Amsterdam has never been short of beautiful hotels, but the arrival of The Rosewood is seriously a big deal. Film stars or royalty would look right at home strolling through the hotel\u2019s corridors. But though it feels oh-so-exclusive, that\u2019s not what will make you want to pull out your credit card and tap. It\u2019s the hotel\u2019s genuine warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019re inside the stylish, contemporary lobby, you immediately feel like you\u2019ve entered a home away from home. Staff greet you with a smile, and by the end of your stay, they are addressing you by name. Locals love it here, too. At The Court \u2013 the hotel\u2019s lively all-day hub for coffee and food \u2013 neighbourhood regulars sit happily alongside hotel guests. Naturally, the service is impeccable. And, there\u2019s not an ounce of the stuffiness usually associated with hotels of this calibre.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So truthfully, who wouldn\u2019t want a piece of The Rosewood\u2019s down-to-earth five-star hospitality? This is Amsterdam\u2019s grandest new address, and easily one of the best in the city.<\/p>\n
Why stay at The Rosewood Amsterdam?<\/p>\n
Quite simply, nowhere in the city balances location, immaculate service, discreet luxury, charm, or vibe quite like The Rosewood. Set on Prinsengracht in the heart of the historic Canal Ring, the address alone feels special; doubly so in a hotel that caters to your every whim. Then there\u2019s the building itself, a grand, 17th-century behemoth that started life as an orphanage before serving as the city\u2019s Palace of Justice. Restoration took 10 years (and a reported \u20ac100 million); dig into the details, and you understand why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The wall tiles adorning many corridors are all original and more than 400 years old. The designers, Studio Piet Boon, were tasked with replicating original colour palettes in key areas, and all internal wood doors, skirting boards, and panelling were treated and finished using traditional 17th-century techniques, a painstaking process that took three years alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than 1,000 contemporary artworks are dotted throughout the property; download the\u00a0dedicated app to turns a wander through the corridors into a curated experience. There\u2019s also a gallery space, a serene interior garden, and a courtyard that comes alive in summer with alfresco dining, and, below ground, a tranquil spa with gym and pool. There are also numerous \u201cexperiences\u201d available to guests, including private tours (complete with drinks and snacks) on the hotel\u2019s own, open-topped Salon Boat \u2013 skipper Florus is as convivial and erudite a tour guide as you can hope to have.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are the rooms like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?<\/p>\n
The Rosewood\u2019s 16,000 sq m building houses 134 rooms in total, including 41 Suites and five Residencies. Strict restoration regulations meant designers were unable to move or alter any original interior walls or ceilings, resulting in generously proportioned rooms starting at 31-42 sq m \u2013 positively expansive by Amsterdam standards. Second-floor rooms benefit from the highest ceilings, and it\u2019s well worth opting for a canal view; the tall windows elegantly frame the slow rhythm of boats and bicycles passing below.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, interiors\u00a0 are painted in a palette of creams, taupe, warm browns, and soft gold. The bed \u2013 enormous, plush, and dressed in 600-thread-count Rivolta Carmignani linen \u2013 is the kind that makes you question your own sleeping arrangements at home.<\/p>\n
Thoughtful details abound everywhere. The minibar includes pre-made cocktails alongside premium spirits such as Grey Goose, the hotel\u2019s own genever, and exclusive reposado tequila. Bathrooms are impressively spacious, and equipped with underfloor heating, Dyson hairdryers, a full range of high-quality grooming tools, and Votary toiletries. A double walk-in rain shower adds a sense of indulgence, while the freestanding bathtub invites long, restorative soaks while gazing serenely over the canal \u2013 a rarity for city-centre properties.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Upgrade to a Signature Suite, and you\u2019ll enjoy even more space and a separate living area; opt for one of the five Residencies, and you\u2019ll get up to 177 sq m of stunning, canal-side luxury, complete with fireplaces, full kitchens, and a butler service.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the food like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?<\/p>\n
There are two dining options at The Rosewood. Eeuwen, the main restaurant, seats up to 125 and features a seasonal menu that changes every six to eight weeks. Advocatuur offers a more informal setting, and is focused on Indian sharing plates served from its two authentic tandoor ovens (there\u2019s also The Court, which serves lunch, coffee, and snacks throughout the day). Sadly, the former was closed for minor renovations during my stay, but the latter did not disappoint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Decked out in deep reds, dark greens, burnished gold, and plenty of velvet, there\u2019s a speakeasy vibe to the space. A further rock\u2019n\u2019roll edge comes courtesy of iconic photography from local boy done good Anton Corbijn \u2013 I\u2019m told he\u2019s a regular, as his townhouse is nearby \u2013 and a cocktail menu that features lashings of bourbon, whisky, tequila, and innovative garnishes like dessicted stroopwafel. Food-wise, dishes are authentic and rich with flavour \u2013 we shared the moreish butter chicken, crispy pork belly, delightful samosas in cornetto form, and a fried chicken pao that had just the right mix of bite and spice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Advocatuur is also where you\u2019ll find the hotel\u2019s own, intimate genever distillery and tasting room. Named after the famed Dutch counterculture movement from the mid-1960s, The Rosewood\u2019s Pr\u00d8vo genever features heavily on the cocktail menu (and there\u2019s a bottle in your room). For a truly unique experience, book their Provo private tasting session (currently only available to hotel guests) \u2013 it takes place in one of the building\u2019s original holding cells.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What is the service like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?<\/p>\n
Service is perfection. But perhaps the most impressive achievement here is that it is not in the slightest overbearing. Requests are handled swiftly, and everyone is deeply knowledgeable about the city and its hidden gems (I was directed to a small, hitherto unknown lunch spot that yielded one of the best Reuben sandwiches I\u2019ve ever had).\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are the facilities like at The Rosewood Amsterdam?<\/p>\n
Excavating an entire floor from beneath a 400-year-old building was just one of the many challenges facing the restoration team at The Rosewood, but it was worth it. For here lies the hotel\u2019s serene wellness space, anchored by a gorgeous, naturally lit 12-metre swimming pool \u2013 long enough for proper laps \u2013 a jacuzzi, a sauna, and a steam room. Alongside this, the Asaya Spa offers a variety of treatments, massages, and rituals, including those geared towards Skin Health, Holistic Healing, Lost Remedies, and Pathways To Wellbeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 24-hour gym is well-equipped with free weights, kettlebells, and state-of-the-art Technogym machines, including a video station to guide you through various HIIT and Crossfit workouts. If pure burn is not what you\u2019re after, there\u2019s a boutique studio where you can book yoga, pilates, and barre classes; they even offer a personal trainer service.\u00a0<\/p>\n