Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam

The rooms are spacious and nicely designed, and I liked the breakfast buffet. Getting to Amsterdam Centraal by bus or tram is easy enough, which was useful since I had a train the next day. For a first visit, though, the hotel may feel a little removed from things, and there isn’t a supermarket nearby. Renting a bike in the centre ahead of time would make getting around the city much quicker. I found dinner at the restaurant pretty average. The sate kambing wasn’t to my taste, and the mie goreng was much too sweet, even though I know this kind of food well. If you’re hoping to try Indonesian food, I’d go to a proper Indonesian restaurant elsewhere.

Tiemen made a real impression on us. Even with around 400 guests a day, he remembered our names and travel plans, helped arrange transportation, and left us a note and a gift. We especially appreciated that thoughtful attention. The welcome was heartfelt, and he clearly has a fondness for Canadians. We’d been awake for more than 24 hours, and guest services managed to get us an early check-in. We also ate at Café Jakarta, where the food was excellent. We highly recommend this hotel.

The setting on a small island just outside the city centre makes this a peaceful, romantic place, with river views from all around. The rooms are spacious and modern, the bed was wonderfully comfortable, and the design throughout the hotel is lovely. A couple of practical things stood out: the shower pressure is weak, and the eco-friendly air conditioning is pleasant enough overnight but doesn’t cool the room powerfully after a hot day in Amsterdam. Apart from those points, we had a genuinely lovely stay. I’d recommend it to anyone after a quiet, stylish break.

I was worried when we arrived early because check-in wasn’t until 3, but our room was ready, so we could go straight in. Sara was lovely and explained the hotel and what was included. She went above and beyond, and we even had a laugh with some of the staff when my aunt helped me across the glass landings because I’m scared of heights. Room 423 had a stunning view over the water. The hotel was big and very clean, and the room had a coffee machine, mini fridge, iron, dressing robes, and plenty more. The pool was a bonus, and the bakery and coffee shop inside are beautiful, with a menu you can order from. Breakfast has a smaller range of choices, which I actually think works better. The free Wi-Fi was handy, and the room phone made it easy to order room service late. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the main city centre, and Ubers and Just Eat deliveries are easy to get. Uber drivers came quickly, and the rides cost just a couple of euros. Reception also has safety boxes, or you can use the room safe for free. We checked out at noon and left our bags with the hotel; they gave us a ticket to collect them, and the storage felt very secure. It’s a lovely stay, and I’d come back.