The Dylan Amsterdam

On one of Keizersgracht's most elegant stretches, The Dylan sits beside the Nine Streets. Step outside and you're among independent boutiques, galleries, and small cafés, with some of the canal belt's prettiest bridges just steps away. The Jordaan and the Anne Frank House are a short walk, and Dam Square is about ten minutes on foot, yet the hotel feels wonderfully tucked away.

The site once held Amsterdam's first theatre, built in 1638. Today the hotel feels intimate and almost secretive. Historic architecture blends with contemporary design, and a secluded courtyard garden lies at its heart.

No two rooms are alike. Each has its own design style, from calm and contemporary to rich and dramatic. Some suites overlook the canal, and the Duplex and Loft suites have exposed wooden beams.

Vinkeles occupies an 18th-century bakery, with its original brick ovens and views over the garden. Chef Jurgen van der Zalm serves refined French cooking. The hotel is also home to até, the smallest fine-dining restaurant in the Netherlands. Bar Brasserie OCCO is more relaxed, for lunch, cocktails or a slow evening.

For those wanting a workout, a fitness centre is available.