4 Best Hotels in Medieval Center, Amsterdam

Natty neon pink lettering on a lush living wall by the entrance advises visitors to “breathe,” a reminder that relaxation starts here, even if it’s a little misplaced on one of the most polluted streets in the city, but this upscale hotel has almost everything to make even the most travel-battered road warrior feel rested. Conveniently situated in the Palace Quarter, a short walk from Centraal Station, it’s an ideal base for those who want to be in the thick of it without sacrificing comfort. The overall aesthetic is fresh and clean, with rooms drawing inspiration from its environs with the odd reference to Dutch design—a few artfully arranged Delftware plates here, a touch of Dutch quirk there, and artwork inspired by the Dutch Masters—as well as ultraluxe blue-and-white geometric tiled bathrooms. Other amenities include custom ultracomfort mattresses, Frette robes, Marie-Stella Maris cosmetics, an in-house fitness center, and 24-hour room service. Celia restaurant offers California-inspired breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch and dinner, while Café Celia is a nice spot to catch up on your emails. Do have a cocktail at Super Lyan, one of the city’s best.

A monumental former shipping company opposite Centraal Station now houses an ultra-contemporary hotel, which fuses art, architecture, and hospitality—each art’otel (there are similar concepts in London, Berlin, Zagreb, and Rome) is linked to an artist, and here it’s internationally acclaimed Dutch artist Atelier van Lieshout. Unsurprisingly, art is everywhere, from the rooms to the basement art'otel Gallery, which regularly hosts workshops and artsy events. Sculptures, inspired by “the course of life,” are scattered throughout. While the fashionably dark color scheme looks striking in certain places, most notably the lounge and library, where brightly hued art and colorful design provide a welcome counterpoint, it comes off as gloomy in certain rooms. ARCA, the in-house Portuguese fusion restaurant, is well worth a visit. There's also a roomy downstairs gym with an indoor pool. 

Located on what was once Amsterdam’s "Fleet Street," in the former office and printing house of De Tijd (The Times) newspaper, this chic and lively place plays up the concept to the hilt, resulting in a playfully appealing hotel unlike any other in town. Here you'll check in at a printer's desk surrounded by oversize letterpress type; dine in the PRESSROOM restaurant and bar, lined with rolls of printing paper; and order from a room service menu printed like a newspaper. Rooms reflect the same sleek feel of the entranceway with soothing gray decor and walls adorned with fun black-and-white city maps. Executive and higher-level rooms include complimentary minibars, and unlike many Amsterdam hotels, both the fitness room and room service are available 24 hours a day. Although the hotel's street isn't very charming, the Canal Ring and Dam Square are only a short stroll away.

This design-focused hotel on the edge of Dam Square occupies two historic buildings—the Royal Dutch Post telephone switchboard building (called "the Exchange") and a bank ("the Bank," obviously)—yet the W Amsterdam still bears the chain's trademark cool and contemporary rooms and public areas, with moody grays throughout. The Exchange has a hipper-than-hip lobby ideal for people-watching with floor-to-ceiling windows, a cocktail bar, and a narrow outdoor pool, while the Bank houses the gym, a spa with subterranean plunge pool, and the X Bank art and design store. Guests have their pick of restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Mediterranean restaurant The Duchess, housed in a beautiful space with soaring ceilings, as well as the Mr. Porter steak house, sceney W Lounge, and a branch of The Butcher burger chain.