In a nutshell<\/p>\n
Any notions of city stays being stressful will be sure to melt away the second you turn your key to one of these historic rooms. Made up of interconnecting canal houses, it\u2019s hard to imagine finding a more charming hotel in Amsterdam than the Pulitzer, which feels like a 1920s jazz song come to life.<\/p>\n
Three things I loved<\/p>\n
A serene Sunday morning aboard the hotel’s saloon boat, the antique artistry of the Porcelain Collector\u2019s Suite, and the tomato water martinis.<\/p>\n
Rooms<\/p>\n
Dotted throughout 25 restored townhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries, Pulitzer\u2019s 223 rooms are connected through long, crisscrossing hallways under a glass roof, each with an old Europe feel. If you\u2019re here for a special occasion, I\u2019d recommend nabbing any of the five Collector\u2019s suites, which range from the Book Collector\u2019s to the Antique Collector\u2019s, each appealing to a different niche for art-loving guests. We stay in the Porcelain Collector\u2019s suite and it\u2019s the most unique, thoughtfully designed space; the furthest cry from anything corporate, every inch of the wall is adorned with delicate Delftware I\u2019m dying to throw into my carryon, painted statuettes and elegant glazed ceramic vases. The paintings covering the wall in our suite\u2019s living space are equally tasteful, and it takes us hours to realise that one of the still lifes on the wall is really a cleverly concealed television. Outside the tall windows, we watch cyclists float by the canal in light trenchcoats, a Sunday morning walking church choir, and uniformed boat captains helping heeled ladies aboard. The best part of our suite is the private door leading directly out onto the street, which saves us from schlepping back to reception \u2013 and is particularly useful when you\u2019re late to dinner across the bridge. My personal favourite touch in the room? The milk frother: a step up from your standard hotel coffee machine and perfect for those who prefer their cappuccino at home.<\/p>\n
Ceramic statuettes adorning the Porcelain Collector’s suite<\/p>\n
A cloud-soft bed surrounded by hand-painted Delftware<\/p>\n
Food and drink<\/p>\n
During a candlelit supper at Jansz, Pulitzer\u2019s signature restaurant, we spread red roe on dashi blinis and note that everyone around us could be a book character, from the waiters to couples that spend hours engaging in conversation ranging from animated to uber-secretive. There\u2019s an air of mystique here, perhaps the only thing that keeps you from eating too fast: from the North Sea yellowtail crudo with puffed spelt and bergamot to salmon with crispy buckwheat and Parmesan foam (a favourite), everything is delicious, and the diners among us seem to feel the same. It\u2019s also a serene breakfast spot in the morning, where rocket and goat cheese omelettes become our go-to.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, dining in the Pulitzer Garden \u2013 especially in the summer \u2013 is a must: the part glassed-in, part open outdoor space is perfect for long lunches. On a sunny Sunday at 2pm, we enjoy excellent caviar service, a divine langoustine risotto with burrata and basil oil and a Mediterranean-style salad with tahini cr\u00e8me. The pasta menu is inventive as ever and not one to opt out of: think spaghetti with Ossetra caviar and cured egg yolk, or buttery cappellacci with artichoke and morels. When we visit, The Garden has launched a collaboration with Dutch ceramicists Anna + Nina, and the assortment of glassware and hand-painted plates feels like a natural continuation of our stay in the Porcelain Collector\u2019s suite.<\/p>\n
To either kick off or wrap up your evening, drinks at the moody, dark-walled Pulitzer Bar are a true highlight: ask for martini olives over the regular ones when ordering bar snacks, and get the Botanist 20 (a tomato water Ketel One vodka martini) first, no matter how good everything else looks.<\/p>\n
Highlights and experiences<\/p>\n
Our top highlight is without a doubt our Sunday aboard the century-old Tourist, Pulitzer\u2019s boat that feels like a world of yore when we step into its polished teak hull. There are just four of us aboard, and we spend the morning drifting down still waters listening to Edith Piaf and Artie Shaw and gazing out the bevelled glass windows as Nils, the captain, indulges us in the city\u2019s rich history. If it weren\u2019t 11am, we\u2019d be tempted by a tumbler of scotch from the antique minibar.<\/p>\n
Being the landmark it is, it\u2019s safe to assume that Pulitzer has you sorted if you\u2019ve come for a city-wide event in Amsterdam. It\u2019s the start of summer 2026 when we visit, which is also the beginning of Amsterdam\u2019s first WorldPride, and Pulitzer has a wealth of exclusive experiences ranging from LGBTQIA+ historic walking tours to a post-party micro-wellness retreat at the spa.<\/p>\n
A Sunday aboard Pulitzer’s 1909 Tourist boat<\/p>\n
What to do nearby<\/p>\n
The hotel has its own bikes, which are the best (and some might argue the only) way to navigate the city at a good pace and see each of its worthwhile neighbourhoods. If you\u2019re venturing out for a casual dinner before a night out, Kikkie van de Prinsensluis is an excellent way to experience the Amsterdam smash burger scene. Ours, which we eat while tucked into the world\u2019s tiniest, wobbliest table above the canal, do not disappoint. On the flip side, De Kas is an ultra-elevated plant-to-plate option which spotlights vegetables harvested on the same day. We\u2019re all about the caf\u00e9s here, and love our cappuccinos at Rum Baba (a recommendation from Pulitzer\u2019s trusty concierge, Ron) and Saint Jean Bakery. Just remember: a coffee house (where you get coffee) and coffee shop (where you get something a little more mood-inducing) are different things, so be specific about what you\u2019re after when asking for recommendations from the locals.<\/p>\n
The backstory<\/p>\n
This hotel takes its name from Peter Pulitzer, grandson of the Pulitzer Prize founder, who founded the 25-canal-house establishment in 1970. It\u2019s now considered Amsterdam\u2019s oldest five-star hotel, and is a very delightful way to immerse yourself in the city\u2019s history indeed.<\/p>\n
Insider tip<\/p>\n
Get to know Ron, the fountain of knowledge hotel concierge who looks like he always has a secret up his sleeve \u2013 which he\u2019ll share, alongside any tips to enrich your stay. Born and bred in Amsterdam, he\u2019s as passionate about the city as he is the hotel, and a friendly face that returning guests clearly look for on check-in.<\/p>\n
For families<\/p>\n
Though its sleek air could give the impression of being adults-only, the Pulitzer is as family-friendly<\/a> as a hotel that doesn\u2019t overly market itself as such can be. Other than its lovely family rooms and suites, the Pulitzer has a variety of initiatives to make children\u2019s stays truly memorable: every \u2018little\u2019 guest is gifted a Peter Rabbit toy as a nod to Peter Pulitzer, alongside personalised welcome treats and kids\u2019 travel diaries. The hotel organises everything from bedtime stories to a Treasure Hunt and a Very Important Kids programme, and finds ways to integrate kids into regular activities too, from Family Floats aboard the tourist to \u2018Little Moments\u2019 at the Beauty House.<\/p>\n Final considerations:<\/p>\n