The Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam is special; previously a coffee house that, over a century, has manifested itself into a contemporary five-star hotel. Being centrally located means guests enjoy a Dam Square base from which to culture hop between museums, sample Dutch gastronomy, and seek retail therapy. It’s also easy to access for rail travellers. We booked return tickets through Trainline from London’s St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal, the destination station just a 10-minute walk away from the hotel. Here’s everything you need to know if you plan to check in for the weekend.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam review

The café history

In a similar fashion to London’s Hotel Café Royal, Anantara is steeped in a history that dates back to 1856. Entrepreneur Adolph Wilhelm Krasnapolsky first opened a humble coffee house on the current site, but its ensuing popularity allowed him to purchase and expand into several neighbouring buildings. 

By 1883, his empire had morphed into a hotel, with hot water and telephones in every room making it one of the most luxurious stays around. Over the years, it’s seen plenty of uplifts, including combining the 55 canal houses as one, but today that legacy badge is still worn proudly. 

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam The Tailor Bar
The Tailor Bar celebrates tailoring themes from art to bar countertop

You’ll find a showcase of images along the hotel’s hallways, and food and beverage outlets all paying homage to their origins. The Tailor Bar, for example, is dedicated to the craftsmanship from which Mr. Krasnapolsky specialised in Amsterdam (tailoring). If you’re a history buff, there is plenty to discover, but even if not, the richness of this hotel’s past enchants and adds character to every facet.  

Rooms and suites

The hotel has 402 guest rooms and suites, each outfitted with modern décor in a natural colour scheme that’s particularly soothing in daylight. We checked into a Grand Premium Dam View room, one of the highest room categories thanks to sought-after Dam views. Ours had a stellar view over Dam Square, where the focal point is the National Monument, built in 1956 to commemorate the Dutch soldiers of World War II. Behind it, a backdrop in the shape of the Royal Palace Amsterdam, no less.

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam Deluxe Room
Natural light beautifully compliments the classical Amsterdam tones of each room

The room features classic tones of beige, creams, and greys, with beautifully preserved original flooring. A king bed faces the action of the window and behind it a wired-up long desk, and a beverage and mini-bar station to the right. A TV tempts at the foot of the bed, but not enough to tempt away from such handsome views. Natural light pours into the room, and if you decide to turn it open-plan it trickles into the bathroom. Sliding walls allow for this to be done so soaks can be enjoyed with majestic vistas in tandem.

Bath amenities are from the house of Amouage, and turn down service carefully positions your cotton slippers bedside, and the bath salts ready for a pre-sleep ritual. Speaking of sleep, both our nights were undisturbed. The windows, though three-fourths of the wall in length, are well insulated from outside vibration, and we did not recall hearing the tram at all.

Food and drink

We dined at Grand Café Krasnapolsky on the ground floor, perched right on Dam Square for additional viewing. For dinner, we had the pork belly and vegetables, finished with a cake made by the on-site bakery. The restaurant is open all day for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Tip: try the Dutch Bitterballs here, a beloved snack in Holland comprising of beef ragout that’s been deep fried and dipped in a savoury mustard mayonnaise. Delicious.

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam Wintergarden Breakfast
The Wintergarden is the perfect breakfast destination, drenched in daylight and serving the best start to any day

The Wintergarden is where breakfast is served in the morning. Guests select from three full-to-the-brim stations, containing a buffet of freshly baked pastries, cold cuts, dim sum, waffles, pancakes, and eggs from a live cooking counter. The 19th-century glass-covered inner garden is drenched in daylight, accentuated by mirrored walls.

There’s also The White Room, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, which we did not dine at as it’s open Wednesday to Saturday. For drinks, there’s The Tailor, which also features an outdoor lounge in a courtyard. A destination for cocktails and bites. The Champagne Room has ten different Champagnes available by the glass in a sophisticated setting. 

Wellness and the best way to treadmill

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam Outdoor Spa
The spa courtyard offers serenity in the city

Amsterdam isn’t traditionally the first place one might think of when it comes to R&R, but times are changing and Anantara’s where to rejuvenate. The facility has three treatment rooms with access to massages, facials, scrubs, and more. Whilst we didn’t have a treatment, hotel guests may use the spa’s communal areas for a small fee, or complimentary in suite status or above. They include a Finnish sauna, wet sauna, infrared cabin, and gym.

Things to do

As this was a repeat visit in the summer, we enjoyed strolling the canals and just ticking off one or two attractions. On the top of the list, was of course the Anne Frank House. Tickets are 16 euros and you should book online in advance to avoid disappointment. Make use of the informative audio guides, and digest from the scenic coffee house at the end.

Hotel guests looking for a luxury way to sightsee can do it at ease with Anantara’s Dutch Heritage Gastronomy experience. A local guide will take you through the city’s top landmarks, combined with tastings of Dutch delights and stories of the city. Stops on our particular tour included a social media famous cookie store, a casual seafood restaurant to try herring the Dutch way, and an al fresco cafe for a beer and more of our favourite, the Bitterballen. Private two to three-hour tours can be customised to your dietaries and preferences.

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam The White Room
There are many exceptional eats in the city, and The White Room sits proud at the top

Getting there

Amsterdam is an easy-to-reach destination for British travellers. We took a return train to Amsterdam Centraal, with journey time of around 4.5 hours each way. I usually book on Trainline, Europe’s train and coach app, which gathers routes, prices, and travel times from all the rail and coach operators in one place, to save time, effort, and money on any trips I take. It’s worth downloading the app which also provides live travel info. Eurostar is so much easier than a flight from London. Definitely recommended if you’re travelling between the UK, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands. 

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