The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam

The rooms were very quiet, and there are cafés and restaurant bars close by. I liked the style of the reception and restaurant bar, and you should leave some time for the cocktail bar during your stay. The hotel is in a quiet residential area near the water, a bit far from the city, but public transportation makes it easy to get there.

The noise was the main problem for me. Our room was beside the stairs on the third floor, and I could hear every step from the floor above. I complained and waited to hear about a room change, but nobody got back to me. They did offer earplugs, thankfully. The room was extremely small for two people, with no wardrobe or chest of drawers. It was stuffy, and the windows were difficult to use. It was cold enough that we didn’t really need to open them, but the room reminded me of student halls. The building’s decor was cute, and the staff were very friendly. But I expected The Hoxton to have more luxuries and extra touches than an ordinary hotel. Room cleaning is optional, and you have to call or mention it when leaving if you want it. I understand not changing sheets or towels, but one reason to stay in a hotel is to get a break from everyday chores. Without that, expensive hotels have less to offer compared with an Airbnb or hostel. The bathroom setup wasn’t mentioned as an issue for me, but the €5 room service ordering charge felt crazy. This just wasn’t what I expected.

The dinner was spot on, and the staff were so kind, especially Lieke and Marina. I usually like my steak extremely rare, which often doesn’t come out the way I want, but this one was perfect and delicious. The martini was spot on too. We had such a lovely staycation at the Lloyd Hox. The decor is gorgeous, the bed is extremely comfortable, and the grand, historic building still feels warm and cozy. I’d really recommend this Hox for its welcoming feel and its location in a really cool part of Amsterdam.

The bar was amazing, and Eduardo was an excellent bartender and a great person to talk with. Ashley and other staff were helpful with recommendations for things to do around town. I’ve just come back from a week in various European cities, and I can’t recommend this place enough. It’s easy to reach by train, and the hotel is in a gorgeous historic building with a canal view right outside the front door. I loved staying in a non-tourist area, walking to local bakeries in the morning and restaurants at night.