Mercure Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station

Mercure Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station occupies an eight-story brick building that’s still fresh from its 2015 construction. The exterior is corporate to the point of feeling drab, but interiors are a different story. The lobby provides a strong shift in atmosphere with moody lighting and chic lounge spaces. Micro-suede couches and hexagonal coffee tables sit across from a marbled reception desk, while a separate sitting area feels like a mini living room with trimmings like an electric fireplace, tree-stump coffee tables, and open shelving full of vases and figurines. All together, the public spaces feel fresh and fashionable, and it's a look that's carried over into the guest rooms above and the top-floor restaurant and bar.

Mercure, under the AccorHotels umbrella group, runs over seven hundred hotels, and while they’re individually decorated, there’s still a functional, chain-hotel feel under all the trendy trappings. The location is particularly suited to business travelers, though couples, families, and even tourists will find their way here, too. Hotels at the same pearl-level in central Amsterdam can be double the price.

The hotel is situated in Amsterdam West’s suburban business district outside of the city center. The immediate area is boring with mostly corporate offices, other big hotels, and few food choices other than a nearby supermarket. The real draw is the proximity to Sloterdijk Station, about a five-minute walk from the hotel. From the station, it’s just a five-minute train ride to Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam’s main train station. From there, guests can get public transit or walk to many of central Amsterdam’s sights. A direct route to Museumplein Station (18 minutes) takes guests to the base of attractions like the Van Gogh Museum and Vondelpark. It’s only a 10-minute ride from the station to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. There’s also a direct connection to RAI Congress Center, about a 15-minute ride.

Guest rooms are comfortable and stylishly finished with dark wall-to-wall carpeting, taupe walls, white bedding, and dark-colored furnishings. Colorful, pixel-patterned pillows and trendy pendant lights add some fashionable flourishes to a otherwise simple spaces. Bathrooms are equally chic with gray tiling, square sinks, and walk-in glass rainfall showers.

Rooms are available in a slew of arrangements to house a variety of travelers. The selection includes rooms with two single beds, one double, a double and a sofa bed, or a Family Room with one double and two single beds. Most rooms are adequately sized, and downright spacious compared to what you find in many central Amsterdam hotels.

All rooms have work desks, flat-screen TVs, coffee/tea service, mini-fridges, safes, irons and ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are outfitted with hairdryers and free individual toiletries. Upgraded Privilege Rooms add Nespresso machines, multimedia systems, free minibars (stocked with non-alcoholic beverages), and bathrobes.

Arguably the hotel's most striking feature is its eighth-story Sky Lounge, a restaurant and bar with views over the futuristic train station and Sloterdijk. Large and open, the restaurant feels a bit like a posh cafeteria, with wood floors, tables, and chairs with tapered legs. A white-tiled bar is situated in the middle of the room, and a chalkboard menu announces specials. It's here guests can indulge in the hotel's extra-fee breakfast buffet and a la carte lunches and dinners, in addition to midday evening drinks -- ideal for an area that lacks dining options. Room service is offered into the evening and soft drinks and small snacks are for sale in the lobby.

The hotel's gym is tiny and offers limited equipment -- just a bike, treadmill, bench, and free weights -- but everything on hand is modern and in good condition. However, for a chain hotel of this size and location, it's a little disappointing there's no pool or any other wellness features on hand. However, the hotel does have two meeting rooms and a large underground parking lot, though parking costs an extra fee. Bikes can be rented for an extra fee, too. Wi-Fi throughout is free, and there are two large Mac computers in the lobby for guests' use, plus a printer.