NH Amsterdam Museum Quarter

The bi-level lobby is bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the street along the canal. The large lower level is a lounge, with plush black couches arranged around wooden plank tables along the windows, where guests sometimes hang out. The front desk is in the smaller upper level, which is carpeted in shades of blue and orange. The back of the hotel faces a communal courtyard where the hotel has its own private terrace lined by residential apartment buildings; the terrace is a more popular lounge spot for guests after a morning of exploring. Most guests are business travelers or tourists who are especially interested in the surrounding museums.

The NH Amsterdam Museum Quarter is located in Amsterdam's Museum Quarter, within walking distance of the Museumplein (museum square), Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijkmuseum. It is well connected to public transportation, with buses and trams less than two minutes away on foot; the hotel also rents bicycles, and there are bike lanes for easy access around the beautiful Canal Ring, which is just at the top of the road to the north. Popular sights like Albert Cuyp Market, Vondelpark with its open air theater, and the Heineken Experience are also in walking distance. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport is about 16 minutes away by car.

The rooms are outfitted in modern decor that borders on big-chain bland, with light wood furnishings, cream walls, and orange-red carpets. Furniture consists of arm chairs, small end tables on wheels, and large work desks. Woodblock paneled headboards and little reading spotlights give the rooms some character and top-floor rooms have angled floor-to-ceiling windows that give them unique flair (as well as excellent views). The more modern, subway-tiled bathrooms have vanities decorated with the same wood panels as the headboards and shower/tub combinations with handheld showerheads. Standard tea-making equipment is included, as are minibars, but there are no coffeemakers. Due to the hotel's location, rooms are notably quiet.

Like the rest of the hotel, the breakfast restaurant has a bright atmosphere, with floor-to-ceiling windows making for a cheery breakfast buffet (not included in all rates). The other eatery, Restaurant Palette, is less appetizing than it sounds: it's little more than a handful of tables at one end of the bar that serves sandwiches and pizzas. The outdoor courtyard is another story, a pleasant garden terrace decorated with tall frosted glass pyramids set amid dozens of planters. The small fitness center is well-equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical machines, and a water cooler. Business amenities include a meeting room and a small business corner in the lobby, available 24-hours with a computer and a printer. The hotel also has on-site bicycle rentals and its own parking garage (with valet fee).