.
Choose from twin rooms – boasting two large and comfortable beds – single rooms, and a slate of suites ranging from grand to junior to King to premier suites with their own unique names: Roell or Brentano, for example.
Modern conveniences seamlessly fit into the timeless interiors with a safe in each room, along with Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and individual espresso machines so you can start your day with a morning brew when you want it.
The rooms can be pet-friendly if you specify this upon booking, and there is a concierge service to make sure all your needs, no matter how niche, are met.
Elsewhere in the hotel, you will find an in-house fitness suite, indoor pool, spa and meeting rooms with business facilities.
Electric vehicles can be charged, and there is a separate valeted parking service of which customers can avail themselves – self parking is not available.
However, a car is not especially needed: Amsterdam is a beautiful city to walk around – or you could use the water taxis that throng the many waterways that make the city so distinctive – and all the attractions lie within a two kilometre distance – about twenty minutes’ walk, with plenty of cafés and eateries to try out along the way.
2. Conservatorium Hotel
Formerly a bank, and then a music conservatoire, finally restyled by Italian interior designer, Piero Lissoni, this large building has embraced its new iteration as a stylish and sleek city centre hotel with joy.
Lissoni maintained all the beautiful aesthetics of the original building: the stained glass, exquisite wall tiles – while adding contemporary flourishes that add surprising yet harmonious flourishes, his pops of colour, clean lines and muted fabrics that offset the former so very well.
The Conservatorium is a member (the founding member, in point of fact) of The Set Collection, an exclusive group of carefully curated independent hotels which hold good customer service and high quality offerings above all else – setting the Conservatorium’s status as one of the best hotels in Amsterdam.
And this is clear whether you are checking in at Reception, or dining in one of the several restaurants on site.
Taiko Cuisine offers an Asian fusion menu that will transform your ideas of dining out, the Brasserie offers a lighter menu in even airier surroundings; and for snacks and nibbles, there is the Lounge and Taiko Bar, which offers the best of meals in a more sociable setting, with good music, better cocktails and great company.
The staff are beautifully trained and friendly without being intrusive or obsequious, and will often anticipate your every need.
This large hotel has 129 rooms and suites, the largest of which is a triplex suite which culminates in an attic-based master bedroom for those who adore the penthouse vibe of being a literal ‘top dog’.
Som of the rooms are adapted for guests with accessibility needs. The hotel is family friendly, with certain hours set aside for children to use the in-house swimming pool.
As well as the swimming pool, there is a well-appointed gym, luxurious and deliciously pampering spa.
Enjoy the sauna and hammam to ease tense muscles and rejuvenate your senses before heading to the bar, restaurant, or simply back to your room to take advantage of the generous room service menu.
As with many Amsterdam hotels, there is valet parking (for an extra fee), but you will not need your car: all the sights of Amsterdam are within easy walking distance, and for longer trips, public transport networks are excellent.
3. Hotel TwentySeven
This opulent hotel, one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is small enough to qualify for the adjective ‘bijou’, a word that means ‘small’ in hotelspeak, but ‘jewel’ or ‘piece of jewellery’ in French.
Hotel TwentySeven admirably fits both descriptors and is one of the best hotels in Amsterdam, to boot!
The décor is lush, sumptuous, rich, colourful and perfectly suited.
Rich velvety wallpaper from Pierre Frey France; Nepalese carpets and handmade Italian curtains all drawn together with exacting judgement by a world-class interior design team who kept some original features of the building, such as the exquisite tiles and glorious stained-glass windows, seamlessly incorporating these with their more modern vision.
The result is simply beautiful.
The sixteen suites (all the rooms are suites) are all uniquely decorated, offering a distinctive appearance which, nevertheless, remains in step with the décor to be seen through the communal areas of the hotel: corridors, lounges and restaurant.
The hotel, which occupies the top four floors of a seven-story 1916 building (on the lower floors you will find the home of Amsterdam’s oldest private social club), boasts quadruple-glazed windows to make sure that not even a whisper of the busy-ness of the bustling Dam will disturb the guests, even on the busiest and noisiest nights.
