Hotel Sint Nicolaas

Housed in a striking, cylindrical corner building, this boutique hotel occupies a space that once served as the harbor master’s office in the 18th and 19th centuries. The historic bones of the building are readily apparent in the stylish lobby where black wood accents and flooring nicely contrasts the white walls and crown molding. Lots of plush seating, including some around a real log fireplace, set the tone for the quiet and cozy vibe where guests are often seen lingering with a drink well into the evening. A broad mix of people from all over the world stay here, attracted by the hotel's central location, good reputation, and reasonable rates.

The hotel is conveniently located in the city center, just a short walk from the central train station, which connects to the subway. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops in the immediate area, including a sushi bar next door and a coffee shop across the street. 

• Five-minute walk to Central Station for trams and trains
• Seven-minute walk to Dam Square 
• Eight-minute walk to Royal Palace
• 13-minute walk to Anne Frank House 
• 13-minute walk to Begijnhof
• 10 minutes to the Flower Market by public transit 
• 12 minutes to Jordaan district by public transit
• 12 minutes to Rembrandt House Museum by public transit 
• 14 minutes to Heineken Experience by public transit
• 15 minutes to Vondel Park by public transit
• 18 minutes to Van Gogh Museum by public transit
• 23 minutes to Schiphol Airport by public transit

Decor varies quite a bit between the guest rooms. In the three rooms we saw (Single, Double, and Triple), many of the decorative flourishes differed, but they all had nice hardwood floors, bright white bedding, and dark curtains. The Single Room was the simplest with low angled ceilings and fresh white walls brightened a bit by a fuchsia chair and multicolored pillow. The Double and Triple Rooms, with high ceilings, bumped up the style factor with details like bold damask or stripped wallpaper or dark wainscoting. The color palettes here leaned toward dark overall with plenty of espresso and inky black. The result is stylish, though it can feel a bit moody. Bathrooms are modern, with either glass walk-in showers or shower/tub combos with glass half-doors. 

The Single Room we saw was quite small, and would be a bit snug even for a solo traveler. But the Double and Triple Rooms were spacious by European standards. Throughout the hotel, rooms are clean and relatively quiet, given their location on a busy downtown street. Standard amenities in all categories include mini-fridges, safes, flat-screen TVs, desks, free Wi-Fi, free bottled water, and Nespresso coffeemakers.

As a small-scale boutique property, Hotel Sint Nicolaas lacks the features of a mid-range chain hotel. There's no gym, business center, or full restaurant. The hotel does serve a solid free breakfast buffet, with hot dishes like eggs, as well as cheeses, cold cuts, and pastries. The property's cozy bar multitasks as the registration area and also sells snacks, along with coffee drinks and a full range of beer and cocktails well into the evening. Staff can help secure tour tickets, taxis, and babysitting services, and bicycles are available for rent. There is no parking on site, but a public garage is three minutes away on foot that works with the hotel to accommodate its guests. Elevator service is available to all floors (a feature that's not a given in historic buildings).