Hotel van Onna

The tiny, nine-room Hotel van Onna is a budget hotel and sister property to the boutique Mr. Jordaan Hotel next door, which together occupy three 17th century canal houses. Hotel van Onna doesn't have any facilities of its own, so guests check in at Mr. Jordaan's charming rustic-chic lobby next door (exposed brick walls, wood beam ceiling) and make use of its similarly attractive breakfast room. Hotel van Onna doesn't have any of its own common spaces and, by itself, it's basic, functional, and sometimes dated decor is more akin to a hostel than a hotel. Like many canal hotels, this one has narrow stairs and no elevator. The location is central, and rooms for one to four guests are all private with en-suite bathrooms, making this ideal for budget travelers including solo travelers, small families, and friend groups.

The hotel is well-located in Jordaan on the stunning Bloemgracht canal, in an area with little bridges, cobbled streets, and leafy trees. The location is great for tourists who want to stay in the city center but want to be away from the hustle and bustle -- the immediate neighborhood is mostly residential and gets little traffic. Restaurants and shopping are still in walking distance, as are popular sights like the Anne Frank house (six-minute walk), Dam Square (15-minute walk), Kalverstraat (18-minute walk), and the Flower Mart (20-minute walk). For sights farther out, there are two tram stops within a five-minute walk and guests can get to sights like the Van Gogh Museum in 20 minutes. Amsterdam Central Station is a 20-minute walk and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is about 35 minutes via public transit. The hotel is tricky to get to by car and there is no parking near the hotel, so public transport or bike is usually the best option. 

Rooms, which are all private and can host one to four guests, vary but tend toward the basic with metal frame beds that are more like cots, white walls, light wood laminate furniture, and a few generic pictures on the walls. White tiled en-suite bathrooms are small and simple with wet-room showers and basic toiletry dispensers. While rooms are fairly clean (housekeeping comes daily with fresh bedding and towels), they do show wear-and-tear and furniture is dated. Rooms have safes, but no other extras -- no TVs, mini-fridges, or coffee/tea service. Rooms at the front of the hotel can have pretty nice canal views. There's free Wi-Fi in the lobby of the Mr. Jordaan Hotel next door, but most guests say the signal doesn't extend to guest rooms. The area itself is fairly quiet, though some guests note some noises from adjacent rooms and nearby church bells.

While the Hotel van Onna has no extra property features of its own, guests have access to facilities at Mr. Jordaan, the boutique sister hotel next door -- a pretty nice perk for a two-pearl establishment. There's a lobby and small lounge with souvenirs for sale, and the breakfast room is particularly charming with a chalkboard accent wall and country charm. A continental breakfast is served here daily, but it costs an extra fee. Reception is open until late, but it's not 24 hours, and luggage storage is available. There is no on-site parking, and the hotel's recommended off-site parking is a real hike. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby of the Mr. Jordaan Hotel, but there's no guarantee it will extend to all rooms.