The Hoxton, Amsterdam

The Hoxton, Amsterdam is situated among five historic canal houses, which were occupied by the city's mayor in the 17th century. Hoxton, which runs several trendy hotels throughout Europe, opened this spot in Amsterdam in 2015. The hotel is design-conscious with a modern vintage-hipster vibe. In the lobby, dark-wood floors are paired with subway tile or exposed brick walls. Chairs are a tasteful and eclectic mix that include mid-century modern upholstered armchairs with classic tapered wood legs, plush and velvety button tufted armchairs, and other vintage pieces. An open floor plan allows the restaurant and bar to meld with the lobby  to create a social, bustling atmosphere -- this is especially true on the weekends when a live DJ plays. The hotel even has a working vintage photo booth. As far as decor goes, this is an upscale property, but features and services are standard mid-range fare. The hotel is geared toward both business guests and tourists, and tends to attract somewhat younger crowds with its trendy design and social atmosphere. 

The hotel is situated on Amsterdam's inner canal ring on the famous Herengracht, within the 9 Streets shopping area. The canal is stunning, with typical Dutch town houses lining either side, huge trees, and quintessential bridges. Shops, bars, and cafes can be reached easily on foot, with many independent boutiques and tiny eateries making up the famed 9 streets. Plenty of public transportation links are also in easy walking distance. Tourist sights like the Anne Frank House, Dam Square, the Red Light District, and the Flower Market are less than a 10-minute walk away. Vondelpark, the Van Gogh Museum, and Amsterdam Centraal are about 15 minutes away via public transportation. Schiphol Airport is about 40 minutes away via public transport, or a 23-minute drive. 

The 111 rooms at the Hoxton, Amsterdam are trendy yet sophisticated. Though decor is fairly uniform throughout the hotel, thoughtful and stylish details offer a personal feel. Dark-wood parquet floors pair with light gray walls, while soft, suspended leather headboards and modern chandelier-style lighting add appeal. Brass light fixtures, mismatched upholstered chairs and ottomans with wooden arms and legs, and hexagonal mirrors create a vintage-hipster feel. Light-colored rugs, gallery-inspired groupings of framed photos, stacks of books, and analog clocks put the finishing touches on the look. Bathrooms are equally trendy, with white subway tiling, vintage-inspired sink basins, rainfall showers, and exposed brass piping. 

All rooms have air-conditioning, work desks, smart TVs, safes, digital music players, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms also include coffee- and tea-making facilities, and mini-fridges are stocked with fresh milk (for coffee) and water. One hour of international phone calls are also included in the room rate. Bathrooms have bar soap, plus dispensers of Pen&Ink body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. 

Rooms sizes include the rightly named Shoebox Rooms with single or twin beds (182 square feet), Cosy Rooms for two with Queen beds (215 square feet), and the more spacious Roomy Rooms (301 square feet). The Tubby and Floral and the Fruity Rooms are only available by request and include extras like original and mosaic ceilings, double showers, and wood-beam ceilings. 

Some rooms look into a narrow courtyard, which is darker but quieter, while canal view rooms offer more light but can be slightly noisier. While there aren't too many complaints about street noise, these historic canal houses only have single-glazed windows.  

Features at the Hoxton continue the property's stylish look -- even it's meeting rooms. Lotti's is the hotel's trendy restaurant and bar that serves Italian and Dutch food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is popular with locals and guests alike. A retractable glass roof opens on warm days, creating a cool indoor/outdoor courtyard effect. Charging stations and USB ports are handy for business travelers, too. The Up Top Bar serves cocktails and coffee, and can be rented for group events. A DJ plays at the bar on weekends. Guests receive free breakfast bags with granola, yogurt, bananas, and OJ -- these are delivered to the door in the morning. A full breakfast in the restaurant comes with a fee.

The hotel has several stylish meeting rooms --  there's the homey yet modern Kitchen with a sink, fridge, and island with bar stools or the bright Courtyard with a blue-and-white tile  floor, skylight, and potted plants. The largest event room can host up to 80 guests. Catering, printing, and other business services are available. Three computer stations in the lobby feature desktop Macs for guests' use. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. 

There's no fitness center, and while the hotel has a 24-hour front desk, there's no dedicated concierge. Laundry service and luggage storage can be arranged. The front desk offers a selection of souvenirs and other items for purchase.