Pillows Anna van den Vondel

The Pillows Anna van den Vondel is housed in three 19th-century buildings with eye-catching red-brick facades in a quiet part of town. The property feels immediately sophisticated and cozy, with a beautiful lounge housing huge windows overlooking a serene patio, and lots of plush, velvet armchairs arranged around small tables. Handsome herringbone floors, slate-blue wall paneling, and minimalist brushed-gold details give common spaces a stately feel, while emerald-green seating is a nod to the traditional colors of Delft ceramics. The combination is stylish and elegant, and huge windows both in common areas and rooms make spaces light and appealing. Service is attentive but warm -- there is no front desk, and guests are checked in over a welcome drink in The Living, the lobby lounge that doubles as breakfast room, restaurant, bar, and socializing area. Though there are cribs available, the hotel’s quiet, intimate atmosphere is better suited to adults than families. In fact, we saw only middle-aged couples during our visit, and many rooms are too small to fit an extra bed. In this same price range, Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam has more kid-friendly amenities, while The Toren is an excellent alternative for those who want to stay closer to the action in downtown Amsterdam. Travelers seeking something cheaper and with more on-site amenities may want to compare rates at either the Swisshotel Amsterdam or the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace, though they both lack the boutique atmosphere of the Pillows.  

The hotel is located on a small street around the corner from Vondelpark, a lovely park with bike paths, big lawns, and streams. The area is mostly residential and quiet, but there are dozens of restaurants, cafes, and local shops within a few blocks of the property. Though not in the heart of the action, the hotel is well-connected via public transport all major tourist areas, with a tram stop served by lines 1 and 17 right around the corner, and several buses within a couple of blocks. It takes about 15 minutes by tram to get to Dam Square, and 20 minutes to Amsterdam’s Central Station and the Anne Frank House. The Museum Quarter -- home to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum -- can be reached on foot in about 15 to 20 minutes. The hotel is a 20-minute drive (or 25-minute train and tram ride) from Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. 

The hotel has 30 rooms spread over several floors, all connected via elevator but with a few small steps in the hallways. Across the board, rooms are elegant and stylish, with light-gray carpet, padded emerald-green headboards, and dark-wooden furniture with contemporary lines. Brushed-gold accents and bottle-green or midnight-blue velvet seating are refined touches, while big, double-glazed windows let in lots of natural light. A handful of rooms have a French balcony. At 15 square meters (161 square feet), entry-level rooms are tiny even by European standards, but higher-category units are more spacious, especially the 48-square-meter (516-square-foot) Pillows Suite, which has a separate living area and a terrace overlooking the garden. Regardless of their size, rooms are outfitted with the same excellent amenities, which include smart HD TVs, Nespresso machines, wireless radios with Bluetooth, and free Wi-Fi. Comfy beds are topped with soft duvets and several pillows, and all rooms have individually controlled air-conditioning and heating. Minibars are stocked with top-shelf drinks, sodas, and organic snacks, and each room comes with two free bottles of water. Only two of the 30 rooms have a work desk. Bathrooms are spotless and contemporary, with gray floor tiles, gray walls with white marble-like accents, and round sinks attached to white counters. Walk-in showers are spacious and have rainfall showerheads, and bathrooms feature hairdryers, heated towel racks, and a wide array of toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap, nail files, cotton buds, and shower caps. The Pillows Suite is the only room that has a tub. Turndown service is provided in all rooms.

The Living is a sophisticated lounge located on the main floor. It offers ample seating in a light-filled space with huge windows and serene garden and neighborhood views, and there is a separate, more intimate room with a fireplace and additional seating. A la carte breakfast is served there every morning, with tasty sweet and savory options served in three-tier cake stands, and a few homemade specials that change daily. The hotel lacks a full restaurant, but the lounge has a food menu of small bites and soups. Well-reviewed, three-course table d’hote dinners are available four times per week, during which guests can interact with the chef. Room service is available free of charge. The hotel also has a lovely garden with plants, seating, and shaded areas. On the downside, there are no fitness or wellness facilities here.