Alex Plim

Amsterdam is one of the world’s best cities, no doubt about it. And as a tourism capital, it’s no surpise that it’s stuffed full of beautiful hotels, from 18th century canal houses to converted bridge keepers’ houses and seriously high-grade hotels.  So if you’re looking for a tip-top place to bed down after a day out exploring the city’s best museums, attractions and coffee shops, you’ve come to the right place. From the city centre through to De Negen Straatjes, here are the best hotels in Amsterdam right now. Updated June 2024: We’ve just added three hotels to this list, in time for summer, including the Hoxton’s second outpost in the city. See our brand-new reviews below... RECOMMENDED:🏠 The best Airbnbs in Amsterdam📍 Where to stay in Amsterdam 📍 The best things to do in Amsterdam🍴 The best restaurants in Amsterdam At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

If any city in the world were oversaturated with hotels, it’d be Paris. From revamped pensions that once lodged some of the city’s most notorious down-and-out bohèmes to more recent five-star openings catering to a wealthy international crowd, there are innumerable fun (and very glamorous) places to bed down in the French capital. So how to decide? The choice is pivotal – we all know a crap or poorly located hotel can rain on any vacation parade. That’s why we at Time Out have been through the lot, picking out the absolute best luxury, boutique and cheap hotels in Paris for your holidaymaking pleasures, accompanied by unforgettable views that will make you say 'ooh la la' – a rarity among French speakers. Whether you want to splash the cash or tighten your belt, you’ll find all your needs catered to with this wonderful selection of Paris stays. RECOMMENDED: 🇫🇷 Check out all the coolest attractions in Paris🥖 Fancy a stay in the best Airbnbs in Paris?🏩 Stay in the most romantic hotels in Paris Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

If you've ever stayed in a boutique hotel, then you know they're the real deal when it comes to creating a more unique and tailored experience during your stay – it's the middle ground between a B&B and a hotel, and in some cases even fancier. Of course, this is Paris we're talking about, a city never lacking in wow factor when it comes to exceptional restaurants, architecture, museums and things to do, so beautiful boutiques are just another on the list. Whether you're honeymooning in Paris for the weekend, you're visiting with friends or flying solo, do Paris in style. It'd be criminal not to… RECOMMENDED:🇫🇷 Check out the best Airbnbs in Paris💶 See our list of budget hotels in Paris 🥖 Paris's hippest neighbourhoods to stay in Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The phrase 'boutique hotel' conjures up images of small, chic residences with an air of exclusivity. Well, Amsterdam’s offering does not disappoint. From expertly appointed abodes such as Vondel, where you can rest your head on designer blankets to spending the night in a luxuriously reworked prison, there’s a chocolate box of hotels to be discovered in the city. To make choosing that little bit easier, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite boutique hotels so you can make your holiday that little bit more special. Take a look at the list below to see some of our top picks. Looking for more options? 🛏 Check out the best Airbnbs in Amsterdam📍Undecided? Here's where to stay in Amsterdam Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

As in any world-class city, there’s no shortage of five-star hotels in London. In fact, there are close to 100, making it the city with the most five-star hotels and pipping Dubai to the post. But how much choice is too much choice? That's an awful lot of reviews to read through… Just as well, then, we’ve narrowed it down to the cream of the crop so you don't have to: our top luxury London hotels with tip-top service, outstanding restaurants and plenty of creature comforts. There are famous London institutions such as The Ritz and Claridge’s on our list, but we’ve also included exciting newbies such as The Ned and Sea Containers London. So if you’ve got cash to splash, go spoil yourself at one of these high-flying venues for a superior London sleepover. RECOMMENDED:🛏 Check out London’s best Airbnbs🏨 Full guide to the best hotels in London This article was written by London-based experts who know their stuff when it comes to the city's hotel scene... and then some. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Need a place to stay in London? We’re here to make it easy for you. Even now, a wealth of new hotels are opening – which we reckon is a testament to the fact that London remains one of the most desirable places to visit in the world. Many of the hotels listed below are incredible enough to have made it straight into the Time Out top 20, but our hand-picked list of the best hotels covers locations right across the capital, and every category from blowout luxury (including having your own butler, might we add) to budget basic and brilliant.We’ve listed everything from five-star hotels in Mayfair to incredibly affordable hotels in some of London’s very best neighbourhoods. Plus you’ll be able to check out one or two of the capital's many Michelin-starred restaurants because yep, loads of them call London hotels their home. But if spending a small fortune on food isn’t your bag? There’s also an ever-increasing number of good-value food options for budgeteers, too. Throw great design and architecture into the mix, plus superb bars, world-class hospitality and the opportunity to have a home-from-home in the best city in the world and, well, you’re laughing. Basically, you’re totally spoilt for choice. So, read on, decide where to stay in London, and ready yourself for a hotel visit like no other. Enjoy! Looking for even more options? Check out London’s best Airbnbs. Keen on a steamy night in? Check out London's best hotels for sex. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in eve

