Hotel Okura Amsterdam is a landmark of the Dutch hotel scene, a large, Japanese-owned hotel on the Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam South, and it is notable above all for its food and its calm, spacious public areas. The page lists a five-star class under the Hotelstars Union, a building dating from 1971 and 300 rooms, offered in 21 room types. The hotel's six restaurants and two bars include Ciel Bleu, Sazanka, Serre and Yamazato, and the page mentions a Michelin-starred meal, so this is a place where dining is part of the stay. The facilities include an indoor pool, a sauna, a steam room, a hot tub, a gym with fitness classes, a full-service spa, bicycle rental, a Japanese garden and a terrace beside the Amstel river. The location is not on the canals but on the southern side of the centre: the page lists the V. Hilligaertstraat tram stop as a three-minute walk, the RAI Exhibition and Congress Centre as ten minutes, the Albert Cuyp Market as thirteen and both the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum as about twenty minutes on foot, with Schiphol Airport about 22 minutes by car. Check-in is from 3:00 PM and check-out is before noon, and the minimum check-in age is 18.
Who it suits
Foodies, business travellers attending events at the RAI, families who value a pool and space, and anyone who prefers a large, high-service hotel to a small canal house. The hotel also suits visitors who like De Pijp, since the Albert Cuyp Market and the neighbourhood's restaurants are close. It is less suited to travellers who want to step out of the door onto a cobbled canal.
Living in it
With 300 rooms there is a wide choice, from standard rooms to suites, and room views vary, so check the description when you book. The Japanese garden and the indoor pool are highlights, and the spa has an age policy: children under sixteen are not allowed without adult supervision.
Pets are not allowed. The page lists a deposit of 200 euros per accommodation per night and a 100 euro credit card requirement, parking at 77 euros per night self-park or 71.50 euros valet, and breakfast at about 44 euros for adults. The local tax of 12.5 per cent applies.
Value
Rates are high in peak season, but the facilities are extensive and the location is convenient for the museums, the markets and the RAI. The tram connects you to the centre in a few minutes, and the walk to Museumplein takes about twenty minutes. For the price of a smaller central hotel you often get a bigger room, a pool and a good choice of restaurants. Book early for conference weeks, when rates rise, and check what your rate includes before you commit.
Why stay here
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Sauna, steam room and hot tub
- ✓Full-service spa
- ✓Gym and fitness classes
- ✓Six restaurants
- ✓Japanese garden
- ✓Bicycle rental
- ✓Tram stop nearby
Good questions
Where is Hotel Okura Amsterdam?+
At Ferdinand Bolstraat 333 in Amsterdam South. The page lists a tram stop three minutes away and the Albert Cuyp Market as a thirteen-minute walk.
How far is it from the museums?+
The page lists the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum as about twenty minutes' walk. The tram is quicker.
What dining is on site?+
The hotel lists six restaurants and two bars, including Ciel Bleu, Sazanka, Serre and Yamazato.
