by Santorini Dave • Updated: December 10, 2018
Hotel TwentySeven – Suite-only boutique hotel in the heart of the city.
Comprising just sixteen individually-designed suites, the exclusive Hotel TwentySeven is a seamless blend of opulence and elegance right in the heart of the city. The interior is the direct opposite of “less is more”. Period features from the original 1916 building – decorative tiling, stained glass – vie for your attention alongside luxurious fabrics and a rich color scheme, with plenty of crimson and gold, punctuated by carefully curated contemporary works by the CoBrA art collective. All suites come with palatial marble bathrooms with whirlpool baths and rain showers, and the onsite bar is among the best in Amsterdam, but it’s the highly personalized service that sets Hotel TwentySeven apart.
Hotel TwentySeven – Location
- Address: Dam 27, 1012 JS Amsterdam.
- Nearest Tram: Dam.
- Area: Super-central location right on the main Dam Square in the Medieval Centre. Right next to the historic canal ring; numerous dining options, bars, and shops nearby; walkable (or short tram ride) to the Anne Frank House, the Museum Quarter, and Centraal Station. Short walk from attractions in the historic canal belt and the Red Light District.
- How to Get There: Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station, then the tram (4, 9, 16, 24, 25) to Dam stop, 1 minutes’ walk from the hotel.
- Handy to: The Royal Palace, Dam Square, Amsterdam Museum.
Hotel TwentySeven – The Basics
- Ages: There’s an adult feel to the hotel, and most guests tend to be couples on a romantic vacation, though babies and children can be accommodated.
- View: Occupying floors 3 to 7 of a historic building, all suites offer views of Dam Square. The best views are from the Rooftop, Penthouse, and Terrace suites.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Each suite comes with a whirlpool bath.
- Laundry: In-room laundry service.
- Extras: Each suite comes with a personalized butler service. Personal assistants, personal shoppers, and private tour guides available on request. There’s a guest-only VIP lounge next to the bar, and minibars in the suites come stocked with an excellent selection of wines and champagnes. Turn-down service.
- When to Book: Reserve 3 to 4 months in advance for the mid-March to mid-May tulip season, the July and August high season, and the Christmas-New Year period.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: 020-218-2180
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.hoteltwentyseven.com/
Hotel TwentySeven – Amenities
- Pool: No pool.
- Spa: No spa, but the rain showers in the bathrooms double as steam rooms.
- Fitness Center: No fitness center, but arrangements can be made in-room, from personal trainers and yoga instructors to specialized fitness equipment.
- For Disabled Guests: Not suitable for guests with disabilities.
- For Families: Baby cots can be supplied, and babysitting services are available on request.
Hotel TwentySeven – Food and Drink
- Restaurants: Bougainville (6.30pm-10.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, plus exclusive lunch by reservation only) is located on the 3rd floor, with views of Dam Square and the Royal Palace. Choose between a 5 (€75) or 7-course (€100) dinner of elegant, seasonal, globally-inspired dishes. Wine pairings highly recommended. Reservation only. • $$$$.
- Lounge/Bar: With velvet seats, candlelight, bar made out of Iranian onyx, and great views of Dam Square, Bar TwentySeven is a stylish watering hole popular with Amsterdammers and guests alike, offering an impressive selection of global whiskys and clever probiotic signature cocktails, some made with exclusive in-house ingredients. Open daily until 1am. At Bougainville restaurant, consult world-renowned sommelier Lendl Mijnhijmer about wine tastings and wine pairings.
- Breakfast: Complimentary continental buffet breakfast available from 8-11am, with eggs prepared to order.
- Room Service: 24-hour room service available from Bougainville.
Hotel TwentySeven – Rooms
- Room Types: Junior Suite • One-Bedroom Suite • Two-Bedroom Suite • Grand Master Suite • Tower Dream Suite • Rooftop Loft Suite • Penthouse Suite • Grand Terrace Suite • Residential Terrace Suite • Imperial Terrace Suite
- Smoking Rooms: Rooms at Hotel TwentySeven are 100% smoke-free, but there’s a smoking area attached to Bar TwentySeven.
- Best Room: The triangle-shaped Rooftop Stage Suite features the most dramatic design, with a round bed and a telescope for peering through the round window overlooking Dam Square, while the Imperial Terrace Suite comes with a heated outdoor terrace overlooking the city’s most popular square.
- For Families: No family rooms.
Hotel TwentySeven – Local Transport
- Walking: Easy walking distance to Anne Frank House, Museum Quarter, attractions in the Medieval Centre and the Red Light District, Nine Streets shopping neighborhood. Numerous restaurants, bars, and shops within a few minutes’ walk.