We don't want to get too wistful here, but Greenwich is glorious. Swoon at the delights of Greenwich Park, flutter your eyes at the Old Royal Navy College, let rip on the historic ship that is the Cutty Sark, skip through the marvelous market and be totally charmed by those winding streets. The Royal Observatory will let you know when it's pints'o'clock, and there are plenty of pubs in the area in which to sip a drink or three. Come with us and discover the very best pubs in Greenwich. RECOMMENDED: These are best restaurants in Greenwich. 

It’s that time of year again – time for the legendary, heroic and what some are calling era-defining Time Out Christmas sandwich taste test. Our team have tirelessly trawled London’s high streets, foodie markets and bakeries for the mightiest seasonal sarnie of the year, leaving no chiller cabinet unturned. After all, the true meaning of Christmas is surely all about putting some vaguely festive fillings between two slices of bread. Let battle commence. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

O potencial cinematográfico (e não só) da ficção científica é quase infinito. É nestes filmes que os nossos maiores pesadelos podem tornar-se realidade e os nossos sonhos concretizar-se, ao mesmo tempo que é dito e posto em causa algo sobre o nosso presente. E o género sempre fez as delícias do público, desde o tempo dos efeitos especiais básicos e rudimentares dos filmes mudos ao excesso digital dos blockbusters contemporâneos. Hoje, no entanto, é a própria crítica quem aplaude e celebra muitos destes filmes, tal como acontece com os super-heróis e o terror. A pensar nisso, elegemos os 100 melhores filmes de ficção científica de sempre. Recomendado: Filmes em cartaz esta semana

★★★★☆ First things first, it’s pronounced ‘k-wor-bs’, so relax: you can stop scratching around inside your underpants. But if you’re a fan of soulful grooves, crackling synths or generally good music, you probably knew that already. This 25-year old Londoner has been making waves for a couple of years now, and it’s not difficult to hear why. Kwabs can sing. I mean, really, really, sounds-a-bitlike-Luther-Vandross sing – and he makes sure you know it with a bunch of excellent pop bangers and the odd pulsating ballad on this debut LP. Head straight to delicate piano weepie ‘Perfect Ruin’ as an example of the latter. There are one or two worrying moments, where things threaten to go a bit Mick Hucknall, but, frankly, Kwabs could be backed by the Teletubbies and this album would still be an impressive debut.

  There must be one thought on every parent’s mind as they shuffle themselves and whatever entourage of children they’ve brought with them into the Lyric Theatre to see ‘The Gruffalo’: please don’t mess this up. So beloved is Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bedtime book that it’s not just a load of grumpy kids that’ll be left sitting there should the show not live up to expectations, it’s a room full of disappointed adults whose first few years of parenthood and the memories that come with them are likely to have been shaped by this story and its inimitable rhymes. Worry not, Gruffalo fans. This is a charming production from Tall Stories that has been running since 2001 with various tweaks and upgrades along the way, and it’s not hard to see why it’s managed to stay around so long. The familiar stuff’s all there – the jittery mouse, the sneering fox, the aloof owl and the sly snake, kitted out in imaginative costumes that add a nice bit of wonder to the experience – but it’s been bulked out to hit a one-hour run-time. Characters are given a bit more space to develop, and each has a rip-roaring song that takes the show from bouncing ska to slick disco before ending on a chugging grunge rock number that has everyone clapping along. If that doesn’t keep you gripped, there’s an extended section in which audience members are invited to crack out their finest gruffalo growls – hilarious for the kids, cathartic for the parents, chaos for the performers – but otherwise the show

