The Dylan Hotel in Amsterdam

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Updated: November 10, 2020

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Review of The Dylan Hotel in Amsterdam.

The Dylan Amsterdam – Boutique hotel in the heart of the canal ring, with superb dining.

Enter this luxury boutique hotel through a 17th-century stone gate – the sole remains of a Golden Age theatre that was replaced by an almshouse. Inside, The Dylan is all understated elegance and clean lines, its characterful rooms spread across two historic canal-side buildings. The rooms and suites come in four different styles, but all share the same muted cream, gray, and charcoal color palette and a mix of antique, vintage, and contemporary furnishings. There’s excellent casual and Michelin-starred dining onsite, as well as a lively bar, the award-winning service is warm and professional, and the hotel is perfectly located for sightseeing on foot, as well as shopping and dining out.

The Dylan Amsterdam – Location

  • Address: Keizersgracht 384, 1016 GB Amsterdam.
  • Nearest Tram: Spui.
  • Area: In the lower reaches of the hip ‘Nine Streets’ neighborhood, dotted with independent boutiques, restaurants, and bars. The hotel sits right on the grand Keizersgracht canal, part of Amsterdam’s historic canal ring. The busy Leidseplein square is 10 minutes on foot, as is the Anne Frank House; the Museum Quarter is 15 minutes’ walk away. The nearest tram stop is Spui, with quick and easy connections to Centraal Station and the Museum Quarter.
  • How to Get There: Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station, then the tram (#1, #2, or #5) to Spui stop. The Dylan is a 6-minute walk away.
  • Handy to: Nine Streets shopping, historic canal ring, Anne Frank House, Spui square.

The Dylan Amsterdam – The Basics

  • Ages: Most of the guests tend to be couples on a romantic vacation, but children are welcome. No special kids’ menu at the 2 restaurants though.
  • View: Of the 40 rooms, Loft rooms overlook either the garden or the beautiful Golden Age courtyard, as do the Loxura rooms. Amber and Serendipity rooms look out either over the garden or the Keizersgracht canal; Serendipity Junior Suites come with canal views only.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No jacuzzi.
  • Laundry: In-room laundry service.
  • Extras: There’s a comfortable lounge with a fireplace for guests to relax in. Guests can rent Johnny Loco cruiser bicycles for €13 per half-day. If money is no object, you can also charter the hotel’s 19th-century saloon boat, Vinkeles on the Water, for Michelin-star dining for you and 3 guests. Intimate private rooms can be reserved for private dining and other events.
  • When to Book: Reserve 3 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: 020-530-2010
  • Email: hotel@dylanamsterdam.com
  • Website: dylanamsterdam.com

The Dylan Amsterdam – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool.
  • Spa: No spa, but massages and treatments can be arranged in-room.
  • Fitness Center: There’s a small fitness center onsite.
  • For Disabled Guests: Not suitable for disabled guests.
  • For Families: Rollaway beds available at extra charge; baby cots available on request. Babysitting services can be arranged on request.

The Dylan Amsterdam – Food and Drink

  • Restaurants: The stylish Bar Brasserie OCCO (8 am-11 pm) serves light, imaginative dishes such as cod with fennel and radish salad and pumpkin-jalapeno ravioli. A “High Wine” – wine and amuse-bouche tasting is held daily between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm (€40). • $$$ • Inside a former 18th-century bakery, Michelin-starred Vinkeles (7-10 pm, Tuesday to Saturday) is wonderfully atmospheric with exposed brick walls, subtle lighting, and the chef’s elegant take on modern and traditional French dishes. The 8-course tasting menu (€145) is worth it. Reserve well ahead, as there are only 9 tables. • $$$$.
  • Lounge/Bar: Bar Brasserie OCCO serves excellent coffees and specialty teas during the day, and signature cocktails by night – VirGin and non-VirGin.
  • Breakfast: Not complimentary. Good buffet breakfast available between 8 am and 10.30 am; €28 per person.
  • Room Service: 24-hour room service available.

