Pulitzer Amsterdam

The Pulitzer Amsterdam is a city institution, founded in 1970 by the grandson of Joseph Pulitzer. Now, it occupies a total of 25 restored 17th- and 18th-century canal houses, each delineated by different wall and carpet colors. A network of inner gardens offers up serene spaces where guests dine alfresco or lounge in cocoon-like basket swings. The charming Jansz restaurant features gray wainscoted walls, marble tables, and wood plank floors, not to mention a its own waiting area — an elegantly rehabbed apothecary. The Pultizer Bar, meanwhile, is kitted out with Art Deco details, like globe lights, ornate gold-framed mirrors and paintings, and armchairs and couches upholstered in colorful leather or velvet. 

Much of the hotel was renovated in 2016, and the property is timeless and historic in a way that doesn't feel manufactured or corporate, perhaps due to the antique furnishings, original art, and astounding attention to detail throughout. This authenticity attracts locals and hotel guests alike to the property's restaurant and bar, giving common spaces an atmospheric pulse. Guests who stay at Hotel Pulitzer are often well-heeled tourists or leisure travelers. The dark, romantic vibe lends itself to romantic getaways, but their are plenty of amenities (and rooms) for families, too. 

Pulitzer Amsterdam sits right along the Prinsengracht canal, which forms part of the inner canal ring in Amsterdam's old city center, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's one of Amsterdam's most picturesque areas, and it's an extremely popular place for visitors to stay. It's full of shops, restaurants, and centuries'-old buildings. In just a couple minutes, guests can walk to the Anne Frank House, the Westermarkt tram station, and tons of restaurants and shops. 

• Two-minute walk to Westermarkt tram station
• Three-minute walk to the Anne Frank House
• Eight-minute walk to the Royal Palace
• 11-minute walk to Dam Square
• 11 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal via public transit
• 16 minutes to Museumplein (Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum) via public transit
• 17-minute walk to the Rembrandt House Museum
• 30 minutes to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol via public transit

All 225 guest rooms, which were included in the hotel's 2016 renovations, are rumored to have been stayed in by the hotel's interior designer to insure decor was on point. The attention to detail shows. Rooms are as charming as common areas, individually decorated with unique touches like antique furnishings and architectural features that range from arched windows to wood floors or exposed wood-beam ceilings. A soft color palette is accented with muted shades of yellow and purple, and velvet upholstery, wood wardrobes, chrome and brass fixtures, bar carts, and old rotary phones are common features. Bathrooms can be quite spacious, with sleek subway tiling, marble sinks, and oval-shaped, heated mirrors.

All rooms have individual climate control, work desks outfitted with colored pencils, flat-screen LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea service (with china tea cups), and minibars, plus extras like free cookies and bottled water and bike repair kits. Bathrooms feature robes, slippers, hairdryers, and Le Labo toiletries. Entry-level Cozy Rooms are indeed cozy at just 160 square feet — an upgrade to a Classic Room adds an extra 100 square feet. Generous Rooms, split-level Family Rooms, and Suites add extra space (some with more than 700 square feet), style, and a free breakfast. The Extraordinary Suites can be truly opulent with parquet floors, freestanding tubs, and elegant, themed decor. Many rooms are flooded with natural light, but not all have canal views — some overlook the hotel's garden. Noise is an occasional complaint, typically in rooms closer to street level. 

For guests who want to dine or explore Amsterdam, Hotel Pulitzer has everything covered with a dash of laid-back luxury style. The on-site dining offerings are real gems of the establishment, with a chic and bustling restaurant and bar, plus a casual cafe. The restaurant Jansz serves up simple European cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and also offers private dining and 24-hour room service, delivered in 30 minutes or less. Pulitzer's Bar is popular among locals and hotel guests alike, as much for its moody Art Deco lounge spaces as its craft cocktails. Pause Cafe has its own bar, a la carte breakfast menu, and some delicious dessert choices, plus a greenhouse-like dining area. In the warmer months, seating is offered outdoors in the hotel's garden. The vast breakfast offered at Jansz, which features a slew of American-style buffet options as well as cooked-to-order dishes like eggs Benedict or buttermilk pancakes is excellent, but not included in the room rate for guests staying in Cozy or Classic Rooms.

A lack of wellness facilities is one of this hotel's few flaws. There's no spa or pool, but in-room massages can be arranged and there's a 24-hour fitness room featuring modern cardio equipment with individual screens and a full rack of dumbbells. The hotel also has garden lounge space and 10 rooms (some are quite elegant) for meeting and events. In combination with Westerkerk, a nearby church, the hotel can help host up to 1000 guests. A business center features computers and printers, there's an on-site library, free daily newspapers, currency exchange, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. 

Staff offer exceptional service, including Les Clefs d’Or concierge service, bell service, and valet parking (though it's pricey). Guests can book limo drivers, rent bikes, or arrange airport transfers through the hotel. Plus, the hotel owns its own boat, which dates back to 1909, features mahogany, marble, brass, and leather details, and is the very same vessel Winston Churchill chose to tour Amsterdam in 1946. The boat offers daily canal tours (for an extra fee) or guests can book pricier private cruises.

For guests traveling with children, the hotel has an outdoor play area, kids' menus, cribs, high chairs, baby care products, board games, Xboxes, babysitting service (extra fee), and special pillow cases. Dogs and cats are allowed for an extra nightly fee.