There has been a flurry of hotel openings in Amsterdam in the last couple of years. The accommodation on offer now competes with the best of London, Paris and New York, and it has made the destination more popular than ever.
One hotel particularly caught my eye thanks to its bold colour schemes and stylish themed suites… Pulitzer Amsterdam opened its doors in the summer of 2016, after an extensive renovation of the 25 connecting Golden Age canal houses which make up the property.
The hotel is located on the Prinsengracht canal street, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic 17th and 18th century houses now hold a total of 225 guestrooms and suites, each decorated in a quirky contemporary style with splashes of colour and pattern.
We were staying in a lovely ‘Generous Room’ with canal views and plenty of natural light. It was a beautiful room with accents of bright lemon yellow and deep purple, and a stand-out turquoise vintage phone by the bedside. There was a writing desk and old fashioned cocktail cabinet, topped with Dutch sweet treats.
The bathrooms at Pulitzer Amsterdam are small but cleverly designed to make the most of the space. Our tiny white marble bathroom had a powerful shower, sink and toilet and a range of Le Labo toiletries.
For a special occasion I highly recommend booking one of the suites. There are a range available from classic and family suites to the top ‘extraordinary’ suites, which are each designed with a topic in mind. Dependant on your interests choose from the Art, Antique, Music or Book Suite, or my personal favourite the very grand Pulitzer Suite.
Breakfast was a feast for all the senses. Delivered up to our room, we enjoyed indulgent French toast with red berries and the sweetest, freshly-squeezed orange juice while admiring the picturesque canal view from our window.
Guests can also enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, Jansz. This elegant pale pink restaurant is open all day and the kitchen serve comforting classic dishes including steak, pasta and creative vegetarian options. At dinnertime the eatery quickly filled up with hungry locals and tourists alike, but despite the busy atmosphere the staff were helpful, calm and kind. From the dishes we tried, the meatballs were particularly memorable, juicy and well seasoned with a marinara sauce.
The Pulitzer Amsterdam is wonderfully close-by to many of Amsterdam’s best tourist spots, including Anne Frank’s house. But there is also plenty to do within the hotel if you don’t feel like braving the busy canals. Facilities include a fully-kitted out gym, spacious and private meeting rooms, a romantic garden courtyard for afternoon tea and a spectacular 1920s salon boat for canal tours (sadly it was out of use when I visited).
If I had to name my top five hotels in Europe, the Pulitzer Amsterdam would easily make the list… the historic buildings which house the hotel ooze old Amsterdam charm while the design and decor is sophisticated and modern. Best of all though are the thoughtful details that I noticed in every room, from the scent-inspired cocktails in the bar to the cosy library stocked with Pulitzer prize winning books.
More information and book a stay at The Pulitzer Amsterdam here.
