The perfect Amsterdam Pride stay at art’otel
"Will we be back for 2027? Absolutely. We’ve already gone and reserved our room," writes Attitude's editor-in-chief
It feels we have barely slipped into our seats to travel by Eurostar to Amsterdam when we are stepping out of Amsterdam Centraal station and into the bustling centre of the Netherlands’ world-famous city. The four-hour journey has whizzed by – duly aided by the ample supply of gin and tonics, as supplied by travelling in Premier class (of course).
Sure, flying to the city is barely an hour and a half, but when you factor in the rigmarole of getting to the airport in good time, a lengthier check-in process and then getting into Amsterdam city centre from Schiphol airport, I’ve always preferred the ease that comes with Eurostar travel.
The husband and I are here to celebrate WorldPride and we arrive on Friday afternoon, the day before the Canal Pride parade. We already have FOMO from the fun we have missed out on since the celebrations started earlier this week. Fortunately for us, we don’t have far to go to get settled. Our host hotel is art’otel Amsterdam, which is located directly opposite the station – so within minutes of arriving we walk through the revolving door of our home away from home.
Location, location, location
The hotel brand is famous for its quirky attitude and humour – monkeys adorn the walls as artworks evoke a sense of mischief that is perfectly suited to the hotel’s host city. It’s not even been 30 minutes since we arrived, and we have already checked into our room with its wonderful views overlooking the canal. Below, visitors board boats bedecked in flowers that will take them on a tour of the city by water as others amble past basking in the sunshine. The city is buzzing.
Amsterdam during Pride is a vibe. But Amsterdam during WorldPride – that’s a whole procession of fuzzy feelings and joyful emotions. Entire city squares are dedicated to music – from dance to pop to rock – as community groups take the mic on stage to share their vital messages. I can’t imagine London and the increasingly disgruntled residents of Soho ever allowing such vibrancy to take place on its streets – to its shame!
The art’otel Amsterdam’s location means the city is on our doorstep and its gay bars and venues easily accessible on foot. We walk everywhere over the next three days, never needing a taxi. We give ourselves over to enjoying the winding canals, wandering with purpose here, there and everywhere as we admire the endless rows of buildings in which no two are alike. I can think of no city like this that I have visited which exudes such individuality and originality in its architecture.
Dine-in at ARCA
That night we take dinner at ARCA, the restaurant at art’otel Amsterdam. We explore the adventurous signature cocktail list, which is pleasingly on point – they are too often overblown and fail to deliver. The ‘Early Years’ blends Tecán Reposado tequila with St Germain, vanilla and pink grapefruit tonic to fabulous effect for an easy, floral taste. The brilliantly titled ‘First Mistake’ has a punch to it, mixing Corralejo Reposado with amaretto, mint, lime and bell pepper foam… as mistakes go it’s a good one to make, so we order another!
On the menu are Portuguese flavours with Asian influences from award-winning chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, who boasts two Michelin stars to his CV. Starters of generously chunky garlic prawns with ginger and coconut sauce sing on the tongue, before we dive into one of the restaurant’s key dishes – Canadian lobster served over crispy oven-baked rice. Divine!
The queer colours of Canal Pride
The next day, we are lucky enough to have VIP seats at the official WorldPride Parade viewing deck – the perfect way to watch the parade float by. Taking place along Prinsengracht, the canal boats glide along to resounding appreciation as LGBTQ+ parade attendees and our allies whoop and cheer them along. Muscled men, bears, older folks and younger gays and lesbians, drag queens, trans folks and all the identities that so gloriously form the rainbow pass by in a cavalcade of colour. If you have never been, it really is a memory that you have to absolutely indulge and make your own!
That evening we wander back down bustling Reguliersdwarsstraat, the city’s most famous gay street and bar hop our way down the long road and its many, many gay venues, popping into a coffee shop en route to sample the city’s famous treats – as you do. Even if it wasn’t a busy Pride weekend, it’s clear Amsterdam’s gay district has a buzz to it that few other gay scenes in the world can rival.
Will we be back for 2027? Absolutely. We’ve already reserved our art’otel Amsterdam room!
To book your stay visit art’otel Amsterdam.