Hotel Okura Amsterdam

A Japanese influence prevails at Okura in its decor, food, service, and overall ambiance. The hotel has a sleek design, featuring a marble lobby with curved wood paneling, vases of Japanese flowers, and a winding staircase. The spa, garden, and two of the restaurants are also Japanese in character, and the rooms have similar elements as well. Towering over the residential De Pijp district, the 23-floor property offers views available from few other buildings in Amsterdam. Okura also takes advantage of its canal-side location with a pleasant waterfront terrace. With its range of meeting facilities, the hotel attracts business travelers as well, but tourists also appreciate its quiet location a mile from the museums.

Okura is nestled on the Amstel Canal in the residential De Pijp section of Amsterdam. It's not as centrally located for sightseeing as some other major hotels, but the tram at Cornelis Troostplein is within short walking distance, providing access to the rest of the city. The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are one mile northwest and Leidseplein nightlife is more than a mile north. Anne Frank House and Dam Square are also to the north and accessible via public transportation. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport is about a 20-minute drive away.

The 300 rooms at the Okura Hotel feature dark woods and a blond, beige, and white color palette, with an overall contemporary feel. Decorated with Japanese art, spaces range from smaller Superior Rooms with peek-a-boo bathrooms to more expansive Presidential Suites. (The Executive Room we saw, however, looked a bit more generic decor-wise than the chic Superior Room, so note that upgrades in size may not translate to upgrades in decor.) Some rooms on the higher floors boast panoramic views of the city. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi (for a fee), Nespresso machines, adjustable lighting, and plush beds (though sometimes they are made up of two beds pushed together). The marble bathrooms are decked out with premium toiletries, heated mirrors, walk-in rain showers, and separate bathtubs, as well as bathrobes and slippers.

The amenities at the Okura Hotel are topped, literally, with the 23rd-floor champagne and cocktail bar with some of the best views in all of Amsterdam. Okura also has a lobby bar and four restaurants, including the Michelin one-star Japanese restaurant Yamazato and the two-star international restaurant Ciel Bleu. The health club (for a fee) boasts a sizable indoor pool, women's and mixed saunas, a Turkish steam room, and a fitness center, among other treats. The Japanese-style spa has massages, therapies, and a tea lounge. Also on-site are Japanese cooking classes, a business center, and a fine gift shop with Delft pottery and ceramics. A pleasant spot to pass the time, the waterfront terrace overlooks the scenic Amstel Canal.