The Hoxton Amsterdam

Let me tell you about The Hoxton, because this is the hotel I recommend more than any other in Amsterdam.

My friends Tom and Claire stayed here last spring. They booked three nights and by day two were frantically trying to extend to a full week. Claire texted me a photo of the canal view from their room at 7 AM with the caption "I am never leaving." I get it.

The Hoxton sits right on the Herengracht in the heart of the Jordaan. For people who do not know Amsterdam, the Jordaan is the neighborhood. Tiny streets, canal-side cafes, vintage shops, Saturday morning markets. You step out of the hotel and you are immediately in the best part of the city.

The lobby is worth talking about because it is not just a hotel lobby. Locals actually come here to work and hang out, which tells you everything about the vibe. There are cozy corners with books, a bar that actually gets busy on weekends, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget you are in a hotel.

The rooms are not enormous, but they are beautifully designed. Clean, modern, with just enough character to feel like someone actually thought about it. Get a canal view room if you can swing it — waking up to the Herengracht with the morning light is something my friends still talk about.

Breakfast is included if you sign up for their newsletter (yes, really). The restaurant downstairs is solid for dinner too, but honestly you are in the Jordaan — there are fifty restaurants within a five-minute walk.

Location-wise, you are walking distance to the Anne Frank House, the Negen Straatjes for shopping, and about ten of my favorite bars and restaurants. My friend Sara lives two blocks away and uses the lobby as her "remote office." She says the WiFi is better than her apartment.

The price point is what really sells it. For a hotel of this quality in this neighborhood, The Hoxton is genuinely affordable. My friends paid around 150 euros per night for a canal view room, which by Amsterdam Jordaan standards is a steal. Rates fluctuate obviously, but it consistently punches above its price.

One heads up: the hotel is popular. Book early, especially for spring and summer. My friend tried to book last-minute in June and everything was gone. If you can go midweek, you will find better availability and sometimes lower rates.

My buddy books through Expedia because you can cancel last-minute, which is pretty clutch for Amsterdam weather and travel plans that change. Check what they are charging right now — the rates vary a lot depending on the season.

This is the hotel I tell every friend to stay at. Not because it is the fanciest or the cheapest, but because it nails that thing where you feel like a local from the moment you walk in. And in a city like Amsterdam, that is what makes or breaks your trip.