
It doesn’t get much more central than this: Hotel The Diamond on Leidseplein combines stylish design with thoughtful details and innovative service. Genusspunkt visited the hotel and experienced a city hotel that reimagines comfort and the guest experience.
Some hotels impress with their location. Others leave a lasting impression through the atmosphere they create. The Diamond Hotel in Amsterdam achieves both. Located right on the lively Leidseplein, it’s the perfect starting point for everything the city has to offer: culture, art, cuisine, and nightlife. And at the same time, it’s a retreat that consciously prioritizes tranquility, design, and comfort.
Even the façade tells a story. Inspired by Amsterdam’s tradition of diamond cutting, the building reflects elegance and craftsmanship. This ethos continues inside. Natural materials, warm colors, retro elements, and modern accents create an atmosphere that feels instantly welcoming. No over-the-top luxury, but a style that endures because it is authentic. As a member of the renowned Quality Lodgings partnership, The Diamond Hotel stands for individual quality, carefully curated properties, and a clear commitment to the upscale hospitality industry.
What particularly caught our attention: the rooms. Not just because of the amenities, which leave nothing to be desired with a coffee maker, refrigerator, well-thought-out storage, and high-quality details, but above all because of their functionality. The built-in alcoves offer small, quiet retreats, ideal for working, reading, or simply unwinding. This is a real plus, especially for business travelers or anyone who wants to be productive on the go. Everything feels well-thought-out without being complicated.
One detail that makes the stay special is the breakfast service. Breakfast can be easily ordered to your room, and the process runs remarkably smoothly. The highlight: Flashbot, the hotel’s service robot. It delivers breakfast, snacks, or other orders right to your door. You open the robot, take out your fruit bowl, for example, close it again, and it drives away with a little “smile.” What at first seems like a technical gimmick is actually a well-thought-out combination of innovation and hospitality and, quite honestly, is just plain fun.
What stands out most, alongside design and innovation, is the team. Friendly, attentive, and always there when needed, without being intrusive. It is precisely this balance that defines modern hospitality. The hotel manages to create a very personal atmosphere despite its central location and urban surroundings.
With the Heineken Hoek Grand Café and the Heineken Hoek Bistro, the hotel offers two culinary destinations that are closely tied to Amsterdam’s history. Here, classics meet modern interpretations, accompanied by the lively energy of Leidseplein. Whether for a morning coffee, a relaxed dinner, or the start of the evening, everything is right on your doorstep.
The location couldn’t be better: just a few steps from Leidseplein, within walking distance of the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and right next to Vondelpark. And yet the hotel manages to create a quiet, almost private atmosphere.
The Diamond Hotel is more than just a stylish city hotel. It is a place where details make all the difference: thoughtfully designed rooms, genuine hospitality, and small innovations like Flashbot, which make your stay not only more comfortable but also more memorable. Or, to put it simply: an urban retreat that shows how modern hospitality can work today.
This book is not a promise, but an invitation. Einfach Bau shows how the philosophy behind three-star cuisine can be applied to your own everyday life – not through simplification, but through understanding. For the first time, Sarah and Christian Bau open the door to their culinary world together, offering a glimpse into a kitchen that has been setting standards for two decades: precise, disciplined, yet open to curiosity and further development.
What immediately stands out is that the recipes are clearly structured, logically organised and underpinned by a didactic approach that takes ambitious home cooks seriously. Whether it’s miso aubergine with peanuts, prawns with sesame broccolini and pak choi, or an apple tart with Japanese rum – every dish reflects the interplay between the classical French school and the Japanese-inspired flavours for which Christian Bau is internationally acclaimed. At the same time, Sarah Bau’s distinctive voice is clearly evident: precise, modern, with a keen sense of balance and texture.
INFO
Einfach Bau – Michelin-starred cuisine for the home
Authors: Sarah Bau, Christian Bau
Photography: Markus Bassler (The Food Eye)
Publisher: DK Verlag
Length: 272 pages
ISBN: 978-3-8310-5081-9
Price: €36.00
Publication date: October 2025
UNITI expo 2026 in Stuttgart has impressively reaffirmed its role as Europe’s leading trade fair for the petrol station and car wash sectors. With 604 exhibitors from 43 countries, more than 20,500 visitors from 114 countries and, for the first time, 45,000 square metres of exhibition space, the sixth edition was a record-breaking event. The next UNITI expo will take place from 16 to 18 May 2028 at Messe Stuttgart.
Francesco Martucci of I Masanielli in Caserta was named The Best Pizza Chef 2026 at The Best Pizza Awards 2026 in Milan. For the second year running. But the award tells more than just the story of a winner: it shows just how global, creative and sophisticated pizza has become today. From Naples to Milan, New York, Tokyo, Las Vegas and Antwerp, pizza is being reimagined: at the intersection of craftsmanship, identity, dough culture and the culinary future.
It doesn’t get much more central than this: Hotel The Diamond on Leidseplein combines stylish design with thoughtful details and innovative service. Genusspunkt visited the hotel and experienced a city hotel that reimagines comfort and the guest experience.