Madame Rêve is one of the most hyped hotels in Paris right now, and it’s not hard to see why – this a place that’ll make you feel ten times cooler just by walking through the front door. It’s classy. It’s refined. It has dimly lit, lightly perfumed corridors that feel like a catwalk and warm wood hugging every wall. It wasn’t always so stylish. In its previous incarnation the building was a 24-hour post office, but apart from the odd subtle nod – mail art hung on the walls, postage stamp rugs in each room – you’d never really know. Now, the ground floor is dominated by a high-ceilinged bar with tall black columns, marble tables and chairs arranged side-by-side so that you can watch what everyone else in the room is up to whilst chatting to your neighbour. For a different kind of view, head to the roof. Here, you’ll find one of the city’s biggest terraces and a pulsating bar with a small number of cocktails and an eclectic food menu. But you’re really up there for the Paris skyline – seriously, the views are incredible, with pretty much every famous landmark in the city on display, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré Cœur. Back inside, the hotel’s rooms are smart and well-proportioned, with panoramic sloping windows showcasing more of those unbeatable skyline views. Simple bathrooms are speckled with mosaic tiles and the beds are enormous and soft. There are desks that’ll actually make you want to sit down and do some work, and leather sofas for reading a magazine or book. It’s

There are plenty of excellent hotels in Paris, but finding one that’s also affordable? Not so simple. Enter Touriste, a small group of attractive boutiques dotted across the city whose owners work with up-and-coming designers to create distinctive hotels, each with a completely different vibe. And they’re clearly having a whale of a time doing it. Nowhere demonstrates this better than Hotel Les Deux Gares, a ridiculously fun place straight out of Wes Anderson’s playbook that pops with colour and character at every turn. The quirky look and feel comes from English designer Luke Edward Hall, and he didn’t hold back when given this assignment. Each room features a different combination of dizzying wallpaper, bold furniture and checkerboard bathrooms in the kind of colours that fell out of fashion decades ago – think avocado, lemon yellow and burgundy. It shouldn’t work, but it really, really does. There’s definitely a lived-in feel here and it’s fair to say that space is a bit limited – the corridors are so narrow you’ll get your suitcase wedged and rooms are a bit of a squeeze – but you can’t really argue when a single comes in at just over €100. Besides, there are a few surprisingly luxurious touches, including roll-top baths in the bigger rooms and Diptyque products in the bathrooms. The best thing about Hotel Les Deux Gares? The location. Sure, you might look out of your window onto a sea of railway tracks, but that’s the small price you pay for being able to roll out of bed

Gleneagles. The name alone feels majestic, doesn’t it? Well, that’s just the beginning. Inside, once you’ve said hello to the kilted doorman and passed through the huge revolving door, it’s all panelled hallways and open fires, soft carpets and chandeliers, smiling staff wearing smart woollen suits as they float around enormous, high-ceilinged dining rooms holding shiny platters and plates. It’s grand. It’s plush. It’s exactly the kind of retreat you want to find in the middle of Scotland’s breathtaking countryside. If you know the name already, it’s probably because Gleneagles is famous for its world-class golf course. But you’d be mad to come here for golf alone given the near-endless list of activities on offer across the estate. Falconry, fly fishing, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, axe throwing, zip wiring, ferret training and off-roading in a Land Rover are all on offer. There’s a swimming pool with an outdoor onsen that’s perfect at sunset too, and plenty of places for a long, aimless stroll. You could easily spend a couple of weeks here and never get bored. But first, you’re going to want to explore the hotel’s impressive array of places to eat and drink. The Century Bar is a great spot for a casual lunch or pre-dinner cocktail (order the Gingery), and The Dormy is worth checking out for a post-walk bite. But the real stars of the show are The Strathearn (go all-in on the smoked salmon and beef Wellington) and The American Bar, which does a faultless martini with

