Ambassade Hotel AMSTERDAM LUXURY HOTEL

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.