When You Stay at the This Hotel in Amsterdam's City Center, You Get Access to 2 Private Canal Boats

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The comforts of home you wish you actually had at home.

After a day spent crisscrossing Amsterdam’s bridges, exploring the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum, and sauntering around between charming local shops and polished boutiques, there’s nothing better than returning to a room at Pulitzer Amsterdam. It feels like you’re retiring to your personal waterfront home for the evening (after all, the property spans 25 interconnected Dutch Golden Age canal houses centered around a tranquil courtyard)—albeit one with a dark, sultry bar and a spa doling out massages and facials. Here, the noise of the city quiets as soon as you step inside and find a cozy armchair to unwind in, cocktail in hand.

The only reminder you’re in the center of the city might be the occasional bell toll from Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk church, which you’ll hear faintly while taking your coffee in the hotel’s leafy garden each morning.

Located in the heart of the lovely Nine Streets district of the Jordaan neighborhood, Pulitzer Amsterdam has been a hotel for decades, though it emerged from a major restoration and renovation in 2016. Ten years later, it’s still a master class in blending historical details with modern luxuries, each corridor and corner unfurling to reveal artworks and sculptures.

More than anything, the hotel is a gathering ground for guests. They commingle in the moody, sapphire-hued Pulitzer’s BarOpens overlay, sipping creative takes on classic cocktails, like an excellent rose and strawberry version of a margarita. On a nice day, the Pulitzer Garden terrace is the perfect place to warm up in the sun, and the modern Dutch restaurant, Jansz, is as much a destination for locals as it is for hotel guests. Even kids are welcomed with special amenities, including a book of bedtime stories and a map to track down landmarks around the hotel—the kinds of fun extras that even adults will want in on.

When you’re ready to step outside, some of the city’s best attractions are at your doorstep or a short bike ride away (courtesy of the hotel’s guest bicycles, which are available to rent). Or skip the tourist cruises and splash out on one of Pulitzer’s plush canal boats to do a loop of the waterways. Wherever you end up for the day, that cozy armchair will be waiting for you later.

The Essentials

The Room

Rooms and suites are thoughtfully designed, mixing plush furnishings like vintage-feeling custom drink trolleys with luxury touches like silky tea bags featuring the hotel’s exclusive blend in Dutch porcelain cups.

No room or suite is exactly the same at Pulitzer, but each is inspired by the traditional designs of Dutch canal houses (think wooden beams, ornate gilt-framed mirrors and headboards shaped like the city’s iconic gable roofs). There are plenty of modern flourishes, too, like sculptures that impart pops of color and white marble bathrooms with rainfall showers. New York fragrance house D.S. & Durga is behind the amenities, all in their signature Debaser scent with rich notes of fig, tonka bean and bergamot, and a bike repair kit in each room is a thoughtful, next-level amenity. For the best value, book a Classic Canal View Room—because nothing beats throwing open the curtains in the morning to reveal a picture-perfect view of the water—or to bring the outside in even more, opt for the Generous Canal View Room, which has even more space that can be flooded with light.

The Bars and Restaurants

It’s a testament to Pulitzer’s bars and restaurants that they’re destinations in their own right and loved by locals. Breakfast is served in the stylish Jansz restaurant with an extensive Continental buffet as well as à la carte dishes like a goat cheese omelet and French toast with blueberry compote and crème fraîche. Drop by the Pulitzer Garden for a casual, Italian-leaning lunch (get the artichoke cappellacci) and head back to Jansz for dinner. Come evening, the space feels sleek and intimate, and modern dishes like yellowtail crudo with blood orange and basil and a wonderful bavette steak with fries hit the spot. Round things off with a nightcap at Pulitzer’s Bar: Find an armchair or sofa toward the back of the cozy spot, hunker down with an expertly made old-fashioned and eavesdrop on the day trips other guests have taken, or, if they’re speaking English (and most do), catch bits of gossip swirling between locals.

The Standout Feature

Whether you’re soaking up the sun or taking cover in the shade, Pulitzer Garden and its courtyard make an idyllic escape from the bustling neighborhood beyond.

The Pulitzer Garden terrace and its adjoining courtyard. In the summer, it’s the ideal place to kick back with a spritz while the kids play table tennis. And in the winter, retreat to the enclosed conservatory-like area with a hot chocolate.

The Location

The surrounding streets are lined with charming boutiques and cafés, and crisscrossed with picture-perfect canals.

Pulitzer Amsterdam is centrally located in the historic Jordaan neighborhood, right in the middle of the Nine Streets area, which is home to some of Amsterdam’s prettiest bridges and canals. Spend time exploring its cafés and shops before venturing out to some of the city’s major attractions—the Flower Market, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are all within about a mile radius.

The Time to Go

Amsterdam in the summer is hard to beat, when its gorgeous parks are in full bloom, city-wide festivals are a regularity and everyone spills out of cafés onto terrace seating. But this city has year-round charm, whether you come to see the fall colors, winter’s holiday markets or tulip season in spring.

The Vibe

Pitch up at Pulitzer’s glamorous Art Deco bar for a chat with the friendly bartenders.

The essential bar order: The “Oh! Rosa” is a sweet, fruity take on a margarita with distilled rose and strawberry, which add floral notes, and sharp, punchy hits from citrus and Don Julio Blanco.

Who’s hanging around: Guests, freshly coiffed after a blowout at in-house salon and wellness center The Beauty House, wind down with an aperitif after a day of sightseeing, while locals spill in from the streetside entrance to the bar after clocking out.

The best seat in the house: For prime people-watching, nab one of the tables illuminated by pretty little lamps near the front windows.

What’s happening on a sunny day: One last coffee in the garden before hopping on one of the hotel’s bikes (which are available to rent for up to 24 hours) to explore the city.

The souvenir you’re taking home: A chic Pulitzer umbrella and handy tote bag—you’ll find them in your room, and they’re free to use during your stay and to take home.

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