Canal House

Canal House Hotel is a sumptuous 23-room boutique hotel situated in a quintessential brick canal house that suggests something more traditional than what guests find inside. The common areas are flashy and fashionable, pairing classic details, like elegant molded ceilings and ornate gold frames, with chic black walls and furniture and purple accents. Narrow hallways feature marbled floors and gallery walls filled with eclectic artwork. Charming and intimate, this small hotel manages to provide lots of trendy common spaces for hanging out, including a swanky bar, a stylish Great Room with a fireplace, books and games, and a roomy garden terrace with lots of seating. The location is excellent for exploring Amsterdam, and the darkly romantic, open-layout rooms make this property a particular favorite among couples.

Canal House overlooks the Keizersgracht canal in Canal Ring's stylish Jordaan neighborhood. It's one of Amsterdam's most picturesque and artsy areas, featuring galleries, shops, restaurants, and buildings dating back centuries. Tourist attractions are in walking distance, including the Anne Frank House, Dam Square, and the Nine Streets area. For sights farther out, the Westermark tram station is just a four-minute walk. - Three-minute walk to Anne Frank House

• Five-minute walk to Nine Streets district
• 10-minute walk to Dam Square
• 11-minute walk to the Royal Palace
• 13-minute walk to Amsterdam Museum
• 14-minute walk to the Flower Market
• 14-minute walk to Amsterdam Centraal Station
• 14 minutes to Rijksmuseum via public transit
• 22-minute drive to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

The dark and trendy look of public spaces follows into the guest rooms, with wood floors, black furniture, and velvety purple fabrics. Upgraded rooms add luxe extras like button-tufted leather benches, molded chairs, or large-scale artwork. The rooms' moody, dark look is balanced by big windows that may overlook the garden or canal. Bathrooms are equally stylish and modern with basin sinks and gorgeous mosaic tiling and feature either walk-in showers or combination showers and tubs. Most rooms have open layouts, making them better suited for couples. The Good Room, for example, is one continuous space, with the shower and tub essentially in the bedroom itself. Rooms are well-stocked with amenities, including LCD TVs with Blu-ray players, Bose iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. They also include coffee/tea service and minibars packed with local products. Bathrooms include robes, slippers, towel warmers, and high-end Green & Spring toiletries. While there's air-conditioning, guests have complained about weak or non-working AC. Occasionally guests also complain of noise in canal-facing rooms, so light sleepers might consider garden-facing rooms.

For such a small boutique property, the hotel has a nice set of extra property features. There's a swanky bar and lounge, which serves drinks and light fare, and room service is available into the evening. A nice continental breakfast (croissants, cheese, yogurt, fresh juice) is included in the room rate and cooked-to-order options are available for an extra fee, but unfortunately there's no full restaurant serving lunch or dinner. The hotel also has a nice garden terrace with lots of seating and a Garden House for meetings and events. Staff are helpful and efficient, providing extras like turndown service and ticket assistance. Valet parking is available for an extra fee, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. One downside, however, is there are no wellness facilities.