Each suite comes with a private butler, and the lack of a communal fitness suite and spa is more than made up for by the provision of a personal trainer and wellness experts who will come to the suite to guide you through a workout or relaxing massage in the privacy of your home away from home.
The suites all hold a small but comprehensive selection of gym equipment for the guests to make use of.
Guests have access to tablet computers with which they can adjust the lighting, temperature and ambience of their suite, as well as an espresso machine and well-stocked minibar.
There is a capacity for children and babies to stay, but the hotel is designed primarily for adult guests, and disabled guests are advised to get in touch to ask about their accessibility needs as the building is not especially accommodating in this regard.
But if you are looking for company, you can head down to enjoy some of the best cocktails in Amsterdam in the bar which has acquired a well-deserved reputation for both the impeccable provision of classic cocktails as well as the offer of new and delicious in-house creations.
The restaurant, Bougainville, had only been in operation for one year when it scored its first Michelin star. The menu offers a wonderful range with something to please everyone from those looking for cordon bleu dishes to those simply wanting to enjoy a delicious and unfussy meal.
The hotel staff have an excellent rapport and work seamlessly to ensure that their guests have an enjoyable stay, from checking in to checking out.
During your stay, you will find many of the must-see sights and must-do activities are just on your doorstep – or a short and painless tram ride away.
There is parking nearby that you can reserve, or you can use the hotel’s valet parking service for a fee (a relatively modest fee compared to the other hotels listed thus far.)
4. De L’Europe Amsterdam
One of the grand old dames of Amsterdam hoteliery, De L’Europe Hotel is over a hundred and twenty-five years old, and is owned by the family who produce Heineken beer.
The bar, ‘Freddy’s Bar’ is named for Alfred Heineken, the grandson of the original brewer, and CEO of the company from the 70s to the 90s, after he purchased enough stock to buy back the company from its current owners.
The hotel consists of two buildings: the original Rondeel Building, and the newer acquisition, a former bank, which is now known as the Dutch Master Wing.
The Rondeel Building contains 88 rooms and suites, the largest of the suites being a six-bedroom behemoth.
The Dutch Master Wing, so named for the hotel’s agreement with the Rijksmuseum which has seen a number of immense and irreplaceable canvases adorn the walls of the Promenade Lobby Bar – a favoured place to see, be seen, and take afternoon tea.
If you would rather take tea in your room, they are equipped with a selection of teas and a kettle, as well as a high-end coffee machine. The full minibar, safe large enough for a laptop and beverage supply might be expected, but the thoughtful addition of a branded umbrella, sewing kit and other useful items come as a pleasant surprise.
The décor is clean and minimalist, soothing neutrals and whites, but comfortable, with softness and comfort where it is needed.
Cribs and extra beds are available on booking, and children under the age of twelve stay for free: however larger families might need to shuffle themselves between several rooms: there is a limit on three people per room.
The hotel might be an old established one, but their technology is bang up to date, from the multiple array of chargers available to use (no need for a ‘continental adapter’ to take up precious hand-luggage space) to the tiny lights, activated by floor sensors, which flicker on when you climb out of bed to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
There are several restaurants in the hotel, from high-class international standard cuisine to a brasserie to a riverside (all-weather – this is important given Amsterdam’s frequent showers) café, so you can choose whether to dine in high style, in casual comfort, or people and boat watching from the canal-side or riverside – the Amstel river is right outside the windows in some parts of the building.
As would be expected of a five-star hotel, there is a small but very well-equipped spa, complete with indoor pool and jacuzzi (look out for the tiny patio accessed through the spa if you need a few more moments of luxurious relaxation before heading back to the family after your treatments).
There is also a state-of-the-art gym, a well-equipped library for bibliophiles, and a private wine cellar sure to delight the most discerning oenophile.
The hotel, as might be expected from one of the best hotels in Amsterdam, is in a prime location in the city, and occupies not one but two gorgeous buildings, on what feels very much like a private peninsula despite the easy proximity to the heart of the city.
The hotel even boasts its own jetty from which you can set forth to explore.
5. Luxury Suites Amsterdam
As the name implies this hotel is suite-only, and boasts twenty-five well-appointed suites.