The Greater London area is spread across more than 600 square miles, from the glimmering terminals of Heathrow Airport in the west to the edges of Epping Forest in the east, and it feels like you can see every little inch of it from the Shangri-La. Hell, it feels like you can see as far as Birmingham on a good day. The floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around each of the hotel’s 202 rooms are truly panoramic, and they’re there everywhere you go. This is exactly what you’d expect from a place that occupies floors 34 to 52 of the iconic Shard – the massive glassy spike that has come to define London’s south-of-the-river skyline. And, bearing in mind this is the Shangri-La we’re talking about, a brand that’s built its name on luxury, you can expect everything else about the hotel to reach a similar height. The beds are insanely comfy, the armchairs are covered in squeaky brown leather, and the bathrooms sparkle with a whole lot of marble that makes them feel like a Russian palace (and yes, the big windows can be found in there too). When it comes to food, the Shangri-La has established itself as one of the city’s most popular spots for afternoon tea, but the buffet breakfast deserves just as much attention. It’s sensational. The selection is extensive and top-quality ingredients from Borough Market ensure every plate you load up will be bursting with flavour. Leave plenty of time to make the most of it. Neighbourhood:Borough is one of the city’s most exciting places to be if fo

Apparently, all Mandarin Oriental hotels have the same scent, a perfume that’s spritzed into the air so that you know exactly where you are when you walk in. That’s not the only thing that’ll catch your attention when you enter this London outpost of the famous global brand: the wallpaper is so fancy that the metallic detailing had to be painted in situ, and the lamps in the corridors are hung with horse hair in a nod to the big beasts that trot through Hyde Park at the back of the building. No wonder Heston Blumenthal – famous for his specificity and attention to detail – decided to open Dinner by Heston Blumenthal here, which went on to win two Michelin stars. It’s remarkable that any of this is even here at all. The hotel underwent a massive renovation back in 2016, but much of that was ruined when a fire broke out a couple of years later. Fast forward another year and the doors swung open on the place you see now – just in time for Covid-19 to come along and send us all into lockdown. Now that things are back to normal, you can appreciate the Mandarin in all of its palatial glory, with floors and walls decked in marble and modern chandeliers dangling overhead. As you’d expect, rooms are incredibly plush and packed with an impressive array of gadgets and goodies, including Diptyque bathroom bits that you won’t want to leave half-finished. Many have an expansive view across Hyde Park too, but if you miss out just ask for a window seat at breakfast. If you can afford to spla

Just like the city in which it sits, Emeline has a rich history that can be traced all the way back to the mid-1800s, when an entrepreneur established a wholesale grocery business within the building that went on to become the biggest in the South. More recently the property housed a DoubleTree by Hilton, but the remnants of that chain have been swept aside completely in favor of a classy and timeless aesthetic. First impressions at Emeline are impressive: you’ll be given a welcome cocktail shortly after stepping into the chic lobby, after which you can opt to head to your room or hang out on the first floor a little while longer. There’s the wood-paneled Keep Shop packed with fancy trinkets and homewares; a cozy lounge area where guests can relax with a glass of wine; the bright and spacious Clerks Coffee Company if you need a light bite or caffeine kick; and Frannie & The Fox for those in the mood for something more substantial (try to snag a seat at the Foxhole, a secret cocktail window just behind the bar). Emeline’s rooms are just as beautifully designed as the rest of the hotel, with velvet sofas and leather chairs, smart wicker cabinets and a record player that comes with a selection of classic discs. Coupled with the free tumbler of coffee guests can collect from Clerks each morning, it’s an ideal environment in which to relax with a newspaper or book before heading out to explore the city on one of Emeline’s custom bicycles. Neighborhood:Emeline sits in one of Charle

