Apologies my posts are a bit all over the place at the moment – I’m still finishing my write ups of my Baltics trip back in May (Estonia coming next), and my July trip to the south of France, plus my summer UK breaks. But before I do, I need to finish off my 2021 travels. I visited Amsterdam back in November 2021, and visiting the city is a must on any tour of Europe.

You can read my itinerary of what to do in Amsterdam HERE, but this post is going to focus on the hotel we stayed in – The Dylan. When visiting a large city, I always try and stay at smaller hotels just because I prefer the intimacy and more personal touches, and The Dylan really didn’t disappoint. It is a luxury option, but it’s so worth it for a wonderful stay.

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Location

The Dylan is located in the 9 streets area of Amsterdam. This area is a slightly less busy area of town filled with coffee shops, little restaurants, boutique shops and LOTS of canals. It’s the most beautiful area of Amsterdam visually, and because it’s quiet at night with no major roads or clubs, it’s also a good night’s sleep. It also means there are loads of great eating places within walking distance, from tasty breakfast spots to special dinners.

The 9 streets area is in close walking distance to all the main sites in Amsterdam, including Anne Frank’s house, canal boat tours, The Rijksmuseum, Dam Square, The Red Light District and many more. It means it’s the perfect place to stay when visiting the city….as long as you’re not here for the bars and the clubs, in which case something in the city centre may be more appropriate.

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Accommodation

The accommodation at The Dylan is nothing short of incredible. We stayed in a duplex suite room, which had the bedroom downstairs and the bathroom upstairs. The bed was huge and comfortable, with daily room service. Also in the room is an ipad which has all hotel information and local activities/restaurants etc recommended. There is also a coffee machine, well stocked mini bar and daily evening gift (chocolates etc).

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Food and Drink

The hotel has a bar and restaurant called Occo Brasserie. There is an a la carte menu, and also a bar snacks menu. Also on offer is afternoon tea, as well as a varying cocktail menu which can be sampled in the bar or garden terrace. The Dylan also offer ‘High Wine’ which is a selection of wines and small bites, if you really want to treat yourself. Breakfast is also served daily in the restaurant, or in the room if you’d prefer. All the food and drink we had was delicious and we’d definitely recommend eating in the hotel.

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Service, Amenities and Experiences

The Dylan goes out of its way to make stays special for guests. On arrival, we were presented with a delicious warm apple cider drink and Dutch cheese biscuits. Every day staff were friendly and polite, checking we had everything we needed. Bar staff were chatty and professional and the finishing touches like chocolates in the room each day made a difference. As we were staying after my operation, the hotel also gave us champagne on arrival and some delicious Prosecco sweets.

The hotel also offer some wonderful experiences. I’ve already mentioned afternoon tea and High wine (the best invention ever), but they also offer private dining if you want to make it a special occasion. Also on offer are private canal boat tours, and bike tours organised by the hotel.

The hotel doesn’t have any spa facilities, however it does offer in-room massages via an external company. I was too excited about the prospect and immediately booked an hour long Swedish massage, which was incredible and the perfect way to fill a rainy evening.

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So what do you think of The Dylan? Would you like to stay here? We really enjoyed our 4 night stay and would recommend it to anyone looking for a little bit of boutique luxury in the heart of Amsterdam. Stay safe and happy travelling everyone!