The Vanguard Hotel in Amsterdam

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by Santorini Dave • Updated: November 23, 2018

Review of The Vanguard in Amsterdam.

The Vanguard – Centrally located, luxurious B&B with great canal views.

A carefully restored 17th century merchant’s house, The Vanguard comprises just two luxurious rooms, reachable via typically steep flights of stairs. The deluxe double is a warm mustard-yellow, while the loft room is all blues and whites. Both feature carefully selected period pieces – antique porcelain, mahogany furniture – along with plenty of fresh flowers, quirky art, and mod cons such as Nespresso makers. The owner is a treasure trove of local knowledge; a delicious homemade breakfast is included in the price; and the location is ideal for reaching most of the city’s big attractions on foot.

The Vanguard – Location

  • Address: Reguliersgracht 2, 1017 LR Amsterdam.
  • Nearest Tram: Rembrandtplein.
  • Area: Prime location at the confluence of 2 canals in the historic canal ring, just 3 minutes’ walk from the lively Rembrandtplein; a 5-minute walk from the Medieval Center and the Red Light District. Super-central without being noisy.
  • How to Get There: Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station, then tram #9 to Rembrandtplein stop, 3 minutes’ walk from the hotel.
  • Handy to: Hermitage Amsterdam, Museum of Bags and Purses, Museum Van Loon.

The Vanguard – The Basics

  • Ages: Adults only. Guests tend to be couples on a romantic getaway or a city break.
  • View: Both rooms overlook the confluence of the Herengracht and Reguliersgracht canals.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools/jacuzzis.
  • Laundry: In-room laundry service.
  • Extras: The knowledgeable owner is happy to share the city’s secrets with her guests. Guests have access to the library, with plenty of books on the city.
  • 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: 06-1056-1359
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: thevanguardamsterdam.com

The Vanguard – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool.
  • Spa: No spa.
  • Fitness Center: No fitness center.
  • For Disabled Guests: Not suitable for disabled guests due to stair access.

The Vanguard – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant: No onsite restaurant, but there are numerous dining options a few minutes’ walk away.
  • Lounge/Bar: No bar, but you’re just steps away from the many bars surrounding nearby Rembrandtplein.
  • Breakfast: Excellent complimentary breakfast included with something fresh baked every day by the owner who used to be a chef. Served 8-10am.
  • Room Service: No room service.

The Vanguard – Rooms

  • Room Types: Deluxe Double with Canal View • Loft Double
  • Smoking Rooms: The Vanguard is 100% smoke-free.
  • Best Room: The Deluxe Double has magnificent views of the canal junction, and comes with a walk-in rain shower and tub in the palatial bathroom, and a king-sized bed. The Loft, on the other hand, also benefits from canal views, and has its own mezzanine with private balcony, but you have to climb several flights of steep stairs to get there.
  • For Families: No family rooms.

The Vanguard – Local Transport

  • Walking: Easy walking distance to Rembrandtplein and its nightlife, the Medieval Center, Red Light District, and Leidseplein with its many bars, restaurants, and theaters. Walkable to the Museum Quarter and De Pijp. Numerous museums, cafes, and restaurants just minutes away on foot.
  • Tram: Direct tram connections to Centraal Station, De Pijp district, and Waterlooplein.
  • 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 Vanguard – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants and Cafes

  • Van Dobben – Old-school Dutch restaurant, open since 1940, and specializing in meaty classics. 3-minute walk.
  • Guts & Glory – Experimental fine dining with an ever-changing menu, and wallet-friendly multi-course lunch. Reservations recommended. 3-minute walk.
  • Café Van Leeuwen – Bacon cheeseburgers, grilled tuna steak, Dutch sausage with fries, and other bistro food in a canal-side setting. 4-minute walk.
  • Tempo Doeloe – Upmarket Indonesian restaurant with an impressive rijsttafel (small dish) spread, and an excellent wine list. 4-minute walk.
  • Brasserie NeL – Family-friendly brasserie, good for anything from coffee and cake to light lunches. Stylish bar attached; live jazz on Monday nights. 5-minute walk.
  • Roses by Sal – Latin American street food – tacos, quesadillas, empanadas – as well as ceviche, and excellent pisco cocktails. 6-minute walk.
  • Bouchon du Centre – Rustic French-style bistro with a daily-changing menu. Good list of Rhone Valley wines. 6-minute walk.
  • Lo Stivale d’Oro – Family-run trattoria renowned for its pizzas, and popular with families. Occasional live music. 6-minute walk.
  • Pata Negra – Popular tapas bar, where the sangria and margaritas are as good as the authentic Spanish dishes. 7-minute walk.
  • Café Slijterij Oosterling – One of Amsterdam’s most atmospheric cafes, dating back to the 1700’s. Low ceilings, copper vats, good coffee. 8-minute walk.

Best Nearby Bars

  • Café Bolle Jan – Enjoy your beer while listening to some rollicking live folk music at this lively bar. 3-minute walk.
  • Café Montmartre – Arguably the best gay bar in the city, with the crowd singing along to 80’s and 90’s pop and Dutch ballads, a friendly vibe, and drag night every other Friday. Happy hours 6-8pm. 3-minute walk.
  • Door 74 – Dark-timbered, speakeasy-style bar behind an unmarked door (send a text message to gain entry), responsible for some of Amsterdam’s best cocktails. 4-minute walk.
  • Mulligans – This authentic Irish pub has live traditional Irish music most nights, a fun vibe, and Guinness and Magners on tap. 5-minute walk.
  • Lion Noir – Original cocktails, and interior full of plants, bird cages, and taxidermied birds, and some of Amsterdam’s hippest A-listers. 6-minute walk.
  • Xtracold Amsterdam Icebar – Wrap up warm and enjoy your 3 drinks amidst the ice sculptures of this gimmicky-but-fun bar. 6-minute walk.
  • Bar Moustache – Hip, minimalist-style bar with numerous Italian wines by the glass, and a short and sweet menu of Italian dishes. 7-minute walk.
  • Taproom – An impressive array of craft beers from local award-winning breweries, such as Oedipus, Brouwerij ‘t IJ, Brouwerij de Prael, 24 beers on tap, and a supporting cast of burgers, cold cuts, and cheese ‘planks’. 10-minute walk.

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

Nearby Market or Grocery

The Vanguard – The Hotel

Guests are served a homemade breakfast every morning in the dining room.

An excellent homemade breakfast is served in the cozy dining room from 8am to 10am.

The tiny guest library has good books on the city.

Guests have access to numerous books on the city.

The Deluxe Double room is well-equipped and comfortable.

The Deluxe Double looks out over the canal junction from its 2nd floor location, and comes equipped with a Nespresso machine and flat-screen TV.

The Deluxe Double bathroom has a tub and a shower.

The Deluxe Double bathroom comes with a separate shower and soaking tub.

The sitting area in the Deluxe Double room is spacious and comfortable.

The Deluxe Double has a comfortable sitting area.

The Loft room overlooks both canals, and features exposed beams.

The Loft Room on the top floor also overlooks the Herengracht and Reguliersgracht canals, and its massive exposed beams add to the atmosphere.

The Loft room's mezzanine terrace offers excellent canal views.

The Loft room features a private mezzanine terrace with great canal views.

The Loft room feature multiple steep flights of stairs.

The mezzanine terrace in the Loft room is accessed by a steep flight of stairs, as is the room itself.

The tiny Loft bathroom only has a shower.

The Loft bathroom has a shower but no bath.

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