In a nutshell
- Looking for unique boutique hotels in Amsterdam? We’ve done the research — here are our top picks!
- We’ll show you the 9 coolest small hotels in Amsterdam — in the city center and in quieter neighborhoods.
- Our personal favorites are the Ruby Emma, The Hendrick’s, and the Boutique Hotel View.
- For something truly one-of-a-kind, don’t miss the Outside Inn — you sleep in a camper van. Seriously.
Ruby Emma
The Ruby Emma is our best value pick among Amsterdam boutique hotels.
The location southeast of the center is pleasantly quiet without feeling cut off from the action. You can reach the city center by metro in 15 minutes (see also our article on getting around Amsterdam by public transit).
But beyond the location and the prices, we’re completely won over by the overall concept. The Ruby Emma is, in fact, a green hotel.
That means the entire hotel runs on renewable energy, and the 6 individually designed rooms are furnished with secondhand pieces. Even the décor is natural or recycled — like old fishing nets woven into rugs. How cool is that?
On top of all the sustainability, you’ll find a genuinely great, locally sourced breakfast, an energetic bar with live music, and the hotel’s own bike rental.
The Hendrick's
The Hendrick’s is the perfect small hotel if you’re visiting Amsterdam for the first time.
The central location is fantastic — you can easily walk to Amsterdam’s top attractions. The staff is incredibly friendly and happy to help with all your questions about exploring the city.
You have 25 tastefully furnished rooms to choose from, all different in size and inspired by different themes. There are stylish double rooms with a romantic feel for couples, and comfortable suites with plenty of space for families.
For Amsterdam’s notoriously high hotel prices, The Hendrick’s offers outstanding value for money — with an excellent breakfast included.
Boutique Hotel View
Want to stay somewhere with a stunning view over Amsterdam’s canals? At the Boutique Hotel View, that’s exactly what you get.
This small hotel sits in a canal house right in the heart of the canal belt and wins you over with its six lovely rooms. Each is individually styled, yet together they form a wonderfully inviting whole thanks to soft, warm earth tones.
And even the smallest room is a winner here. You get those gorgeous canal views from just about every window. All that’s left is to order room service and enjoy your morning coffee in bed while gazing out at the water.
From the Boutique Hotel View, all sorts of Amsterdam activities and many of the city’s great museums are just a short walk away.
The lively Leidseplein is also nearby, with loads of great restaurants and bars and something always going on in the evenings — perfect for a night out.
Mr. Jordaan
The Mr. Jordaan is all about feeling at home. This small design hotel has been furnished with modern pieces, yet it hasn’t lost any of its historic building charm — quite the opposite. With all the wood elements and carefully matched décor, the interior is simply wonderfully cozy.
The location in the hip Jordaan neighborhood is seriously great. Loads of charming cafés and small boutiques are right around the corner. And some of Amsterdam’s most beautiful highlights — the Royal Palace, the flower market, the Anne Frank House, and the Basilica of Saint Nicholas — are just a short walk away.
Some really nice extras: complimentary coffee all day long and a little farewell gift at check-out. A lovely touch.
Tribe
Things are getting fancy! The Tribe Amsterdam City is a super sleek, ultra-modern hotel in the trendy and authentic Amsterdam-Noord neighborhood. It’s not just a place to sleep — it’s a real place to be.
The hotel has a dedicated work area that’s great if you need to get things done during your Amsterdam city trip. If you just want to kick back after a day of sightseeing, the beautiful communal lounge and spacious rooms are perfect for that.
All the rooms are excellently appointed and the beds are seriously comfortable. You won’t hear a peep of city noise from inside.
One more thing worth knowing: the hotel sits right next to a metro station, so getting to the center is a breeze.
By the way — the Tribe is also one of the best family hotels in Amsterdam.
The July Twenty Eight
The Twenty Eight is a cool aparthotel in the south of Amsterdam. You don’t just get a hotel room here — you get a stylishly designed apartment with beautiful interiors, a full kitchen, a large bathroom, and a proper living room.
And yet you still get all the perks of a hotel: a fitness center, a coworking space, a delicious breakfast, and a 24-hour front desk.
The Twenty Eight is especially well-suited if you’re spending an extended time in Amsterdam and want to feel a little more at home. Downtown is about 20 minutes by metro, and the popular Vondelpark is around a 15-minute walk away.
Conscious Hotel Museum Square
The Conscious Hotel is a truly special place to stay in Amsterdam — and every bit as artful as the museums surrounding it.
Just steps away, Museumplein awaits with Amsterdam’s most famous art museums, including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The city center is also easy to reach on foot from here.
Unlike the downtown area, the Museumplein setting is really peaceful. And with just four rooms, the Conscious Hotel feels very intimate and personal — simply perfect for unwinding.
We also love the clean, modern décor. Every room feels like a contemporary work of art.
Book Conscious Hotel Museum Square
The Highlander
The Highlander is another small boutique hotel, skillfully integrated into a historic canal house right in the heart of Amsterdam. We love this combination!
You’ll be staying surrounded by fantastic sights. The moment you step out the door in the morning, you’re right in the middle of everything.
And it’s not just the location that sets you up for a great start to the day — the rooms do too. They’re so individual and colorful that you’ll wake up smiling every single morning. As wonderfully eclectic as Amsterdam itself.
Add a delicious, generous breakfast in bed or in the cozy breakfast room, and there’s truly nothing standing in the way of a perfect day in Amsterdam.
Motel One Amsterdam
You really can’t go wrong with a Motel One. The Motel One Amsterdam isn’t a true boutique hotel, but it is a solid 3-star option with fair value for money.
Sure, with a hotel chain you can’t expect the intensely personal atmosphere you’d find at other Amsterdam boutique hotels — but you do benefit from the reliably good service the brand is known for.
The rooms are simple but do exactly what they need to do. Color comes into play in the lobby and the breakfast room, and the breakfast spread is honestly right up our alley — extensive, varied, and genuinely delicious.
One more big bonus: dogs are welcome.
Extra Tip: Outside Inn
The Outside Inn is definitely not a classic Amsterdam boutique hotel. But it’s so cool and quirky that we simply had to include it.
Instead of a regular room, you get a camper van. The campers are all parked under cover inside the hotel, which provides toilets and showers.
What we especially love: there are seating areas in front of every camper, and swings hang from the ceiling of the communal area with its green flooring — almost like being out in nature!
The nearest metro station is only about a 5-minute walk away. From there, it’s around 10 minutes into the center.