The LINE launched its first hotel in 2014, bringing its uber-stylish, modernist aesthetic to LA’s Koreatown before following up with locations in Washington, DC and Austin. In that short time, the brand has become a go-to for travelers who value great design at a surprisingly affordable price. The LINE Austin occupies an enormous mid-century property that overlooks Congress Avenue Bridge, making it an ideal spot for watching the city’s bat colony – estimated to be 1.5 million in number – emerge from beneath the bridge in great clouds every night at sunset from mid-March to November. The building itself used to house a jazz club that broadcast live on local radio stations, but that’s long since gone – in its place you’ll find a lobby that feels like a Bond Villain’s underground lair (in the best possible way), a sparkling outdoor infinity pool and a bunch of excellent places to eat and drink, including P6 (go for brunch, order the pastry basket) and Arlo Grey, which is helmed by Top Chef winner Kristen Kish. The broad windows that cover the building’s exterior walls allow light to spill generously into the LINE’s spacious and comfy rooms, which come with thoughtful touches such as local artwork and vintage books about Texas dotted in, around and on top of the chic furnishings. It’s a theme you’ll notice elsewhere in the hotel too: the first floor hosts a rotating residency program that gives five artists a year space to showcase their art. Neighborhood:Downtown Austin is, in m

FieldHouse Jones Nashville sits in one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, and it doesn’t feel a bit out of place. The lobby sets the tone for the hotel’s stylish and quirky vibe, thanks to an abundance of curiosities that are packed into the light-filled space, including vintage cabinets, kitsch statues, giant test tubes filled with pick-a-mix candies and a sparkling cream Fiat 500 (that’s right, they’ve parked an entire car inside the hotel). You’ll want to take half the stuff you see home with you – and you can: it’s all available to purchase, each item sporting a little price tag. The rooms are no less stylish, though they have a more pared-back and minimalist tone, with enormous beds, leather sofas, large windows that let in plenty of light and bright bathrooms stocked with fancy toiletries. It’s a smart base if you just want to drop your luggage and head out into the city, but it’s also a comfy spot in which to hang out and relax. Neighborhood:East Nashville is a buzzy area filled with many of the city’s best restaurants and bars, making it an ideal nabe for foodies and night owls. It’s also just a quick taxi (or half-hour walk) from Broadway, Nashville’s beating heart, along with many of the city’s most popular attractions, including Ryman Auditorium, Hatch Show Print and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Nearby:1. Attaboy: For outstanding, made-to-taste cocktails from a New York favorite.2. Edley’s Bar-B-Que: For some of the best brisket in the city.3. But

Kimpton Fitzroy makes quite a first impression. The hotel’s 19th-century terracotta exterior stretches an entire block along the edge of Russell Square – surely some of the most sought-after real estate in the city – and is adorned with life-size statues of former British monarchs, while inside the place is downright palatial, with mosaic floors, marble columns and heavy chandeliers. The rooms are a little more subdued, though still extremely lush, with pillowy carpets, beds you’ll never want to leave and, if you’re lucky, a bath deep enough for scuba diving. But the real stars of the show in this hotel can be found on the ground floor. Neptune, Kimpton Fitzroy’s restaurant, dishes up fresh seafood in a dazzling peach setting, which our critic described as “fancy-but-fun”. Fitz’s Bar, on the other hand, serves some of the best cocktails in the city with free dishes of Twiglets on the side, which is why we gave it five stars and a spot in our DRINK List. Neighbourhood:Kimpton Fitzroy sits in Bloomsbury, which is an ideal place for those looking to explore London’s most popular sites, with the British Museum a few steps in one direction and the British Library a short stroll the other way. You’ll also be within spitting distance of Soho and Covent Garden, where many of London’s best restaurants can be found, and the West End if you’d like to catch a show. Nearby:1. Store Street Espresso: For a top-notch caffeine kick.2. Bao: For unbeatable Taiwanese plates which are worth queue

