Words by Francesca Lynagh
When it comes to stylish, multi-story canal-houses, Amsterdam has no shortage of them. But step inside and not many will match the luxurious heights of Hotel Seven One Seven.
With a 2017 Gault Millau Hotel of the Year Award and a 2018 Travellers’ Choice Award under its belt, the twenty-one-year-old boutique hotel is clearly going from strength to strength. It was originally bought in 1996, when it was just a shell of a building, but after one-and-a-half years of hard work and expert interior design work, Hotel Seven One Seven proudly opened its doors to guests.
The General Manager, Brita Röhl has been greeting visitors since almost the very beginning, and she and her small team of charming staff are the friendly faces that guests return to after a day of meandering along the city’s canals. Visitors are asked to leave their room keys behind as they set off for the day, presenting the perfect chance to ask for directions or restaurant advice. Similarly, upon returning home to Seven One Seven, the staff will answer the doorbell ready to hear all about the day’s adventures.
The philosophy behind this intimate eight-bedroom hotel is that the guests are not simply guests. Rather they are treated as visiting friends. And this ideology is made clear in some subtle touches; for example, the rooms are not numbered. Rather, the suites have been named after famous figures from Dickens to Picasso, and each bedroom has been elegantly decorated in a unique way, adding to the highly personal feel of the place.
Walk through the corridors and you’ll find a stylish mix of modern art and antique furniture, with a splash of African influence here and there. There’s also an undeniable hint of Scottish manor throughout the property – a trip to the Highlands reportedly inspired the original owners, but it’s the narrow building structure and impossibly steep staircases that act as constant reminders that you are in fact in the Netherlands.
After a lavish breakfast in the hotel’s courtyard, you’ll find that you are perfectly located to begin a day of exploring Amsterdam. With the Rijksmuseum only a seven minute walk away and Anne Frank House around fifteen minutes in the other direction – guests can find their way around the city’s main attractions with ease. Then, when it comes to organising a boat cruise along the canals, a bike ride or even dinner reservation, Seven One Seven’s concierge service will take care of it.
Saying that, if you’d rather relax in the comfort of your ornately decorated suite, then there’ll be caviar and a champagne list waiting for you there.
In a Nutshell
If you’re looking for a luxury stay in the heart of Amsterdam, then Hotel Seven One Seven presents itself as an elegant option in a spot on location. Instead of being overbearing, the Seven One Seven team are discreet and welcoming, making it the ideal choice for those who appreciate a certain level of quality but prefer to avoid the pretentiousness commonly found in other luxury hotels.
Address: Prinsengracht 717, 1017 JW Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 427 0717
