Hotel Review: Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht

Ramsey Qubein is a freelance travel journalist covering hotels, cruises,…

Hyatt’s designer brand Andaz has a supreme location in Amsterdam, and its latest design incarnation has helped it become the poster child for other Andaz hotels around the world. The Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht brings in a quirky and fun design into what was once the city’s former public library. The ethos of the Andaz brand is to live “like no one’s watching.” In other words, be yourself and live your best life with no regrets. Staying in a hotel with such a fun design provides inspiration for guests and staff to do just that. Here are the top five reasons to visit the Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht.

The design

World-famous Dutch designer Marcel Wanders lent his talents to this exciting hotel. From the modern artwork meant to stir up conversation to the hidden details like monkeys and historical characters dressed in modern-day attire, you can’t help but smile everywhere you turn.

If you have flown KLM, you are familiar with Wanders’ talents designing the crockery and serviceware. Each room here also has one of Wanders’ ceramic plates on display. Other touches include a fabulous mural facing the entrance and numerous statues and pieces of modern art that pay homage to well-known Dutch literature.

The huge bells hanging in the lobby encase beautiful chandeliers. There seems to be a surprise at every turn. Delft blue patterns are notable along the walls and carpeting, and a video art installation dominates one wall in the lobby.

The hotel is a mix of buildings with the front façade facing the canal. Farther inside, guests cross through a glass walkway with an outdoor patio that seems like an oasis from the bustling street in front. It leads to another building with additional rooms. While canal-facing rooms are in high demand, rooms overlooking the courtyard are quiet and enjoyable, especially due to windows that open.

One level below the lobby is a well-equipped fitness center and spa that offers massage and beauty treatments popular with both guests and locals.

The food

Prins & Aap, which the hotel dubs a barstro (mix between bar and bistro), serves a modern take on Dutch cuisine in its canal-facing location. By day, the space is the lobby lounge where guests can order coffee or work on laptops while they watch the world go by. Mirrors cleverly placed on either side of the windows expand upon the view of the comings and goings.

Later in the day, the space becomes a cocktail bar and eventually the dinner restaurant. My bitterballen (fried Dutch veal or meat puffs) were delicious, and I found the crowd to be a mix of locals, hotel guests and business travelers like me tapping away on laptops.

It’s not every day that locals book ahead for a hotel restaurant, but this place has developed a strong following. I rounded out the evening with an incredible Dutch cheese and charcuterie board that was enough for four people. To be fair, many of the menu items are designed to be shared.

The menu is a series of books (another library reference) with creative stories sharing the inspiration behind each cocktail. On weekends, count on special events like a popular drag bingo to add energy to this already vibrant space.

A glassed-in dining room is the breakfast restaurant serving an a la carte menu with dishes like shakshuka and a yummy avocado tofu bowl. The buffet features an assortment of Dutch cheeses, pastries and of course the famous stroopwafels. I really liked how they were packaged so you could grab a few for later in the day.

The rooms

Guest rooms here are as energetic and humorous as the public areas. It starts with a ride up in glass elevators that pass murals of bookshelves with funny titles and categories (an homage to the building’s former life as a library). On each floor, you will discover more of the infamous statues, a reference to “The Prince of Lost Dreams,” for whom the canal facing the hotel is named.

Dim hallways lead to bright guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and massive images behind the comfy beds. They vary by room, and mine had an enormous goldfish staring back at me. Curving lamps sit by coffee tables with the hotel’s famous throne chairs tucked into the corner.

Wide desks provide ample place to stretch out your belongings or work with numerous power outlets there and bedside. Plush duvets and gigantic pillows assure sound rest. Closets have umbrellas and luggage racks built into them.

An Andaz perk is that non-alcoholic minibars are free and come with snacks like popcorn, bottled water and sodas. This property even comps local beer as part of the deal.

The rooms here are unusual in that many have the vanity area exposed to the guest room with hand-painted, above-counter sinks the star. Stacks of towels, a standing vanity mirror and locally made toiletries from Liza Witte in eco-friendly pump bottles are nearby.

Water closets have wallpaper featuring various historical facts and drawings that will have some travelers spending longer than they need to there. It’s quite interesting and entertaining. One-way glass showers have excellent water pressure.

Numerous suite categories are in the mix, including some with enormous bathrooms featuring tubs facing a TV and separate living areas. Not all rooms have the open-plan baths, and modest guests should ask ahead about this.

The perks

Like other Andaz properties, there is an evening experience that offers a local taste to guests. Here, guests can enjoy special cocktails using Dutch genever and learn more about the spirit’s history. This takes place in the lobby and is complimentary for all guests.

During check-in, guests are also welcomed with a beverage of their choice, another Andaz signature. Andaz is part of World of Hyatt, and members can earn or redeem their points for a stay here. Top-tier Globalist members receive extra benefits like complimentary breakfast for two each morning, late checkout and potential room upgrades based upon availability.

The hotel even has its own canal boat that guests can book for private city tours while they enjoy a range of drinks and snacks sailing through the city.

The location

Amsterdam is a great walking (and biking) city, and the hotel’s location is ideal for that. It sits between two major canals the Prinsengracht (the Princes canal in English) and the Keizersgracht (and the Emperors canal), you can easily walk to major sights from here. As a result, the hotel sees a lot of leisure visitors, but also business travelers that appreciate the unique décor here.

With many luxury hotels in the city, Andaz stands out for its youthful and unique design. For a boutique hotel feeling, but with independent spirit, it is hard to go wrong here.