Sir Albert Hotel, part of Sircle Collection

I usually go to Izakaya, but this time I stayed at Sir Albert. The location is hard to beat, and having Izakaya right in the lobby is convenient. The hotel looks chic at night, though some small signs of wear show in daylight. Rooms are small, as is common in European hotels, but the shower had some of the best water pressure we’ve experienced in a long time. The front desk team were welcoming. Follow-through was less consistent. We had to ask repeatedly for robes, and they arrived late and looked unattractive. Birthday extras listed in our reservation were only partly provided, and the room was left messy. We’d been out all day, and when we came back, there was a small birthday gift but no room cleaning, which seemed unusual. We had to call again to get service. The TV also didn’t work on the first night, which was rough while dealing with jet lag, and there was no compensation. Sir Albert has a lot going for it, but better attention to details and follow-through would make it feel like a truly high-end boutique hotel.

We loved the staff, the location, and the rooms at Sir Albert. The beds were incredibly comfortable, there was plenty of hot water, and the room had enough space for two. The only thing that bothered us was the shower and toilet layout, which offered little privacy. A folding screen might have helped, but we made do. It’s a short walk to Museumplein and the metro, and breakfast one morning had lots of filling choices. We regretted moving closer to the airport for our early flight instead of spending our last night here.

The rooms were lovely, the staff were lovely, and the location was great, within walking distance of the museum district with plenty of public transport nearby. I’ll come back when I’m in Amsterdam. My one issue was not being able to see the restaurant bill at checkout, so I couldn’t question a charge that seemed a little high.

De Pijp was my favorite neighborhood, and the hotel was beautifully located with transit easy to reach. It was only a 5-10 min walk after the train. I was really happy with the stay: I chose the cheapest queen option and still got a gorgeous, spacious room. The staff were lovely, and the bathroom had shampoo, conditioning, and lotion, which was unusual compared with other hotels on our trip that cost more.