The Dylan Amsterdam – Rooms

  • Room Types: Loxura Double • Loxura Luxury Double • Loxura Duplex • • Loxura Superior Duplex • Loxura Luxury Suite • Serendipity Double • Serendipity Luxury Double • Serendipity Duplex • Serendipity Luxury Duplex • Serendipity Junior Suite • Serendipity Luxury Suite • Loft Luxury Double • Loft Superior Suite • Loft Luxury Suite • Amber Double • Amber Luxury Double • Amber Duplex • Amber Luxury Duplex • Amber Superior Suite • Amber Luxury Suite
  • Smoking Rooms: The Dylan is 100% smoke-free.
  • Best Room: Serendipity Superior and Serendipity Luxury Suites come either with garden or canal views, as do Amber Superior and Luxury Suites; Serendipity Suites are split-level. Serendipity Junior Suites are guaranteed a canal view. All suites come with luxury tubs and walk-in rain showers.
  • For Families: The suites can accommodate an extra rollaway bed and/or baby cot.

The Dylan Amsterdam – Local Transport

  • Walking: Busy Leidseplein square, surrounded by restaurants, bars, and clubs, is a 10-minute stroll, as are the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace, and the Red Light District. The 3 main art museums are around 15 minutes’ walk away; the Medieval Center is just 2 minutes on foot.
  • Tram: The nearest tram off Spui square, a 6-minute walk, offers quick and easy connections to the Centraal Station and 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.

The Dylan Amsterdam – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Nearby Tours

  • Gs Brunch Boat – The world’s only brunch boat sets sail year round from Keizersgracht 177. Extensive menus are accompanied by mimosas and bloody marys, together with an hour and a half’s Amsterdam canal tour. Start location: 8-minute walk. 
  • Secret Food Tours – Sample raw herring, stamppot, stroopwafel, pancakes, and more on this walking tour of traditional Dutch food hotspots. Meet at the Anne Frank House. Start location: 9-minute walk.
  • Jewish History Amsterdam – Themed walking tours of Jewish Amsterdam; tours of the western canal ring typically start at the Anne Frank House. 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.
  • Blue Boat Company – Popular canal cruises. Start location: 14-minute walk.

Best Nearby Restaurants

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

  • De Doffer – Informal, 70’s-style café and bar, popular with students and artists. Inexpensive beer and food. 1-minute walk.
  • Café Hoppe – Centuries-old, wood-paneled brown café attached to a modern pub with terrace. 4-minute walk.
  • De Admiraal – Amsterdam’s largest traditional tasting house, with 16 jenevers and 60 liqueurs. 4-minute walk.
  • Flying Dutchmen Cocktails – Tiny cocktail bar with award-winning bartenders and killer signature cocktails. Try the Flying Dutchman. 5-minute walk.
  • Pulitzer’s Bar – Stylish art deco cocktail bar inside the eponymous hotel. Classic cocktails as well as expertly-mixed signature drinks. 5-minute walk.
  • De Zotte – Oak-paneled watering hole, with over 130 Belgian and Dutch beers, including Trappist beers, and some rare and unusual brews. The food menu includes the signature Hartige Tart and Flemish steaks; get here early to nab a table. 6-minute walk.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

Nearby Market or Grocery

The Dylan Amsterdam – The Hotel

The small gym is well-equipped.

The small fitness center is open from 7 am to 10 pm.

Bar Brasserie OCCO serves light meals using local ingredients.

Bar Brasserie OCCO is open from 8 am until 11 pm, and serves light, imaginative fare that makes great use of local ingredients. “High Wine” – wine and amuse-bouche tastings are held daily between 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm.

Bar Brasserie OCCO has a menu of gin and VirGin cocktails.

The bar section of Bar Brasserie OCCO specializes in gin-based cocktails, as well as VirGin ones.

The cozy Michelin-starred Vinkeles serves good French dishes.

Michelin-starred Vinkeles specializes in a mix of traditional and contemporary French dishes. Advance reservations are absolutely essential as there are only 9 tables.

The garden patio is popular with guests on warm days.

On warm days, diners from Bar Brasserie OCCO spill out onto the garden patio.

The Serendipity Doubles feature Bose sound systems and overlook the garden or courtyard.

The Serendipity Doubles overlook the garden or courtyard. Bose sound systems, bathrobes, and either a soaking tub and/or rain shower are standard amenities.