- Tram: Direct tram connections from the Dam stop to Centraal Station, southern canal ring, and Leidseplein, plus the Museum Quarter.
- Taxis, Uber: Taxis and Uber charge around €35 from the airport to the hotel. Within the city, Uber rides cost around half of taxi fares. It’s often quicker to walk, cycle, or jump on a tram.
Hotel TwentySeven – What’s Nearby?
Recommended Nearby Tours
- Amsterdam Red Light District Tours – Several options of Red Light District walking tour – with a group, with a private guide, and with exclusive private guides who’ve worked in the sex industry for decades. Start location: 1-minute walk.
- Offbeat Amsterdam: Red Light District Walking Tours – Entertaining 90-minute tours that depart from Dam square, and take in the history of the sex worker industry and highlights such as a peep show, hidden street art, and the Amsterdam Museum of Prostitution. Start location: 1-minute walk.
- Rederij Kooij – Private canal tours in a vintage wooden boat. Start location: 5-minute walk.
- Prostitution Information Centre – Fascinating information center where you get the answers to everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Amsterdam’s prostitution industry. Hour-long walking tours (€15 per person) depart from here at 5pm on Saturdays. Start location: 5-minute walk.
- That Dam Guide – Intimate, small-group, 2-hour tours that provide an excellent all-round view of the sex industry. Guides explain Amsterdam’s laws and working conditions, and point out the good and bad sex shops, peep shops, live theaters, and strip clubs. Start location: 8-minute walk.
- Stromma – Open boat canal tours, hop-on, hop-off boats, and 100 Highlights canal cruise. Start location: 9-minute walk.
- Lovers Canal Cruises – Hour-long, small boat canal cruises depart from the dock near the Anne Frank House. Start location: 10-minute walk.
- Amsterdam City Tours – Coach tours depart for the Keukenhof flower gardens and Zaanse Schans windmills from the I Amsterdam tourist office. Start location: 10-minute walk.
- Blue Boat Company – Open-boat cruises, themed kids’ cruises, evening cruises, and Hard Rock burger cruises. Start location: 15-minutes.
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Van Kerkwijk – Intimate, subtly-lit little place with a daily changing menu of French classics, Moroccan tajines, curries, and other internationally-inspired dishes. 2-minute walk.
- FuLu Mandarijn – Good mix of Cantonese and Sichuan dishes in smart surroundings. Offerings include dim sum, sea bass in hot chili broth, Kung Pao chicken, and Peking duck with pancakes. 2-minute walk.
- Mappa – Solid, no-nonsense Italian food: homemade pizza and ravioli, plus an excellent wine list of tipples from small producers. 3-minute walk.
- TER Steakhouse – Prime cuts of meat seared to your specifications. Dinner bookings advisable. 3-minute walk.
- Adam & Siam – Imaginative Dutch dishes with a Thai twist, friendly and efficient service. 4-minute walk.
- Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis – Traditional Dutch pancakes in tiny 16th century house, sampled by Anthony Bourdain in The Layover. Reserve ahead, as there are only 4 tables. 4-minute walk.
- Anna – White tablecloths, imaginative modern Dutch fare, terrific list of global and organic wines, and a fine location overlooking the Oude Kerk. 4-minute walk.
- Lucius – Local institution, popular as ever after 4 decades. Expect refined seafood dishes, from the pike the restaurant is named after to steamed razor clams with chili. Reservations strongly advised. 5-minute walk.
- Ivy & Bros – Inexpensive breakfasts, good coffee, and beautifully presented salads. 5-minute walk.
Best Nearby Bars and Breweries
- Bubbles & Wines – This sleek wine bar attracts a lively, stylish clientele with its 50+ wines and champagnes by the glass, and superb bar snacks. 1-minute walk.
- De Drie Fleschjes – Characterful 17th century tasting house that specializes in liqueurs and jenevers. The accompanying snack of choice here is meatballs. 3-minute walk.
- Café Oporto – This pint-sized brown café has friendly staff, football on TV, inexpensive beer, and a great location near Dam square. 3-minute walk.
- Café Belgique – Chilled-out Belgian beer bar, with 8 brews on tap at the carved wooden bar, and many more bottled options. 3-minute walk.
- The Tara – Maze-like Irish pub that’s a big expat favorite. Good for catching football on the big screen. 3-minute walk.
- Bierfabriek Amsterdam – Hip, brasserie-style microbrewery with private tap tables, 4 own brews on tap, and an accompaniment of rustic dishes. 4-minute walk.
