The Dylan Hotel is an idyllic refuge of quiet sophistication and extraordinary luxury located amongst the stylish nine lanes in the Jordaan district on one of Amsterdam’s most famous canals, Keizersgracht. Behind the enchanting historic façade, I discovered one of the most beautiful boutique hotels I have ever seen.
After a day of dashing about the city seeing sights and gorging on food, we were relieved and delighted to slump down at the Dylan reception desk. The staff were friendly and attentive, welcoming us and offering a stress-free personalised service. We wandered straight through to the picturesque open-air courtyard. This central area is a sanctuary of calm, the perfect place to enjoy the special High Wine, the Dylan offers in the afternoon. It was fascinating to hear of this building’s rich history and easy to observe the prominent features from the courtyard. This 17th Century landmark functioned as one of the city’s most famous theatres and has a tumultuous and intriguing story to tell. We learnt of all the Dylan’s secrets while sipping exquisite wines.
Our room was stunning and immaculate, spanning two floors – the bedroom downstairs with a rustic staircase leading up to a chic minimalist bathroom. Our luxurious duplex room provided us with a lavish retreat, in fact it was so comfortable we came home early from our night out to enjoy the facilities! The décor was striking and monochrome with ancient china urns furnishing the room giving an exotic Oriental feel. No expense is spared with innovative design and high quality materials in every aspect of the room, ensuring nothing compromises one’s comfort. The room felt intimate and yet there was plenty of space to relax especially upstairs. The Dylan offers rooms with different themes, each inspires a different mood and ambience. Free Wifi and a giant TV in the room allow one to keep in touch with the world, though it was tempting not to!
The bathroom was very impressive, a show room that looked too good to use. A huge bath, power-shower and toilet are all arranged upstairs away from the bedroom. My only criticism, would be the lack of mirror in the bathroom, aside from a tiny magnifying mirror which I found terrifyingly revealing. The bathroom has plenty of space and a mirror for convenience of teeth brushing and make-up application would be useful. We thoroughly enjoyed our hot baths, which we relished while listening to music on the Bose Ipod speakers. Slipping on the soft bathrobe and slippers I felt like I was in a spa.
I slept blissfully well in the plush master bed, the marshmallow soft duvet moulded to our bodies and ensured we slept straight through the night, which for me is incredibly rare. Breakfast is served downstairs in Vinkeles, the atmospheric destination restaurant, Michelin star awarded and renowned for its exceptional cuisine. A spectacular display of continental treats is on offer for guests to indulge in. I was happy to relax over a strong cappuccino and croissant, but found myself persuaded by the delicious homemade cereals and fresh fruit. From the hot menu, we tried the Poached egg on toast and French Toast. Though elegantly presented, I found my pancakes to be a little lacklustre, a few tiny bits of soggy cinnamon flavoured bread with maple syrup and fresh red fruits. The egg looked divine perfectly simple yet delicious.
Dragging our suitcases through the hotel, I observed a bright and refined dining room and the heavenly living room, I wished we could have stayed longer. The Dylan Hotel is an intimate and romantic hide-away, the perfect place to stay while enjoying a fairytale weekend in Amsterdam.
More information and book here.