Canal House
Reinvented Dutch masterpiece
Cobbled canalside Jordaan
Perfectly located Canal House hotel packs contemporary chiaroscuro decor into a brace of 17th-century merchant's houses, channeling the dramatic light, natural textures and rich fabrics of the Dutch Old Masters. Bedrooms are seductive, the breakfasts are delicious, and the courtyard garden's a romantic hideaway. You don't have to go far to see great art: not only is the Museum District a short tram ride away, the hotel has its own neck-craning array of antique ceiling mouldings, cabinets of curiosity, contemporary design and modern art.
Facilities
Rooms
23, including one suite (the Best Room).
Checkout
Check-out is at 11am. Earliest check-in, 4pm.
More Details
Rates don't include breakfast (except for Goldsmiths), but it can be purchased at the hotel for €19.50 a person. Bikes are also available to rent for €17 (be sure to prebook).
Also
If you're feeling sociable, an extra bed for an adult guest can be added to larger rooms for €75 a night.
Free Internet Access
Laundry
Room Service
At the Hotel
Courtyard garden, DVD/BluRay library, free WiFi throughout, private dining rooms. In rooms: LCD TV, Blu-ray/DVD player, Bose iPod dock, minibar, free bottled water, coffee- and tea-making kit, full-size Green & Spring bath products, hairdryer, slippers and robes.
Our Favourite Rooms
Good Rooms make up in style for what they lack in size, with the same luxury trappings, twin sinks and contemporary photography as the higher room categories – 18 overlooks the garden. Exceptional Room 12 has an ingenious sink/entertainment island and our favourite photography, including two Kevin Best showstoppers. The aptly named Best Room is an enormous top-floor suite with a freestanding bath, shower for two, two seating areas and canal views. If invisible ablutions are a non-negotiable for you, Great Room 3 and Exceptional Room 15 both have entirely separate bathrooms (the rest have in-room baths and sexy glazed shower stalls).
Packing Tips
Pack light, and hit the boutiques in the nearby Nine Streets to pad out your wardrobe with cutting-edge designer or upcycled vintage pieces. Save stilettos for the bedroom: the Dam is all about Converse, cobbles and canalside walks.
Also
In-room spa and beauty treatments can be arranged, and personal trainers can be booked via reception, where you'll also find jogging maps, tram tickets and other helpful extras.
Children
Welcome, although this is a getaway for grown-ups. Cots or extra beds are €75 a night; a highchair is available in the breakfast room. Babysitting can be provided with a local nanny.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Get comfortable on a leather banquette in the lounge for aperitifs or a coffee with the Sunday papers.
Dress Code
Fashion-savvy APC, Opening Ceremony, Dagmar and Rodebjer.
Hotel Restaurant
Breakfast is served in the Great Room, and although Canal House may not have a restaurant the concierge team will be happy to recommend an array of local options for lunch and dinner.
Hotel Bar
With brushed steel stools lined up around theatrically lit counters and a separate lounge area, the Bar at Canal House is atmospheric and attractive. Multiple mirrors, matt black walls and gilded Napoleonic plasterwork set the scene for seduction. Sip wine, sink highballs or sup cold draught beer.
Last Orders
The bar-slash-reception desk serves until the last guest has headed to bed.
Planes
Schiphol airport is 12km – less than 30 minutes by taxi – from Canal House (allow 45 minutes if there's heavy traffic); the ride will set you back around €50 and you can jump in a cab outside the terminal. Direct trains leave Schiphol for Amsterdams Centraal Station every 10 minutes between 6am and 1am; the journey takes 15–20 minutes.
Trains
Centraal Station has high-speed links with Paris (in four hours), Brussels (in three hours) and further afield, as well as national connections to cities like the Hague and Rotterdam. A taxi from Canal House to the station is about €15.
Automobiles
Parking in Amsterdam is a headache, so driving is best avoided; do as the locals do and rent a bicycle once you're there. Public transport is also very efficient, with trams and canal buses linking up all over town: visit GVB for timetables and tickets (www.gvb.nl).
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
You're just a short stroll from one of Amsterdam's biggest tourist attractions: the Ann Frank House at 263–267 Prinsengracht. Hop on tram 2 or 5 from Dam Square, 10 minutes' walk away, to the Museum District, for the Rembrandt and Vermeer-packed Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Book a private guide through the hotel for an insider tour of the sights (from €35 an hour). Tour the city on the water: the nearest canal bus stop is steps from the Anne Frank House on Keizersgracht. Tickets for 24, 48 or 72 hours allow you to hop on or off at more than 20 stops around Amsterdam. Alternatively, with 24 hours' notice, Canal House can arrange a private boat from a fleet of restored sloops, complete with captain, full bar and food if you wish. On yer bike: see the city the way the Dutch do, from the saddle of a push bike. Canal House has plans to provide a fleet of smart cycles – until then, MacBike rents two-wheelers; you'll need photo ID and a credit card. The neighbouring Nine Streets district is chock-full of quirky shops and designer stores. We're sure you'll find your own, but our favourites include fashion-forward womenswear boutiques Nummer 9 at 226 Prinsengracht, and Laundry Industry at 10 Huidenstraat; vintage-style store De Maagt & De Leeuw at 32 Hartenstraat; and the inspiring creative-industry bookshop Mendo at 11 Berenstraat.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