The Loxura Duplex rooms have spacious bathrooms with tubs in most.

The Loxura Duplex rooms also have views of either the garden or courtyard. The bathrooms are spacious and mosaic-tiled, with deep soaking tubs in most.

The Loxura Dylan Thomas Suite features a palatial bathroom.

The Loxura Dylan Thomas Suite overlooks the garden, and the palatial bathroom is equipped with a soaking tub and separate rain shower.

The cozy Amber Doubles offer courtyard or garden views.

Neutral-toned Amber Doubles come either with courtyard or garden views.

Dramatic Loft Suites have wooden beams and spacious bathrooms with tubs.

Loft suites are the most dramatic-looking, with original wooden beams and super-spacious bathrooms with stand-alone tubs.

Loft Suites have either garden or courtyard views.

Loft Suites come either with garden or courtyard views; opt for garden if possible.

The Darling sells funky, locally-designed women’s wear and accessories.

The Dylan is located in the heart of the trendy Nine Streets neighborhood. Just south is one of the main shopping streets that stretches across the 4 historic canals. Boutiques to look out for include The Darling – funky, locally-designed women’s wear and accessories.

Denham sells men's denim wear, with a women's branch nearby.

Across the street, Denham stocks denim wear for men. The women’s branch is around the corner.

De Doffer is a popular 70's-style cafe.

If you’re looking for a break from shopping, De Doffer is a retro, 70’s-style café, popular with the local creative types.

Bluespoon Restaurant specializes in farm-to-table cuisine.

Half a block south along the Prinsengracht canal is one of several excellent hotel restaurants in the neighborhood. Bluespoon Restaurant, inside the Andaz Hotel, serves creative farm-to-table dishes. Reservations are a good idea even at lunchtime.

Frozen Fountain sells unique homeware.

Near the Andaz Hotel is one of the quirkier stores in the neighborhood. Frozen Fountain specializes in unique homeware and is worth a browse even if you’re not looking for anything specific.

Casa Peru is the Netherlands' original and best Peruvian restaurant.

Just south, at the confluence of 2 canals, Casa Peru is the Netherlands’ original Peruvian restaurant and remains the best of its kind in the city. Great for traditional dishes, plus people-watching from the canal-side terrace.

Keizersgracht canal connects clusters of boutiques in the neighborhood.

To reach the next cluster of boutiques, you need to cross the Keizersgracht canal just east of the hotel.

Marie Stella Maris sells eco-friendly and popular beauty and skincare products.

On the corner, Marie Stella Maris sells locally-renowned beauty and skincare products with an eco-conscience.

We Are Labels specializes in street wear.

Nearby, We Are Labels stocks streetwear – by mbyM, Global Funk, Norr, and more.

Scotch & Soda specializes in chic street wear.

Across the street is Scotch & Soda, the Amsterdam fashion label specializing in chic street wear for men and women.

Zipper sells vintage 1950's clothing.

Nearby, Zipper is the antithesis to contemporary fashion, with its vintage 1950’s dresses, zoot suits, and more.

Art Plein Spui is held on Sundays as an outdoor book and art market.

A couple of blocks east of the hotel is Spui square, one of the most popular gathering spots in the Medieval Center. On Sundays it hosts the Art Plein Spui, an outdoor book and art market.

The Seafood Bar is renowned for its seafood platters and outdoor seating.

While some restaurants off Spui are overpriced tourist traps, one consistently good option is the local branch of the Seafood Bar – great seafood platters with popular outdoor seating overlooking the square.

Café Hoppe offers a wood-paneled interior and an outdoor terrace.

Just off Spui, there’s a cluster of popular bars; Café Hoppe is a local institution with a centuries-old, wood-paneled interior, plus an outdoor terrace for people-watching.

The Amsterdam Museum showcases the city's 1,000-year-old history.

A short walk north of Spui, the very worthwhile Amsterdam Museum walks you through 1,000 years of city history, complete with hands-on exhibits and dressing up opportunities for kids.

D’Vijff Vliegen serves modern Dutch dishes in a 17th-century canal house.

