The Experience

Trend-chasers may flock to the Dylan or the College Hotel, but for first-class service and old-world charm, the Intercontinental Amstel is the lodging of choice in Amsterdam -- just ask the Dutch royal family, or George Clooney and the rest of the cast of Ocean’s Twelve. Sitting grandly alongside its namesake river, this regal 19th-century building is a 10-minute stroll from the city center, but the best way to travel here is by canal boat, which the Amstel will happily arrange.

The Rooms

In 1992 the management opted for quality over quantity, converting 111 rooms into 79 suites and executive rooms. Their efforts paid off magnificently: All of the rooms are traditionally decorated with polished antiques, Delft porcelain, matching wallpaper and bedspreads, and marble bathrooms supplied with L’Occitane products. (Again, Philippe Starck lovers should look elsewhere.) Request a room on the third floor for the best riverside views.

The Service

This is Old Europe; the service here is haughty but faultless. The staff in the hotel’s magnificent lobby may seem snooty at first, but they frequently have to deal with gawkers wandering in off the street. Room service runs like clockwork, and the concierges are surprisingly quick with hip shopping and dining recommendations.

The Highlights

Afternoon tea in the Amstel Lounge, its light-filled atrium sparkling with enormous crystal chandeliers, is often booked several weekends in advance. The same goes for the jewel-box-sized La Rive, a Michelin-starred dining room that’s one of the Netherlands’ most renowned restaurants. And while the basement-level pool and gym (with sauna and steam room) is relatively snug, as long as it’s not too crowded, it serves as a truly relaxing secret retreat.

--Gisella Williams

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