Pulitzer Amsterdam

"How did it strike you on arrival?It seamlessly melds 17th-century canal house style with modern Dutch design. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Upscale travelers from around the world. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.All of the 225 rooms are different, but many have tall windows that overlook the canal. The rooms combine the understated elegance of a historic canal house with modern gray walls and pops of jewel-toned color, with the help of drapery, textiles, and tufted furniture. The beds are also extraordinarily comfortable. How about the little things, like mini bar, shower goodies, and other amenities?Each room contains a bike repair kit in tribute to Amsterdam's status as one of the most cycling-friendly cities in the world. You'll also find a bright yellow or daphne blue vintage rotary telephone and Le Labo toiletries. Room service and food: Worth it?Named after 17th-century craftsman Volkert Jansz who once lived in the space, the upscale restaurant Jansz specializes in modern European classics. Try the cod with nutty brown butter for $30 or hanger steak with a rich Bearnaise sauce for $33. Anything stand out about other services and features?Belly up to the gold, Art Deco-style Pulitzer's Bar, which has its own entrance on the Keizersgracht canal. Sip on a cocktail made with jenever, the Dutch precursor to modern gin. Bottom line: worth it, and why?Overlooking the Prinsengracht and five minutes from the Anne Frank House and Jordaan neighborhood, the location is quintessential Amsterdam. Architecture lovers will swoon for this hotel stitched together from 25 restored houses from the 17th- and 18th-century." - Meredith Bethune