The Crown Plaza City Centre Hotel is housed in a modern 7-storey brick building and two gabled 17th-century merchants' houses, which lean at an intriguing angle. A red-coated footman greets you at the door when you arrive, and he sets the tone for everything else at this fine property. The medium sized lobby area is actually the courtyard of the old houses. It has a bright, stylish ambience, thanks to a glass ceiling, exposed brickwork and a pleasantly furnished seating area. The 270 guestrooms vary in size from medium to large, due to the age of the building. None the less, all are decorated in a modern style with traditional touches, such as the kind of wooden beams typical of canal-side houses in Amsterdam. Both guestrooms and en suite bathrooms are in excellent condition. The hotel’s classy, slip-level "Dorrius" restaurant is a renowned eatery serving traditional Dutch cuisine and international specialities in an authentic Dutch ambience. Alternatively, guests can enjoy a drink in the wood panelled Amsterdammer Bar & Patio. High tea is also served in the Crowne Plaza Club Lounge on Wednesdays and Sundays.