The Battery isn’t really a hotel at all: it’s a members’ club that happens to have 14 luxurious rooms you can stay in, overseen by staff who are chatty, helpful and happy to give solid recommendations for things to do and places to eat nearby, or guide you through the club’s range of restaurants and bars. This level of service is perhaps to be expected from a place that costs upwards of $500 a night (if you’re traveling on a budget, turn away now), but you do get a lot of bang for your buck here. Rooms are absolutely enormous, with wide hallways and even wider beds, and you could spend days in the luxurious bathrooms without ever coming out, thanks to the spacious walk-in showers and bottomless baths. Plus, guests get access to all of the members’ club’s facilities during their stay, including gym classes, concerts and a jazzy private bar. Neighborhood:Sitting on the fringe of San Francisco’s Financial District and sandwiched between Chinatown and the Embarcadero, The Battery is in an ideal location for exploring some of the city’s most popular landmarks, including the Ferry Building and Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s also a handy spot for anyone who wants to cross the bay and explore Oakland. Nearby:1. Museum of Ice Cream: For an immersive journey into your favorite sweet treat.2. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory: For seeing how your fortunes are made.3. Spec’s: For enjoying a beer in one of SF’s quirkiest bars. Time Out tip:Make the most of The Battery’s events program, which in

Named after local sculptor Douglas Tilden, Tilden Hotel’s airy lobby is a dedication to his legacy, filled with a curated rotation of works by local artists from in and around San Francisco. It’s a theme that extends beyond the hotel’s decor, to the Tilden Tuesdays Art Program that creates a space for San Francisco’s creative community to host exhibitions, events, performances and discussions. The hotel’s rooms are a little less spectacular: clean, fresh and functional, with minimal decor but all the essentials (including fancy toiletries from MALIN+GOETZ), and serviced by a compact elevator that occasionally gets overwhelmed by too many guests. Elsewhere, you’ll find Tilden Café, which stocks yummy breakfast pastries from Berkley-based Starter Bakery, and The Douglas Room, which churns out excellent cocktails and has a generous happy hour that runs from 1pm-6pm, Mon-Sat. Neighborhood:Tilden Hotel is situated within San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, a couple of blocks from Market Street in one direction, Union Square in the other, and, just beyond that, Chinatown. It’s also a handy location for exploring the city’s key attractions thanks to the nearby cable car stop. Nearby:1. Mr. Holmes Bakehouse: For seeing what the hype over the cruffin is all about.2. Mikkeller Bar: For sipping on some of the finest beers in the city.3. Great American Music Hall: For catching a gig in a lavish setting. Time Out tip:Head to The Backyard to find a little bit of peace in the city (along w

I used to delight at listening in on strangers’ conversations while wandering a city, but then I moved to New York. Now, I don’t have a choice in the matter: The way people here gab on their cell phone, it’s as if they don’t understand the device transmits their voice electronically and believe they must communicate by lung power alone. The worst offenders are those hands-free chatting chatters with earbuds you can’t see. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve entered a conversation before realizing this person is addressing someone else entirely, and the “Hey, what’s up?” wasn’t meant for me after all. Sometimes I carry on talking to myself so no one notices my mistake, but of course, this makes me part of the problem. RECOMMENDED: See more New York rants It wasn’t always like this. When I first arrived in NYC, I loved the way I could walk down the block and hear, unfolding all around me, 10 different conversations in 10 different accents. I’d hang back at crosswalks longer than necessary to catch the end of a story told by someone with a brusque Brooklyn drawl or a Kentucky twang. But I have become a put-my-head-down, mind-my-own-business New Yorker. Does everyone really need to talk so loudly? I don’t want to know what time you think you’ll be home tonight or what happened in that meeting at work today or what you’re going to eat for dinner tonight. Actually, I’m quite interested in what you’re having for dinner, but that’s not the point: You take the fun out of eavesdr