Hotel bars in Amsterdam
Hotels aren't just for sleeping. With plenty of fantastic hotel bars on offer in Amsterdam – ranging from decadent to über-cool – they are now an exciting nightlife option. So if you’re planning on puttin’ on the Ritz, why not check out one (or more) of them – no need to bring suitcase and toothbrush.
The Hoxton
For a dose of modern Brit chic, head to Lotti’s, the bar and restaurant at The Hoxton. Sink back into a leather armchair or a plush velvet sofa and sip on a delicious drink – cocktails include the Love Oolong Time and In Bloom - a creation with gin, lemon, violet and rose-maraschino. Should hunger strike, Lotti’s serves seasonal Italian dishes with Dutch influences. And yes, that includes bitterballen.
Volkshotel
The Volkshotel is much more than a place to sleep, functioning as creative hotspot, artist’s studio and meet-up place. To that end, it offers two venues for food, drinks and socialising. Start with a sundowner at Canvas’ seventh-floor roof terrace and end your night at the Doka nightclub down below in the basement.
Kevin Bacon
You'll find this quirky little bar at the equally quirky Hotel Not Hotel in De Baarsjes. The perfect place to get footloose and fancy free in honour of a Hollywood great, Kevin Bacon serves up excellent cocktails and Thai food. The sunny terrace does the rest; overall, the Kevin Bacon crew keep it fresh and not too serious for both enjoying daytime drinks and staying far into the night.
The College Hotel
The College Hotel is situated in a beautiful former school building in Amsterdam’s well-heeled Oud Zuid district and the experience of going for a drink in this boutique hotel is suitably decadent. With international allure, an elegant interior, a convenient location just minutes from the Museum Quarter and a menu that includes posh variations of Dutch bar snack staples, the College Hotel bar will make sure it’s a night to remember.
The Dylan
This charming canal-side hotel has seen many transformations to its interior over the years. One of the more recent makeovers in The Dylan included converting a part of the lobby into a brasserie called OCCO. In the summer, (almost) all that is young and hip in Amsterdam comes here for a drink in the lovely courtyard. Their menu changes regularly, but think along the lines of smoked halibut with grapefruit, cucumber and Vadouvan mayonnaise or simply oysters to go with your (not inexpensive!) glass of wine. Cheers!
Conservatorium Hotel
The Conservatorium Hotel is a relatively recent addition to Amsterdam’s hotel scene, but it’s all the more grand. Italian architect Piero Lissoni truly worked some magic when he converted the 19th-century building, a former music academy situated right by the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum, into a design destination. The hotel’s Taiko Bar serves sushi and tapas and attracts a happy mix of tourists, business people and locals of the see-and-be-seen kind, as well as the token celebrity (both Madonna and Lady Gaga have been known to check in).
Amstel Hotel
The Amstel Hotel has long held its position as one of the premier grand hotels of Amsterdam. Its restaurant and bar combines the features of a luxurious hotel bar with a fresh and modern atmosphere. In the summer, relax on lounge chairs on the riverside patio and take in the views over the Amstel. But traditional grandeur need not take a step back in the splendid riverside building and the service is impeccable. Come for their famous high tea in the afternoon or have a wonderfully decadent drink at night.
SkyLounge at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
The main draw for the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel bar, located near Amsterdam Central Station, is undoubtedly its rooftop bar, the SkyLounge. Ceiling-to-floor windows as well as an outside area offer an uninterrupted and truly spectacular view across the city, especially at night.
W Amsterdam
The W Lounge, situated on the sixth floor of the W Hotel, offers unparalleled 360-degree views of the city, beginning with the richly adorned roof of the Royal Palace next door. Like the hotel it’s in, this is very much a place of modern luxury.
Lloyd Hotel *temporarily closed
The Lloyd Hotel, located in Amsterdam’s Oostelijk Eilanden (Eastern Docklands area), is housed in a converted national heritage building dating from 1921 – an excellent introduction to modern Dutch architecture and design. A meeting point for international artists, tourists, business travellers and locals alike, Lloyd Hotel bar and restaurant is a bright and open space. All dishes are prepared in house using locally sourced and mostly organic ingredients, and the menu changes with season. A perfect place for a drink, quick bite, an elaborate dinner or anything in between. And for the warmer months there's a terrace on the sunny south side - a perfect place for sunset cocktails.
Sir Albert
Sir Albert, a well-designed boutique hotel in De Pijp, is home to IZAKAYA, a Japanese-inspired restaurant and bar where guests can enjoy inventive small plates to share, accompanied by creative cocktails. In warm weather, take in great views of De Pijp from the outdoor terrace.
Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht Hotel
The Andaz, a 122-room hotel right in the centre of Amsterdam, is relatively new, but its hotel bar and restaurant, the Bluespoon Lounge, has already become a nightlife hotspot. Come in the afternoon for reading a book alongside having a cup of coffee – the interior design references the building’s former incarnation as public library – or mingle with the in-crowd over cocktails in the evenings. Don’t forget to take in the interior, which was designed by Marcel Wanders, one of Amsterdam’s favourite sons.
