Try the Singel Hotel, Singel 15-17, 1012VC, Amsterdam.
Tel. +3 (0)206263108, Fax +31 (0) 206203777, or visit http://www.singelhotel.nl

Ask for a room at the front, overlooking the canal; it's only 2 or 3 minutes to Centraal Station and the same to the shops. Highly recommended as being excellent value.

Hi Jayjaya,
You could try the Hotel Brouwer where we stayed in February. The hotel's right in the area you want to go to, it's website is at http://www.hotelbrouwer.nl. Lots of nice bars and restaurants are in the area, and close to shops etc. All the hotel rooms overlook the singel canal and are themed after Dutch painters, and the hotel must have the smallest lift in the world. When my wife and I plus 1 case were in, my wife had to raise her arm so I could press the appropriate floor button on the panel, very cosy indeed