The grand hotels of Amsterdam: the back story

About The grand hotels of Amsterdam: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Amsterdam Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Amsterdam’s finest hotels are rarely tall. Most hide behind the gabled fronts of the 17th-century canal houses, several houses joined into one: the Waldorf Astoria on the Herengracht, The Dylan on the Keizersgracht, the Pulitzer on the Prinsengracht. On the Amstel stand the Amstel Hotel and De L’Europe; on the Museumplein side, the Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium; and on the Prinsengracht, Rosewood Amsterdam now fills the former Palace of Justice.

On the canals

The Waldorf Astoria is at Herengracht 542–556, The Dylan at Keizersgracht 384 (with Vinkeles, Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2026 guide), and the Pulitzer at Prinsengracht 323. Rosewood Amsterdam occupies the former Palace of Justice at Prinsengracht 432–436.

On the Amstel

De L’Europe stands at Nieuwe Doelenstraat 2–14, where the Amstel meets the Rokin; its restaurant Flore holds Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2026 guide. Further upriver, the Amstel Hotel is on the Professor Tulpplein.

You don’t need a room to enjoy them: book dinner at Flore, Vinkeles or Ciel Bleu, or a drink at Advocatuur.

Museum Quarter and Zuid

The Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium is at Paulus Potterstraat 50, a few steps from the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Hotel Okura, at Ferdinand Bolstraat 333 in De Pijp, holds Ciel Bleu (Two Stars) and Yamazato (One).

Boutique Amsterdam

Hotel TwentySeven on the Dam, home of Bougainville (One Star); the Ambassade and The Hoxton on the Herengracht; Estheréa on the Singel; Rosalia’s Menagerie on the Kloveniersburgwal.

Our advice: for a first visit, stay on the canals between the Westerkerk and the Amstel; everything is a walk away.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Amsterdam: the back story before you go.