Best Suite Stays in Amsterdam's Historic Heart

Suites and apartments with private kitchens make Park Mansion Hotel one of the more practical luxury addresses in Amsterdam for families: breakfast and children's meals can happen in the apartment. Some units have a French balcony over Vondelpark, which I would request, since the park is the obvious place for children to run. The nearly 150-year-old monumental building and the personalised service keep the tone refined, so I would bring children old enough to enjoy it.

Faralda Crane Hotel is an adults-only five-star hotel built inside a former 50-metre harbour crane on the IJ waterfront, so it is not an option for families with children. Each two-floor design suite has a king-size bed, a bathtub, a rain shower and views over the IJ river. The 9.7 score is excellent, though it rests on just 15 reviews. I recommend it to couples marking an occasion; parents should look at family hotels elsewhere in Amsterdam for a trip with kids.

The indoor swimming pool in the Guerlain spa is what I would point out to families at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: it gives children a swim whatever the weather. Lofts and suites offer more space than a standard room, with views over the canal or the courtyard garden, and I would ask for a loft with children. The hotel occupies six 17th-century canal palaces on the Herengracht, so the setting is formal; the sauna and fitness centre are for parents.

Hotel TwentySeven is an all-suite hotel, which already helps families: every unit is a spacious suite rather than a standard room. Each one is individually designed, with bespoke materials, climate control and city views, and the personalised service suits parents who want help with plans. The setting, with art pieces in every suite and fine dining, is refined, so I would bring older children who will enjoy it, and keep the restaurant for a family dinner on the last evening.

De L'Europe works for families who want a polished five-star stay on the Amstel rather than a hotel built around children. Suites give more space than a standard room, and some rooms have balconies over the river and the historic centre, a view worth asking for. The waterside terrace suits a relaxed breakfast or a drink, while the spa and fitness area are for the adults. I would bring older children, as the setting and the fine dining are quite formal.

Fully equipped kitchens in every suite are the reason I would point families to the Element by Marriott Amsterdam: meals for young children can be made in the room, and the laundry room helps on a longer stay. The suites give more space than a standard room, and the spa-inspired bathrooms make bath time easier. The hotel is in Amsterdam South, a short distance from Amsterdam RAI and close to shopping. Guests rate it 9.0 across 2,250 reviews.

Dam Square, with the Royal Palace right opposite, is the doorstep of the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, so families start every outing at the centre of Amsterdam. Spacious suites give room to spread out, the grand café makes an easy breakfast or lunch stop, and the winter garden offers a covered space on grey days. Parents can book time in the full-service spa. With a 9.0 score from 5,998 reviews, I would choose it for a central five-star family stay.