NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace

From the outside, the NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace doesn’t look like much. The main entrance is set in a 1980s building lacking in charm, but the property actually occupies the better part of a city block lined with townhomes dating back to the 17th century. Inside, the feel improves with a fresh, bright, and tastefully renovated lobby featuring a black piano and contemporary furniture in a bold red-and-gray palette that stands out against the smart checkered floors and grand, columned atrium. This stylish combination of old and new continues throughout the property, including in the hallways -- where stripes of exposed brick mark where townhomes connect -- and in some rooms. Restaurants and bars, however, have a decidedly modern feel, with industrial touches such as subway tiles, concrete accents, warehouse-style windows, and bare filament bulbs. The entire property was renovated in 2016, and there are plans to redesign the lobby and the bar in summer 2018.

Popular among locals for its Michelin-star restaurant Vermeer, the hotel draws a mixed crowd of couples, families, and business travelers. Rates are reasonable for location and amenities, but the hotel lacks a spa, which a few other hotels in this price range do have, including the Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam, which is also centrally located in the historic center. For about the same price, the W Amsterdam and the Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam are both good alternatives for those wanting something with a hipper atmosphere. Business travelers attending events at the RAI Convention Center may want to check out the cheaper Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, a Tribute portfolio. 

The NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace has a prime location set back from a busy main road running along the top of Amsterdam’s historic center. Centraal Station, the city’s main train station, is directly opposite the hotel, while Dam Square and the shopping areas around it can be reached in about five minutes on foot. The heart of the Red Light District is also just a few minutes’ walk away, and there are numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops within two blocks of the hotel entrance. Guests can walk to the city’s top museums in about half an hour, but there are also several buses and trams that make the trip shorter and easier. Proximity to public transport means convenient transport links in and around the city, including to the airport, which is a 25-minute train ride (or 40-minute drive) from the hotel.

The hotel has 274 rooms, suites, and apartments, all fully renovated in 2016 and decorated in a contemporary style that combines a monochromatic palette with strategically placed LED lights and simple white furniture with clean lines to create uncluttered, streamlined spaces. Starting at 25 square meters (269 square feet), rooms aren’t huge, but they all have signature Sleep Better beds with several pillows (additional ones available from the pillow menu), narrow desks with office chairs, and armchairs set around small end tables. 

Rooms are outfitted with all the amenities expected of a high-end hotel, including Nespresso machines, electric kettles, robes, slippers, LED TVs with an array of international channels, and safes. Minibars are stocked with free water and a great selection of drinks and snacks available for purchase. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Apartments have wet bars, complete with mini-fridges, sinks, and microwaves. Many rooms have street views, and a few feature French balconies with expansive city views, but some rooms have uninteresting views of a courtyard. Additionally, some guests in street-facing rooms have complained of noise from surrounding bars. 

Bathrooms are modern and stylish in all room categories, with large walk-in rain showers (shower/tub combos in about 40 percent of the rooms), white marble tiles on walls, and heated towel racks. Hotel-branded toiletries are provided.

The hotel is home to Vermeer, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving fine Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish space with direct access from the street. Instead of a standard menu, guests get a list of ingredients with which the chef works to create a surprise four-, five-, or six-course menu. There is only one seating per night, and reservations are required. A varied buffet breakfast (not included in the standard rate) is served every morning in a stylish space off the lobby, and drinks and small bites are available during the day at Mar-Dique Bar. 

The fitness center is small but well-equipped, with an array of cardio and strength-training machines and a sauna. The hotel also offers a range of services and facilities for business travelers, including airport shuttle service, 24-hour room service, and extensive meeting space, including an impressive banquet hall housed in a beautifully restored 15th-century chapel across the street. There are also private parking (for a fee) and a dock for boat tours.