It is in the heart of the residential area just off the central canal ring, on the sixteenth century Oudeschans canal which gives onto a quiet street lined with similarly designed brick houses – the hotel fitting seamlessly into these tranquil surroundings.
But this is not to say that the hotel is out of the way or distant from all the must see places – it lies a few minutes’ walk from the bustling heart of Amsterdam and all the must-see and must-do places, sites and activities.
The luxurious suites are more like self-contained flatlets, with kitchen areas featuring hot-plates, microwaves, sinks and a small dishwasher as well a small but comprehensive complement of kitchenware – and small dining area to properly enjoy the fruits of your culinary labours.
There are also the more usual hotel accoutrements of coffee machine, kettle, selection of teas, and well-stocked minibar, along with large televisions – which connect to the internet and come with a handy keyboard, so you do not have to labour with the tiny remote control keys – and air conditioning throughout.
Catering arrangements are just a little lacking, with no full-service restaurant on the premises, but the hotel makes up for this by offering a twenty-four hour room service offer from many of the nearby eateries and restaurants, so you have plenty of dining choice on those nights when you just want to put your feet up and eat in the hotel.
There is both an a la carte and buffet breakfast made and served inside the hotel, so your mornings are taken care of, as are your drinking requirements – there is a twenty-four hour bar near the breakfast room.
For those who still smoke, the hotel even has a smoking room: a most rare offering in a world where smokers are usually not only ushered outside but entirely off the premises!
There is a compact but well-equipped gym, and while there is no specific spa on the premises, you can arrange for a masseuse to come to your room for a small fee.
To get around, if walking and the excellent public transport system is not an option, the hotel offers valet parking (usually for a fee), and you can also arrange taxi pick-up and drop off, airport shuttles, or hire a bicycle to see the city like a local.
6. The Dylan, Amsterdam
One of the Leading Hotels of the World, the Dylan is a surprising small hotel, a boutique building boasting just forty rooms.
The seventeenth century building was, for over two hundred years, the headquarters of an alms-house and charity, before being entirely transformed at the other end of the social spectrum, emerging as a high-quality hotel at the luxurious end of the market.
It is perfectly sited so as to be handy for all the city centre attractions.
The building’s original archway still stands and is the entryway into the hotel, which adds to the air of exclusivity and discretion of which the hotel is proud.
The décor smacks of Dutch minimalism, with stark white walls and strong black notes beautifully offset with the warmth of natural wood which appears in the furniture and overhead with the uncovered ceiling trusses as well as in other places.
This simple interior design is occasionally brightened with judicious plunges into modernity: such as the long black marble topped bar and the funkily geometric light fittings.
In the rooms, the designers allowed themselves to experiment a little, with each room offering an entirely unique look and ambiance: from plush and old-fashioned to Asian touches to soothing natural and neutral tones – ask the staff about your preferred style and they will accommodate you if they can.
The rooms are spread over two buildings and each has a unique shape as well as being individually decorated.
Children are welcome, but there is little in the way of tailored entertainment for them, and while there are no elevators to the room, staff members are happy to discuss accessibility needs at the time of booking.
The staff is impeccably trained, able to recite details of the menu’s ingredients (vital for those with allergies and intolerances) as well as providing the exact level of customer service that welcomes without awkwardness or obsequiousness.
Dine in style at the Michelin-starred Vinkeles Restaurant or enjoy the rougher home comforts at the Occo Brasserie, before enjoying a drink – alcoholic or virgin – at the newish lounge bar.
Breakfast is served as a select buffet in the breakfast room to set you up for the day.
There is a gym for you to work out all your stresses, or you can head to the small courtyard which shields you from the bustle of the city and provides a tranquil interlude in the sunshine for those who crave a moment’s peace and silence.
7. InterContinental Amstel, Amsterdam
A member of the IHG (Intercontinental Hotel Group) , this magnificent hotel fronts onto the Amstel River, offering an imposing and welcoming sight to travellers arriving by water taxi.
Built and opened as a hotel in 1867, this hotel knows all about how to look after guests in such a way that they remember with fondness their nights within the hotel’s walls and begin to plan their return to this – one of the best hotels in Amsterdam – as soon as they can get away!
