Amsterdam: what was once but a small fishing village is now the proud capital of the Netherlands, having prospered from trade in the Dutch Golden Age during the 17th century. It’s a city with one hell of a reputation, famed for an anything-goes attitude that has turned it into the de facto cannabis capital of Europe and a party destination for hardcore ravers (not to mention a stag do favourite, thanks to the red light district). But while this side to Amsterdam certainly exists, this gloriously eccentric city also promises charm and sophistication by the bucketload. Beyond the plethora of world-class restaurants and bars, visitors can expect more museums than any other city in Europe, even Paris, enough hipster hangouts to rival Berlin and the same calibre of boutique hotels you’d find in London.
The postcard-perfect city centre is a maze of canals flanked by historic townhouses, with flower-peppered bridges and passing boats laden with merry tourists clinking glasses (or beer cans). The good-time vibes continue in Amsterdam’s abundance of verdant parks with large lakes and ponds, in which it’s legal to light up a barbecue (what isn’t legal here?), as well as on the vibrant foodie scene (pay special attention to the ultra-trendy De Pijp neighbourhood). This is a place where culture and hedonism can be enjoyed in equal measure, plus it’s the safest city in Europe. Herewith is GQ‘s guide to the best hotels in Amsterdam.
The Dylan
Roel Ruijs
Set in a tall, thin 17th-century charcoal townhouse overlooking the city’s central canal, The Dylan is a quintessential Amsterdam hotel. The entrance itself – an original stone archway (in the 16th century the site was home to a theatre) and cobbled front courtyard, lined by bikes and tulips leading up to the door – captures the hotel’s style and spirit, marrying old-world charm with contemporary flair. There are only 40 bedrooms, each one with its own flavour, split into four main interior categories. There’s the “Loxura” set, modelled on the copper-coloured Loxura butterfly, the “loft” bedrooms featuring the building’s original wooden beams, the “amber” rooms (inspired by, you guessed it, the precious stone) and, finally, the serendipity rooms, decorated in warm shades of brown and grey with lashings of luxurious fabric. GQ stayed in an amber room, complete with majestic four-poster bed, views of the hotel’s spectacular inner courtyard (a thoroughly lovely, tree-lined spot for long lazy summer lunches, or cosy, blanket-wrapped coffee mornings in autumn) and cutting-edge tech, including a Bose sound system. The beds are smart “FreshBeds”, which promise a better night’s sleep thanks to climate control. You can even regulate the left and right sides of the bed separately: a godsend for couples who can never agree on bedding or air-con.
Breakfast is served in Bar Brasserie OCCO, a warm, inviting space with cobbles underfoot and beams overhead that’s also excellent for lunch and dinner. Peking duck noodle soup sits alongside flat-iron steak and ravioli on the trans-national menu, with the cod in white wine sauce proving to be a particular highlight. There’s a real buzz about the brasserie thanks to the steady stream of locals and tourists who congregate around the black marble bar, sipping on Dylan Thomas (the hotel’s namesake) whisky cocktails and highballs made with Amsterdam vermouth Willem’s Wermoed. A true sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of the Negen Straatjes (“Nine Streets”) shopping quarter, The Dylan is everything a five-star boutique hotel should be. The Dylan, Keizersgracht 384, 1016 GB Amsterdam. dylanamsterdam.com
Hotel TwentySeven
