When you think of a dream location in Amsterdam, chances are those beautiful, tall, seventeenth-century canal houses are what spring to mind. Well, the Pulitzer hotel isn’t just one of those: it’s 25.
Occupying a whole block between two of the city’s most beautiful canals (so special they’re a UNESCO World Heritage site), the hotel has stitched together these restored Dutch houses to form a three-dimensional maze of rooms, suites, atmospheric bars, restaurants, ostentatious sculptures, winding corridors and leafy courtyard gardens – the immersive world of the Pulitzer. This place is truly an architectural marvel: think Hogwarts or Gormenghast, but with more Dutch gables.
From the moment you check in, the hotel team (numerous, uniformed and assiduous-yet-relaxed) go above and beyond to make sure you’re completely taken care of. Need a rental bike, a taxi with a kid’s car seat, a boat ride, a firmer pillow, a late checkout, a midnight negroni? Nothing is a problem. I didn’t have a dissatisfying staff interaction throughout my whole stay.
For breakfast, there’s polished brasserie Jansz, sitting in an enviable corner spot right on a canal, with huge sash windows. It’s also the obvious choice for dinner, but we found the quality of cooking was actually a notch higher at the more relaxed Pulitzer Garden lobby restaurant, where they dish up lobster linguine and burrata-and-tomato casarecce with a smile.
Rooms vary tremendously, each different thanks to the idiosyncrasies of the mash-up of buildings – from ‘classic’ attic rooms through to the ‘Art Collector’s Suite’ with its own private entrance and art collection. Our advice is that if you’re going to splurge on a luxury stay in this amazing location, it’s worth coughing up that bit extra for a canal view. Our regular room with a view of nothing much was as comfortable as you could wish, but didn’t have the same sense of spectacle or wonder that pervades the rest of the hotel.
Neighbourhood
Straddling two of Amsterdam’s iconic canals, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, this is a seriously prime city-centre spot. The streets nearby are full of boutiques, canalside cafés and enviable houseboats. The hotel is also right next to the wildly picturesque Jordaan, with its cute backstreets and hidden bars. In fact, it’s easy to walk pretty much anywhere in central Amsterdam from here, although there are bikes to borrow if you want to go further afield.
Nearby
- Winkel 43: arguably the best Dutch apple cake in Amsterdam, served warm with or without squirty cream and a strong coffee.
- Westerstraat Market: there are stalls selling handmade bits and bobs, vintage clothes, antiques and fruit and veg here every Monday morning.
- Flower Market: the place to go to admire the variety of Dutch tulips and to take some bulbs to plant in your windowboxes back home.
- Tony’s Chocolonely Superstore: the home of the ethical chocolate empire. Turn up early in the day so you can create your own bespoke flavour and wrapping, ready for you by closing time.
Time Out tip
To get a different perspective on the city, take advantage of the Pulitzer’s boat tours. There are daily public trips for €59 per person, or you can really splash out with a private ride on Belle, the hotel’s classic canal boat, at €400 per 90-minute cruise.