Amsterdam, Holland's premier commercial city, has a stunning setting around a 17th century ring of canals, some of the world's finest art and a tolerant culture - see the red light district and its liberal drug laws. But building hotels in this city’s historic centre full of narrow houses has always posed a problem, so if you want to stay in the centre of town you need to stay in one of our Guru’s list of the best Amsterdam guesthouses.

Many of our Guru’s best Amsterdam guesthouses occupy the tall, narrow canal houses built for merchants and now restored, though a recent trend has seen the conversion of handsome public buildings into glossy new addresses such as The College Hotel. But our Gurus have divided our recommendations for the best places to stay in Amsterdam into Amsterdam's best hotels and the best Amsterdam guesthouses (by which we mean hotels that do not have restaurants) to make it easier for you to find the best places to stay in Amsterdam for you!

The Best Amsterdam Guesthouses

Best Amsterdam Guesthouses for Romance

The Seven One Seven Hotel is a wonderfully historic canal-side address with beautiful, unique interiors in each of the nine bedrooms, and every luxury. Or you might consider the Hotel Toren, a lavishly designed boutique hotel with 38 rooms, some with canal views, and the option to order Michelin starred room service. Another great guesthouse for couples is Misc, a six room canal-side hotel with boutique rooms and a small cocktail bar right by the cultural and fashion districts.

Best Amsterdam Guesthouses for Great Value

The Conscious Hotel Vondelpark is a large eco-hotel with 81 bright, state of the art modern designed rooms right next to the leafy Vondepark, with room rates starting from around £70 per night. For around £50 a night you can stay at the V Hotel, a hip and happening spot with smallish rooms, eco-decorations and a central location.

Best Amsterdam Guesthouses for a City Break

The Ambassade Hotel is a modern, mid-sized hotel converted from a charming 17th Century building right on the canal, the rooms are large and individually decorated with modern design and traditional antiques. Or you might try the Hotel Wiechmann, a simple, family-run hotel in the centre of Amsterdam with all the mod. cons. you might need in a renovated canal house.

Best Amsterdam Guesthouses for Families

The Blue Sheep B&B is an adorable, eight room, family-run B&B in central Amsterdam with lovely exposed brickwork and wooden beams.

Best Amsterdam Guesthouses for Canal Views

The Hotel Estheréa is perfectly located, right by Amsterdam’s oldest canal, a wonderful, 17th Century boutique hotel with extravagant decoration and great views.

Best Amsterdam Guesthouses for an Escape

The Sandton Hotel Filosoof is a stylishly designed, 38 room guesthouse, converted from two 19th Century townhouses in the old city centre, close the museums.

If you haven’t found your idea of the perfect Amsterdam guesthouse on our Guru’s list of the best Amsterdam guesthouses, you could:

• consult our Guru’s list of Amsterdam's best hotels,
• expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Amsterdam,
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.

The Best Amsterdam Guesthouses

 

Written by Alexander Duncan

posted Wednesday, 23rd March 2011