Famous previous guests include those as diverse as pop legend David Bowie and her late majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
The hotel was built in a time when hotels were grand, imposing edifices (second only to banks which were designed to be intimidating temples to finance) at once offering a touch of classy hauteur and a warm welcome to those stepping up to those marble reception desks which give way to which sweeps guests away into a lofty spread of corridors, rooms and high ceilings.
Belying the high-class architecture, the staff are warm and welcoming, bursting with local knowledge and helpful hints about the city and the hotel itself.
Enjoy the small outdoor swimming pool, work out in the gym or, instead of pampering yourself with the non-existent beauty treatments, you can enjoy a session with the in-house psychotherapist, a hangover from the very earliest days of the profession, when Dr J. G. Mezger (a founding pioneer) used to practice from the newly-opened hotel.
Or you can go to the spa, enjoy a sauna or a massage and regain your mental wellbeing that way instead!
The rooms merge the best of both: old-fashioned high ceilings and spacious living quarters and full-sized bathrooms are teamed with mod cons that range from an ironing board to a coffee machine to whisper-quiet but super-efficient air conditioning.
There are some rooms that interconnect to become family friendly, but the building is not especially accessibility friendly, so any guest with disabilities would be best off checking about their specific needs.
Dine at La Rive restaurant, and feel free to consult the well-informed maitre’d about wine pairings to ensure you get the best of both your food and the drink, or keep things simple at the next-door brasserie which offers better-known classic dishes such as Caesar Salad to lamb curry for those days when you are feeling more hungry than adventurous.
Breakfast is predominantly a buffet with some a la carte dishes (mainly egg-based), but it is a buffet with a difference, boasting unusual and delicious treats that you will thoroughly enjoy alongside your more regular breakfast fare.
8. Pulitzer Amsterdam
There is nothing bijou or boutique about the Pulitzer, Amsterdam. It stretches over an incredible twenty-five carefully restored and beautifully appointed canal houses, all dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and now boasts two hundred and twenty five (225) rooms as well a selection of variously sized meeting rooms and event spaces.
It is close to many of the city’s attractions and public transport is readily accessible, and reasonably priced.
The fitting of the large hotel into so many different individual buildings (albeit terraced ones) means that the rooms are accessed via a charming maze of staircases, hallways, unexpected open spaces and delightful nooks which simply add to your sense of adventure.
The hotel welcomes children, with various activities such as treasure hunts, an x-Box available to hire from reception, colouring books and even journals for teens to fill-in during their stay.
Each room is individually decorated – an unusual feat for such a great number of rooms – but all are gloriously comfortable, with splashes of harmonious colour schemes from golds to purples to unexpected splashes of lime.
As well as the expected tea and coffee facilities, the rooms also offer puncture repair kits, a strong hint for visitors to see the city as the locals do, from the seat of a bicycle. These are easily hired throughout the city, and the reception staff will be more than happy to direct you in this.
The cuisine at Restaurant Jansz is emphatically interested in feeding you a delicious meal, rather than winning awards for nouveau cuisine, but it is award-winning-worthy food nevertheless.
Breakfast is robust, with an emphasis on egg-based dishes, but also offering towers of meat and cheese for those who want to stoke their energy for a busy day exploring the city.
Pause, the lobby bar, overflows happily onto the garden courtyard, offers an all-day breakfast as well as a good range of light bites.
When you need a drink, the in-house bar, Pulitzer’s bar, is something of a city-wide institution, popular with the residents as well as with visitors. It is done up like an old-fashioned gentlemen’s club (without the misogyny) and offers a good range of excellent wines and cocktails.
The hotel is named for its proprietor shortly after opening: Herbert Pulitzer, the grandson of Joseph, the journalist and newspaperman who funded the world-famous Pulitzer Prize.
9. Sofitel Legend The Grand, Amsterdam
Don’t be dismayed by the proximity of this grand hotel to the infamous Red Light District – the local authorities have been working hard to prevent the ingress of the party-hungry 18-30 crowd and clean up the image of this much-abused part of town.
Apart from this, the hotel itself lies in a tranquil and beautiful spot, an oasis of calm that will act as a balm to a frazzled travel-tired soul.