Also north of Spui, along Spuistraat that’s dotted with bars and restaurants, D’Vijff Vliegen serves imaginative modern Dutch dishes in an atmospheric 17th-century canal house setting; book ahead.

The Flying Dutchmen is renowned for its signature cocktails.

Before you cross the Singel canal to Spui, around a block south there’s a tiny cocktail bar: The Flying Dutchmen – a well-kept local secret. The signature cocktails, mixed by award-winning mixologists, are amazing and worth every penny.

Supperclub Amsterdam features multi-course international menus and DJ sets.

Further along the Singel canal, Supperclub Amsterdam makes for a memorable night out. Think couches to recline on, multi-course international menus, and DJ sets to round off the evening. Book ahead and dress nicely.

Herengracht restaurant and bar is popular for its canal-side seating and modern European dishes.

Around the corner, on the banks of Herengracht canal, Herengracht Restaurant has a super-popular canal-side terrace that gets absolutely packed at lunchtime. It’s one of many restaurants in one of the most touristy parts of town, but the quality of the modern European dishes remains consistent.

Ron Gastrobar Oriental specializes in Asian-inspired tapas.

A couple of blocks south, on quiet little Kerkstraat, Ron Gastrobar Oriental is the sister restaurant of the stylish tapas place near Vondelpark. It’s a similar concept: all dishes are meant for sharing and all cost the same, but these are Asian-inspired fusion.

Pastini offers good antipasti and homemade pasta dishes.

Around the corner and facing the confluence of Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht canals, Pastini does particularly good antipasti as well as homemade pasta dishes.

De Zotte is known for its selection of Belgian and Dutch beers and signature dishes.

If you cross over to the north side of Leidsegracht canal and walk a couple of blocks south, just off Raamplein square is De Zotte, a characterful wood-paneled bar that’s a world away from the touristy bars surrounding nearby Leidseplein. Beer-loving Amsterdammers come here for the vast array of Belgian and Dutch beers, plus the signature dishes – Flemish steak and Hartige tart. Evenings only; get here early to grab a table.

Mendo is an excellent bookstore with a good selection of coffee table books.

A block north of The Dylan, another narrow shopping street stretches across the 4 historic canals. Shops worth looking out for include the excellent Mendo bookstore, particularly strong on coffee table books on art, design, and architecture.

Dutch Accent Gallery sells watercolor city scapes by local artists.

Nearby, the Dutch Accent Gallery sells watercolor landscapes of the city by local artists.

Restaurant de Struisvogel serves good French-inspired dishes.

Around the corner is the Restaurant de Struisvogel, a popular lunch stop for shoppers that serves French-inspired dishes.

Marqt is a well-stocked supermarket nearby.

Across the Keizersgracht canal bridge, Marqt is the local branch of the upmarket, well-stocked supermarket.

De Admiraal is popular for its selection of jenevers and local spirits.

Just along the Herengracht canal, De Admiraal is one of the best places in the city to taste a variety of jenevers and other local spirits. Great outdoor terrace.

The Amsterdam Watch Company sells limited edition timepieces.

A couple of blocks north from the hotel, across Keizersgracht canal, the Amsterdam Watch Company is the place to come for limited edition timepieces made by the likes of Christian van der Klaauw.

Pulitzer’s Bar serves excellent cocktails by the canal.

Just north of the bridge, Pulitzer’s Bar serves excellent cocktails and has a great canal-side terrace.

Wil Graanstra under the Westerkerk Church is very popular.

A block north is busy Raadhuisstraat, where you can catch a tram to the Medieval Center and Centraal Station and grab some tasty Belgian fries from the Wil Graanstra takeout beneath the church.

Koh-i-Noor is a local favorite for its curries and North Indian dishes.

Across the street is Koh-i-Noor, a curry house that’s been a neighborhood fixture for years.

Bistro Bij Ons serves large portions of hearty Dutch classics.

Around the corner from Koh-i-Noor, Bistro Bij Ons is a no-nonsense spot for hearty Dutch food. Large potions.

Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam's most popular destinations.

Just north of Westermarkt is the Anne Frank House, where her family hid from the Nazis during WWII. It’s one of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions, so book your ticket online to skip the lines.

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