Vincent van Gogh stares at me from above. I stand for a long time in awe of the spiral constellations of the Dutch sky – so blue it looks photoshopped. It was a perfect start to my journey in the historic, canal-laced, cycle-strewn Amsterdam, and home to the Van Gogh Museum. We arrived late in the morning at Centraal Station from Paris Gare du Nord (a journey time of just over three and a half hours) and headed to the Anantara Grand HotelKrasnapolsky. Its gilded revolving door is a portal into one of Europe’s largest five-star hotels. The softly-lit reception area feels like a gallery with marble details and modern chrome sculptures sharing space with pops of red and black accents.
Situated in Amsterdam’s oldest quarter, Dam Square, and directly across the Royal Palace and the new Dior store, it’s a desirable address among well-heeled business travellers as well as young couples, friends and families with kids. For elderly holidaymakers or those with impaired mobility, there are ramps and elevators in place.
The Grand Story
The history of this grand dame harks back to 1865, when young Polish tailor Adolph Wilhelm Krasnapolsky opened a coffee house on the site that is today known as the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. As the café gained popularity, he added rooms for rent, purchasing neighbouring buildings through the years and remodelling them into a hotel. At present, it’san amalgamation of 55 canal houses stitched together, going from the Dam Square in the front to the Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal in the back. It came under the Asian-owned Anantara banner in 2022 following a 402-room refit and bringing it to its five star status.
The modern hotel wears its history proudly, with sepia photographs nostalgically charting its journey. The award-winning cocktail bar, Bar the Tailor, doffs its hat to the first craftsmanship of Krasnapolsky, tailoring. An Anantara experience wouldn’t be quite fulfilled without a luxury spa. Complete with a sauna and steam room, and a gym with a rotating climbing wall, its signature treatments combine the healing traditions of the East and West.
A Room With A View
Post renovation, the rooms have a palpable quiet luxury vibe. Mid-century modern décor and local touches like traditional cookies and cheese, framed photos of the city, and a coffee table book, The Devil is Old: A Photographic Ode to the Senior Citizens of Amsterdam, placed in every room hums a tune from another era. The expansive bedrooms in colours of caramel and vanilla are a delight, and come with padded writing desks and chandeliers. Mints on pillow cases are a fun add-on. Then there are its full-height windows, if you book a room with either Dam Square or canal views. The 402 guest rooms might be divided in categories of Premiere, Deluxe, Presidential and Royal Suite, yet its affable management insists that the goal is to elevate its service standards so that each guest enjoys personalised hospitality.
Food and Drinks
Before he turned into a hotelier, Krasnapolsky was a coffee shop owner, and he understood the art of service and connecting with people. This ethos is extended to its dining venues such as the Grand Café Krasnapolsky, which serves a European menu with a side of magnificent views of Dam Square. A one-of-a-kind Cake Room is ideal for a spot of tea or coffee with delicious sweet and savoury pastries, traditional cookies and chocolate truffles. The uber swish Champagne Room offers 10 different world-class champagnes by the glass.
The city’s oldest original dining room, The White Room (derived from the historical name ‘De Witte Zaal’ was given to the restaurant when it first opened in 1885) is overseen by chef Jacob Jan Boerma. This Michelin-starred restaurant prepares sophisticated modern dishes that celebrate the bounty of the Netherlands and its bright, clean flavours. The great 19th century glass and iron atrium, the conservatory-style interiors and a dedicated counter for Moët & Chandon bottles-on-ice make for the sort of breakfast fit for the royal. That’s Winter garden for you. Their exhaustive buffet breakfast offers everything from local cheese to fruit, baked confections and a live cooking counter serving eggs as well as freshly brewed coffee and teas.
Every day at the lobby, between 4.45 pm and 5 pm, guests get to enjoy a flair bartending show featuring flaming cocktails to mark the ‘End of the Day’ ceremony. Make your way to the award-winning Bar the Tailor, styled with cheeky references to tailoring like a tape measure running the length of the bar. Their bespoke seasonal cocktails are crafted from sustainably-sourced tinctures and syrups.
Tailor-Made Experiences
Another focus is to create several signature experiences soaked in Amsterdam’s vibe and culture. These include Dutch Heritage Gastronomy, a three-hour walking/biking tour through the city’s food and architecture heritage; a Luxury Diamond experience takes you behind-the-scenes of a four-generation family atelier followed by a visit to the in-house Rolex Boutique. In spring, they organise a Tulip Experience that takes guests in private vehicles to the Show garden; the field boasts of more than a million tulips. The trip ends with a private lunch in the middle of tulip fields complete with caviar and champagne. Proost.
