The design and atmosphere

The concept is genuinely impressive once you’re inside it. Twenty-five interconnected 17th-century canal houses, woven together into one property without losing the character of any of them. The signage is intentionally understated. The hotel blends into the Jordaan streetscape so well that you could walk past it without realizing. Inside, the spaces get a lot of natural light, which is not something you can take for granted in Amsterdam’s older buildings, and the styling throughout has a real sense of place.

The private garden is worth highlighting on its own. Finding a proper outdoor courtyard garden at a city-center Amsterdam hotel is rare, and in summer it transforms into a Mediterranean dining setup that genuinely earns that description.

Then there is Pulitzer’s Bar, the speakeasy-style bar tucked inside the property. The Italian team running it takes the cocktail program seriously, and the atmosphere is the kind you want to linger in. Book ahead. This is a great way to spend the food and beverage credit included in your perks!

The location

The Pulitzer sits on the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht canals in the Jordaan district. The entire canal belt has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, which means the neighborhood is legally protected and stays looking the way Amsterdam is supposed to look. No tower blocks going up next door. No chain retail creep. It is genuinely one of the best-located hotels in the city, and the walkability from here is exceptional. Anne Frank House is a three-minute walk. The best independent shopping, local cafes, and wine bars in Amsterdam are right outside the door.

Arrival experience

One detail that stands out for clients arriving on transatlantic or long-haul flights: the hotel offers dedicated refresh rooms on the first floor for up to 90 minutes when standard rooms are not yet ready. There is also a comfortable arrival lounge with complimentary refreshments, originally set up for river cruise groups but available for early arrivals. These are the kinds of touches that rarely get mentioned in reviews but that genuinely make a difference after a long journey.

Rooms and suites

Canal-facing rooms come with a view and daytime noise. Garden-view rooms are the smarter pick for anyone who values quiet. For families, the two-bedroom family suites are well-thought out: a primary bedroom and a secondary that can be configured as a king or kept as twins depending on the group. The five Collector Suites are the most distinctive rooms in the hotel. Each one is built around a theme: art, books, flowers, porcelain, antiques. They have their own street-level access and traditional keys, and they range from one to three bedrooms.

Connecting rooms

Connecting rooms for families must be requested at booking.

The team can help with connecting rooms, but these need to be requested at booking.

Canal cruises

The Pulitzer offers private canal cruises for hotel guests for around 60 euros for 90 minutes, with captain and drinks included. It’s one of those add-ons that sounds optional until you are actually on the water and realizing how special this one feels.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Amsterdam page.