Dikker & Thijs Fenice Hotel

A long-established name on Amsterdam's hotel scene, this upmarket place is owned by a publisher, so authors often drop in to stay. In an 18th-century warehouse building near Leidseplein, rooms are plain but smart; the glamorous penthouse has a wall made of glass for unsurpassed views over the city rooftops. At breakfast time, guests are bathed in jewel-coloured light from the stained-glass windows.