- Café Schuim – Mural-bedecked grungy bar that gets seriously packed on weekends, and in the evenings. Younger crowd. 4-minute walk.
- Café de Dokter – Amsterdam’s smallest pub, run by the descendants of the doctor who founded it in 1798. Expect candlelight, chandeliers, and atmospheric bric-a-brac, plus good whiskies and beer. 6-minute walk.
Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops
- De Bierkoning – Over 1,500 bottled beers from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the UK. 3-minute walk.
- Old Amsterdam Cheese Store – Central branch of the famous cheese store. Get your Gouda goodies here. 4-minute walk.
- Magna Plaza – Upmarket shopping mall, best for fashion, jewelry, and souvenirs. 4-minute walk.
- Magic Mushroom Gallery – Branch of a popular smart shop chain, good for herbal ecstasy, ‘shrooms, marijuana, and accessories. 4-minute walk.
- Laundry Industry – Urban wear for men and women by the eponymous Dutch design house. 4-minute walk.
- Concrete – Locally-designed t-shirts, trainers, and jeans. Also doubles as an exhibition space for street art and photography. 5-minute walk.
- By Popular Demand – Quirky, original gifts in the form of cool gadgets and hard-to-find home decor. 5-minute walk.
- PGC Hajenius – Art deco tobacco emporium with private humidors and sumptuous smoking lounge. 5-minute walk.
- Mark Raven Amsterdam Art – Mark Raven’s city scapes, posters, and t-shirt art. 5-minute walk.
- 3D Hologrammen – Holographic art, jewelry, and homeware. 5-minute walk.
- Hans Appenzeller – Local jewelry designer; original designs in gold and stone. 5-minute walk.
Hotel TwentySeven – The Hotel
Looking out onto Dam Square, Bar TwentySeven is plush and intimate, and popular with locals and guests alike due to its impressive selection of global whiskies and clever probiotic signature cocktails, some made with exclusive in-house ingredients. Open daily until 1am.
Bougainville (6.30-10.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, plus exclusive lunch by reservation only) is in the same building as the hotel, and serves seasonal, globally-inspired dishes with superb wine pairings. Reservations essential.
The Grand Master Suite comes with a particularly spacious living area.
The smallest of the suites, Junior Suite comes with standard amenities such as extensive climate control, ambiance lighting, a coffee maker, minibar, and a smart TV, as well as select art pieces from the CoBrA gallery.
Panoramic views from the bedroom window, and an in-room jacuzzi are just some of the features of the Tower Dream Suite.
The Imperial Terrace Suite comes with a private heated terrace overlooking Dam Square.
One of the Imperial Terrace Suite bathrooms is equipped with twin rain showers.
One of the defining features of the Penthouse Suite is its giant porthole window that looks out over the Medieval Centre.
View of the Rokin from the Penthouse Suite.
The spacious living area of the Roof Loft Suite looks out over Dam Square.
The dramatic Roof Stage Suite also looks out onto Dam Square (with a telescope for guests), and comes with a unique round bed.
Romantic jacuzzi with a view in the Roof Stage Suite.
Dam square is Central Amsterdam’s busiest square, filled with visitors and buskers, and home to the Nationaal Monument, dedicated to WWII’s fallen.
The big attraction here is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of the Netherlands. When the king’s away, you can check out the sumptuous rooms.
Just north of the Royal Palace, the 15th century Nieuwe Kerk is well worth a look for its beautiful oak chancel, and excellent temporary art and photography exhibitions.
On the corner of the square, the Amsterdam branch of Madame Tussaud’s is the place to take selfies with wax figures of royalty and celebrities, if that’s your thing.
Directly behind the Royal Palace is the Magna Plaza, a grand, upmarket shopping center filled with jewelry shops and fashion boutiques.
A block north, the central branch of Mark Raven Amsterdam Art sells posters of Amsterdam cityscapes, and t-shirts adorned with Amsterdam scenery.
Next door to the Magna Plaza is By Popular Demand, an original gift store that stands out among numerous tacky souvenir shops in the Medieval Centre. Come here for cool gadgets and homeware.
Heading south from the Magna Plaza, busy Spuistraat is dotted with restaurants, bars, and a few shops. On the corner, just southwest of the Royal Palace, De Bierkoning is an excellent place to stock up on craft beers sourced both locally and elsewhere in Europe.
Around the corner, the grungy Café Schuim is very much part of the younger local scene in contrast to largely touristy bars that cluster around nearby Spui square.
Further south, Concrete occasionally hosts street art exhibitions, and sells casual urbanwear: locally-designed t-shirts, sneakers, and jeans.
Across the street, Lucius has been a local institution for over 40 years. Refined seafood dishes, romantic ambience. Reservations highly recommended.
