$$$$, Canal Ring
Fodor's Review:
Known for her chic London properties, Anouska Hempel opened this Amsterdam outpost as the city's first "designer" hotel. It's located at (and incorporates a stone-arch entranceway from) the site of the historic Municipal Theater, which burned down in the 17th century. Today, the elegant rooms here are decorated with lacquered trunks, mahogany screens, modernist hardwood tables, and luxurious upholstery. One suite commands a view of the canal; many other rooms overlook a serene central courtyard. The hotel's restaurant ($$$-$$$$) offers an acclaimed French menu in a vogueish setting that functioned as a bakery between 1787 and 1811. Pros: a taste of old Amsterdam, good for celebrity spotting, updated business facilities. Cons: some parts of the hotel feel overdesigned, not all rooms have water views.
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