Soho House Amsterdam

We picked Soho House Amsterdam for my birthday and had an amazing time. Enrico and the front desk crew gave us great tips for restaurants and nightlife, and helped us get reservations, which you really need in Amsterdam. The central spot was ideal for shopping, museums, and walks along the canals. Our room was fantastic, with incredible shower pressure, and the common floor had a fun atmosphere and good food and drinks. The gym and sauna were spotless, just what we needed after a late night. We’re so glad we stayed and will definitely be back!

I wouldn’t stay here again. The front desk felt pretentious, and I came away feeling that I was treated differently because I wasn’t a Soho House member and had booked with a corporate card. I suspect I would have been welcomed more warmly as a member. I never mentioned my connections to company executives and investors, though I’m sure Enrico would have been much nicer if he’d known. In the end, I felt he only helped because he didn’t want to explain a guest cancellation to his manager. I’d arrived from NYC for work at 8:00 am, exhausted, and asked whether I could pay for the previous night to get access to a room before afternoon check-in. Front desk manager Enrico Goffi laughed rudely, called the request strange and impossible, and said I could leave my bags until the 3:00 pm check-in. My reservation then wasn’t processing. When they asked for another credit card, I calmly asked if they could cancel it since I wasn’t feeling welcome. As soon as I mentioned leaving, his response changed. He asked me to wait while he checked something, and a few minutes later I had a room key, despite having been told it was impossible. The outcome was okay, but getting proper treatment was an uncomfortable process. The shower only stays hot in short bursts before turning lukewarm, and the room thermostat doesn’t work. Disappointing.

The place itself is beautiful and really well located, but an odd moment at the bar took away from what could have been a great night. I waited a long time to order and the bartender skipped me three times in a row. It felt personal, especially since I was the only person of color there. Another guest eventually spoke up for me, and the bartender seemed surprised to find out I was a member.

The XL monumental room was beautiful, and the water pressure was out of this world. We stayed for several nights in November, but the service felt unwelcoming. Breakfast upstairs was painfully slow, and I spent much of the time looking around for a waiter. When we came and went, the front desk staff were either focused on screens or talking among themselves, without greeting us. There was no one at the door to welcome us or help with bags on the stairs, which seemed out of place for a nicer property. Check-in felt clunky, and nobody offered to help us to the room. Members dashed past and took the elevators while we stood awkwardly in the lobby for several minutes trying to get one, with the front desk only feet away. The hotel is beautiful, but service is severely lacking.