Amsterdam Smart Splurges

Smart Splurges

Organizing an ideal Amsterdam agenda that assures rewarding cultural encounters, memorable hotel stays, and select high-end perks that add up to trip-of-a-lifetime memories isn’t just a matter of spending more money – with so many choices, you’ve got to know where to spend more your money. From hotels offering just the right combination of location, historical ambiance, and state-of-the-art élan to destination-defining culinary and shopping experiences, our Amsterdam Smart Splurges may require a slight increase in your travel budget, but they're certainly worth the extra euros!

Smart Splurge    Great Value

Few hotels capture the spirit of Amsterdam like the historic Ambassade, which manages to vaunt an "Old Europe" atmosphere without seeming stuffy. Its 59 rooms and suites span ten 17th- and 18th-century townhouses along the Herengracht, one of the city’s most picturesque canals. The location, within walking distance of medieval Dom Square and the Royal Palace, is an obvious draw, but the heart of the Ambassade's charm lies in its conspicuous appreciation for the arts. Antiques and original paintings from the mid-20th-century, avant-garde art movement CoBrA (an acronym for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam) figure prominently throughout the property (Theo Wolvecamp and Karen Appel are both represented), and the hotel’s fantastic library includes tomes signed by famous guests like Umberto Eco, Marianne Pearl, and Salman Rushdie. The room you'll want to linger in, however, is the majestic, sun-lit breakfast room overlooking the canal. Order the traditional Dutch breakfast, a smorgasbord that includes tiny pancakes, Dutch and French cheeses, smoked halibut, fresh fruit, and champagne. 

Herengracht 341; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-555-0222; www.ambassade-hotel.nl
Tags: luxury | hotel | art | expensive | spa | jim's pick | editor pick
Old-world elegance attracts stars and royalty to this legendary 67-room hotel on the Amstel River featuring a spa, indoor pool (very unusual for Amsterdam), and a Turkish bath. In the rooms, expect floral patterns, grand, classical furnishings, and marble bathrooms. The hotel’s La Rive restaurant – one of the few in Amsterdam featured in the Michelin guide – is a generously proportioned spot with decorous service and a French-Mediterranean menu.
Professor Tulpplein 1; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-622-6060; www.amsterdam.intercontinental.com
Tags: luxury | hotel | historic | landmark | expensive
Hotel 717 overflows with classic romance and the property’s eight large and elegant canal-side suites are sure to please. Gorgeous period antiques, in both common areas and guest rooms, evoke the city’s rich past while modern graces like Chopard bath products, Bang and Olufsen DVD players, and a library of musical CDs assure contemporary comfort. Extras elsewhere (ironing, shoe shines, house wines, afternoon tea and pastries, in-room refreshment cabinets, and sumptuous made to-order breakfasts) are included here, making it a premier choice for those in the know. And should you manage to pry yourself from this luxurious Amsterdam abode, posh shops, the city’s famous museums, and the hopping nightlife of the Leidseplein are only steps away.
Prinsengracht 717; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-427-0717; www.717hotel.nl
Tags: luxury | hotel | boutique | historic | expensive | editor pick
When a restaurant is located in a functioning greenhouse – albeit a designer one –...more
Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-462-4562; www.restaurantdekas.nl
Tags: international travel | restaurant | expensive | organic | editor pick
Aromatic Indonesian food isn’t hard to find in Holland but it is difficult to find it this...more
Utrechtsestraat 75; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-625-6718; www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl
Tags: international travel | restaurant | expensive | indonesian
Bimhuis
Branford Marsalis has lauded the Bimhuis as one of the world’s three best venues for live Jazz. Nightly concerts in all styles from mainstream to avant garde are complemented by improv sessions held in an acoustic (and contemporary architectural) gem.
Piet Heinkade 3; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-788-2188; www.bimhuis.nl
Tags: international travel | architecture | jazz | nightlife | live music
Canal Cruise “De Tourist”
De Tourist isn't the only company providing daily group canal tours to the general public, but they’re the only one that eschews the touristy canal boats in favor of a stunning restored, salon boat.
c/o Pulitzer Hotel; Prinsengracht 315-331; Amsterdam; 011-31-20-627-6753; www.de-tourist.nl
Tags: family | culture | things to do | history
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