5 Reasons We Fell in Love with the Pulitzer Amsterdam

By Kate Van Dell for Sebastian Luxe Travel

The thing about Amsterdam is that it already feels like a postcard. So when you stay at a hotel that somehow makes the postcard even prettier, you know you have done something right. That was our experience at the Pulitzer Amsterdam.

Here’s what we loved most:

1. The Canal Houses

The Pulitzer is technically a big hotel, but it does not act like one. It is stitched together from 25 renovated canal houses, which means instead of one giant, anonymous lobby, you get winding hallways, uneven staircases, and cozy corners that make you feel like you have stumbled into someone’s very stylish Dutch townhouse.

2. Kid-Friendly Touches

My son walked in and was immediately handed a scavenger hunt and a welcome gift. He was thrilled. I was impressed. Within five minutes he was running around happily, and I was sipping coffee thinking: this is how family hotels should do it.

3. The Courtyard

The Pulitzer’s courtyard is one of those spots that manages to be both chic and comfortable. In the mornings, it is the quietest corner of Amsterdam to sip a cappuccino. By late afternoon, it turns into the perfect place for an apero. It is well loved by hotel guests and locals alike, which is always a good sign.

4. The Boat

You can, of course, take one of the giant tourist canal cruises. But the Pulitzer has its own salon boat that leaves right from the dock outside the hotel. It is polished, it is cozy, and the guide was the kind of person who made Dutch history feel less like homework and more like a good story. It was the perfect way to start our trip.

5. The Service

The concierge team is what every concierge team aspires to be: gracious, resourceful, and just a little bit magical. They can make almost anything happen. The one exception is tickets to the Anne Frank House, which are only released online and sell out quickly. If that visit is important to you, book as soon as tickets become available. I recommend saving it for kids ages twelve and up, when the experience is more likely to resonate.

Bonus: The Food

Breakfast at Jansz is worth waking up for. It is not just a buffet, it is a buffet plus a full à la carte menu, so you never have to choose between croissants and avocado toast. (You can, and should, order both.) If only every hotel breakfast were served this way.

The Pulitzer manages to be historic and modern, elegant and easy, family-friendly and romantic all at once. It is rare to find a hotel that does it all without trying too hard, but this one does, and that is why we will be back.