10 Best Hotels in Canal Rings, Amsterdam

Whimsical, modern interiors from famed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders combined with nods to history are found throughout this hip Hyatt offshoot, housed in a former library and extremely well located on the Prinsengracht canal, near many of the city's popular shopping areas, including the Nine Streets, Leidsestraat, and Kalverstraat. Wanders's imprint includes oversize, almost cartoonish red tulip chairs, lamps dripping with crystals, and Delft blue chandeliers in the lobby and bar areas. The over-the-top decor is toned down a bit in guest rooms, where you'll find comfy beds, large double-sided concrete vanities with sinks in the middle of the rooms, and sizable separate bathrooms; many rooms offer iconic canal views. Unique touches include 50 video screens placed throughout the hotel that show original video art 24/7 (you can also watch the full videos on the TV in your room), and complimentary bicycles for guests to use. Add to that a 24-hour fitness center, small spa area, and the well-crafted cocktails at Bluespoon Restaurant & Bar, and you may want to spend more time inside the hotel than out.

Lacquered trunks, mahogany screens, modernist hardwood tables, and luxurious upholstery all lend design flair to these lovely and relaxing canal-front quarters on the site of the historic 17th-century Municipal Theater. The best rooms command a view of a canal, while many overlook a serene central courtyard. The hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, Vinkeles, offers a French menu in a voguish setting (dinner only). Chef Jurgen van der Zalm also cooks for the brasserie OCCO (lunch and dinner), with courtyard service in good weather; the High Wine, four small bites served with four wines (daily 3–4 pm) is highly recommended.

Set on a picturesque canal near The Nine Streets shopping area, this cozy, family-owned hotel is designed with loads of old-world charm. Flowery wallpaper, boldly upholstered furniture, antiques, and crystal chandeliers are put together harmoniously, and the comfy public areas of the six interconnected houses—a breakfast room, a lounge, and a library—invite guests to linger and relax throughout the day with free coffee, tea, candy, and often cookies or cake. All this traditional beauty comes with a modern touch: free Wi-Fi in all rooms.

So many hotels promise “a home away from home,” but this chic, renovated 19th-century canal house, which once belonged to a wealthy sugar trader, nails it. With its prime World Heritage Site location, focus on personal attention, and perfectly styled interior, it’s easy to understand why this hotel is so popular.

A labyrinth of narrow halls leads to surprisingly large and modern guest rooms, with wood-beam ceilings and stylish contemporary decor, that overlook the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht canals or nicely landscaped courtyards. The surprisingly coherent-yet-rambling assemblage was created from a clutch of 17th- and 18th-century houses—25 in all—and an appropriately historical soundtrack is provided every half hour, when the nearby Westerkerk chimes. Pulitzer's Bar is a cozy place to get a seriously good cocktail, and Jansz restaurant serves up contemporary cuisine in a stylish setting. The location is perfect for shopping in The Nine Streets, visiting nearby Anne Frank House or wandering through the lovely Jordaan area.

Encompassing five 17th-century canal houses on the Herengracht and Singel canals, fun and vibrant The Hoxton, Amsterdam delivers a coolly sophisticated vibe in a prime spot next to the Nine Streets shopping area. The masculine-looking rooms (think dark wood, copper details, and mid-century-modern furnishings) with ultracomfy beds come in four sizes—Shoebox, Cosy, Roomy, and Biggy—to fit a range of budgets; many feature wonderful canal views and traditional details like beamed ceilings that lend elegance to the contemporary feel. The large lobby/lounge area, outfitted with brown leather couches, cushy chairs, and communal tables, invites both working on a laptop or lingering over a cocktail from the inviting bar, and when hunger strikes, casual in-house restaurant Lotti's serves internationally inspired brasserie-style dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A collection of 17th-century merchants' houses meets 21st-century style in this boutique charmer that mixes modern comforts like iPhone docking stations with opulent design elements that recall Dutch art and history. Located in Amsterdam's UNESCO World Heritage listed Canal Ring, the canalside hotel features restored original features like timber beams, fireplaces, and decorated ceilings accented by contemporary touches including leather headboards, locally sourced minibars, and the knickknack collections of recent owners. The 23 rooms are separated into six categories—Good, Better, Great, Exceptional, Outstanding, and Best—mainly based on size and view; top categories have double sinks, sitting areas, canal or garden vistas, and custom-made furniture. Though tall and narrow like traditional canal houses, these interconnected structures boast unique elements like a central, high-ceiling Great Room (now the main lounge) and triple-width garden outfitted with seating areas and two garden houses. Breakfast is included (though warm items are extra), and snacks and drinks are available throughout the day (there's no full service restaurant).

A baroque vibe prevails in these two 17th-century canalside buildings, with red, purple, and gold color schemes; lots of velvety fabrics and chandeliers; and lights that can be changed to different colors for different moods. The overall atmosphere is exceedingly romantic: some rooms include fringed four-poster beds, whirlpool baths for two, and private outdoor areas. The atmospheric bar is a great place to grab a cocktail or a light snack.

Modern functional furniture fills the larger-than-average guest rooms of this 17th-century canalside house; those in the front overlook the canal, while those in the rear are blessedly quiet. Beware that the traditional Dutch stairs are steep and narrow—a chairlift is available if you need one. Coffee and tea are available in the cheerful lounge/breakfast room throughout the day. There is no 24-hour reception, but you'll be provided with a key to the house so you can come and go as you please.

The understated elegance that defines this canalside hotel, created from six 17th-century houses, can be seen in such details as its fine-dining restaurant, the first Guerlain spa in the Benelux, and what’s purportedly the largest private garden in Amsterdam. Spacious rooms are sophisticated if a tad bland, although the beam-ceiling loft rooms offer a little more character; all rooms have either a canal or garden view, and most feature a separate shower and tub, some with a Jacuzzi. Reserve well in advance to dine in the top-notch Spectrum restaurant, or at least try an exquisite cocktail or rare Scottish whiskey in the subterranean Vault Bar. After a full day of wandering the canals, the luxe spa's indoor pool, steam room, and sauna are the perfect treats.