While most smart shops selling herbal highs are concentrated in the streets near Centraal Station and in the Red Light District, Magic Mushroom along this stretch of Spuistraat is recommended for its range of marijuana, magic truffles, and accessories.
A block east along St Lucienstraat, Laundry Industry is the most central branch of the Dutch design house, specializing in urban wear for men and women.
Right nearby, the Amsterdam Museum is an entertaining romp through 1,000 years of city history, complete with hands-on exhibits and dressing up opportunities for kids.
At its southern end, Spuistraat ends in Spui square, one of the most popular gathering spots in the Medieval Centre. On Sundays, it hosts the Art Plein Spui, an outdoor book and art market.
The tiny medieval lanes just north of Spui hide numerous atmospheric bars. Café de Dokter is a tiny 18th century pub – Amsterdam’s smallest – decked out with eclectic antiques, and good for a beer or whisky (if you can squeeze in).
Just east of Spui, the wide Rokin canal is busy with canal cruise boats during the day.
On the east side of the canal, the Allard Pierson Museum houses a superb archaeological collection, from ancient Greek ceramics and an Egyptian mummy to early Mesopotamian artifacts.
Just north of the museum and facing the narrow Grimburgwal canal, the Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis is arguably the best place in town to try traditional Dutch pancakes (Anthony Bourdain thought so). It’s inside a tiny 16th century house, so reserve ahead.
Directly opposite, you can browse original gold jewellery designs at Hans Appenzeller. Or check out 3D holographic art and jewellery next door.
From here, narrow Nez street, dotted with alternative theaters, runs back to Dam square. There’s a good microbrewery here, too: Bier Fabriek has private tap tables, and rustic dishes to accompany its brews.
A little way up the street, Mappa serves solid Italian dishes, accompanied by Italian wines from small producers.
Nearer Dam is Van Kerkwijk, with its daily changing menu of Moroccan tagines, French dishes, and more.
Nearby, Bubbles & Wines surpasses most Amsterdam bars when it comes to sheer class: it’s a stylish place with dozens of wines and champagnes by the glass, and superb bar snacks to match.
Rokin, the Medieval Centre’s main thoroughfare, runs parallel to Nez. Near Spui square, PGC Hajenius is a tobacco emporium that’s worth a peek for its art deco interior. Buy your cigars here, and try them in a private humidor.
Rokin’s bars and restaurants are invariably touristy and vary in quality. Adam & Siam is consistently good for Dutch-Thai fusion.
Next door, The Tara is one of the city’s most popular Irish pubs, attracting a large expat and visitor crowd. Good for catching the game on the big screen.
Closer to Dam, FuLu Mandarijn is a smart, mid-range Chinese option, with an extensive menu of authentic Sichuan and Cantonese dishes.
North of Dam square, the Damrak thoroughfare takes you all the way to Centraal Station. Just north of the square, Café Oporto is an informal brown café popular with both visitors and locals, good for a beer and watching football on TV.
Branching off to the east, tiny Zoutstraat lane is home to several characterful bars. De Drie Freschjes, a 17th century tasting house, is the best place in central Amsterdam to sample a wide range of jenevers and other local liqueurs.
A little further west, Café Belgique is a local favorite for Belgian beers, with 8 brews on tap, many more bottled ones, and a good little people-watching terrace.
Most shops along Damrak are heavily geared towards tourists. So is the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store, but it’s still an excellent place to pick up a range of Dutch cheeses as souvenirs.
Just off Damrak is the dock for most canal cruise boat companies. Have a look at a few, since some offer open-boat and small group tours that can explore the narrow, less well-trodden canals, while others have large boats that may only navigate the main canals.
Across the street from the boat dock, Sexmuseum Amsterdam is the most entertaining of the city’s erotic museums, with several floors of the world’s earliest nude photos, X-rated ceramics through the ages, mannequins recreating scenes from the Red Light District, and more. Over-18s only.
Behind the hotel, Damstraat runs east towards the Red Light District. Just before Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal, TER Steakhouse has a solid reputation for its expertly grilled cuts of meat.
A block east, the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Gallery has entertaining exhibits on hemp art, marijuana cultivation, and the use of the ‘holy herb’ in religion.
North along Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal, Ivy & Bros makes for an excellent lunch, breakfast, or coffee spot, with its imaginative salads and hearty breakfasts.
The Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal is particularly picturesque, with the St Nicolaaskerk visible in the distance.
A little further north, and facing one of Amsterdam’s oldest churches is Anna, a modern Dutch restaurant that pairs imaginative dishes with global and organic wines.