The 177 rooms are various sizes – unsurprising, given the buildings past incarnations as fifteenth century convent then a royal household, then headquarters of the Admiralty, and finally as Amsterdam’s City Hall for a time – so do mention if you are hoping for a generous amount of floorspace.
Most of the rooms have at least walk-in showers with the usual tea and coffee-making facilities, but Wi-Fi quality tends to be poor in some areas.
The suites offer personalised butler service, and all the staff are friendly and welcoming without any trace of servility (the people tend to egalitarianism even in the so-called service industries) and will soon have you set for the day.
Rooms are well-appointed with provision for child-friendly beds and cribs, and one third-floor room has been designed for guests with disabilities.
For those looking for more spaciousness or a home away from home for the duration of their trip, there are forty-four suites available, and for businessmen looking to gain ‘home advantage’ there are nineteen meeting rooms.
The hotel can cater for very large, very grand affairs – such as Queen Beatrix’s wedding which was held on the premises.
The building’s high ceilings and rather chilly architecture has been successfully softened and enhanced by the judicious use of warming fabrics, bright colours and cleverly witty touches guaranteed to draw a smile from the grumpiest traveller.
The hotel boasts a beautiful garden courtyard with exquisite blooms on display (in season, of course), and there is also a swimming pool, well-equipped gym, and spa to meet all your relaxation and work-out needs.
There is also an in-house library for book-lovers and rainy days that make exploration more of a chore than a delight.
Bridges Restaurant offers a semi-formal atmosphere that both welcomes and sets expectations of its inhabitants in a way that is rather comforting, something like dressing up to go out to dinner with Grandpa.
But this is not to say that the restaurant is stuffy or old-fashioned: far from it. Rather, the old-fashioned air is carefully crafted to offset the modern welcome and craftsman-like cuisine put together from international favourites, a hint of Asian fusion and other deliciously light touches.
For more informal meals, there is Oriole, the garden café-bistro which specialises in brunch-style light-meals or the ‘brown café’ (essentially the Dutch answer to an English-style pub, so named for its hearty fare and the predominantly brown (wood and leather etc) décor) which competes with the classic cocktail bar for patrons in search of some post-exploration conviviality.
Breakfast, as so often in Amsterdam hotels, is a superb spread including all the regular offerings plus many interesting and delicious extras that you will soon adopt into your regular breakfast routine!
10. Andaz Amsterdam Prisengracht
Touted as a ‘concept by Hyatt’, it is no surprise to find that this hotel understands its business. The hotel boasts a respectable 122 rooms, and has decked out the hotel in a fresh and ‘hip’ style that is both welcoming and contemporary, a nice contrast with its past as a 1970s library.
The rooms are big, beautifully appointed and welcoming, with whimsical surrealistic touches throughout, mainly seen with the art scattered throughout the premises, but also making itself seen in the décor and furniture.
The wall paper in the bathroom is covered with words for those who forgot to bring a book along to pass their ablution time more productively; and one-way mirrors take the place of shower curtains, offering privacy to the showeree and a full-body check to others in the room.
However, these quirky touches never tip over into impracticality or annoyance: underneath the fun is a solid understanding of what travellers really want from their hotel room: comfort, welcome and the feeling of ‘coming home’ albeit to a slightly better home that they’ve not really seen before!
The hotel is predominantly geared to adult guests, but there are some provisions for children too, such as colouring books available on request from the restaurant so the children can entertain themselves while they eat. One room is equipped for guests with disabilities.
The lounge bar combines colonial hints with cocktails which are both classic and adventurous to suit all tastes.
The restaurant, Bluespoon, is run by Sander Bierenbroodspot, whose name is a wonder of nominative determinism. It translates to ‘beer and bread stew’. But the chef’s cooking is much more ambitious than his name would allow, and he produces delicious meals that are both refined and hearty.
The breakfast buffet is heavy on breads and pastries (but they are very good breads and pastries, complimented with artisanal jams and spreads) and there are a small number of excellent a la carte dishes available too – the Eggs Benedict is especially praiseworthy.
There is an in-house spa, a fitness centre and a sauna to soothe your aches and pains after a day cycling around the city – bicycles are freely available from the hotel. To find the best places to visit, make use of the free Wi-Fi to plan your itinerary.