Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel comes with spacious bedrooms with excellent views (Image: Avani)
Highlights
- Spacious rooms with canal-views
- Located just minutes from bars, restuarnts and museums
- Great breakfast and tasty lunch and dinner options
- Extra activities available to book – ideal for short stays
is rewriting the rulebook when it comes to tourism with chiefs opting to ban the construction of new in a bid to combat overtourism in the city. The rule introduced earlier this year means any new sites in Amsterdam can only be built if one closes with a 20 million overnight stays per year cap in place.
It means operators have to be creative, transforming existing sites into passionate rebrands appears to be the future of the city and Avani Hotels may have just shown everyone how to do it. is one of the city’s latest offerings with the Minor Hotels group opening their first site in the Netherlands.
The former NH Museum Quarter Hotel was renovated earlier this year with the canal-side property finally opening its doors to visitors in June.
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Avani’s hotel lobby looks out over the famous canals (Image: Avani)
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Looking at the canals from your bedroom window is a peaceful experience (Image: Luke Chillingsworth)
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Avani’s rooms are very spacious with comfortable beds and clean bathrooms (Image: Avani)
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The museum’s lobby is the perfect place to unwind after a long day in the capital (Image: Avani)
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Avani has a small store selling a mix of hot and cold drinks (Image: Avani)
The Rooms
Rating: 5/5
163 rooms are among the most spacious on the market with most benefiting from stunning canal views. All rooms come fitted with a cosy double or Queen-size bed, flat-screen TV with plenty of channels, Bluetooth speakers and a Nespresso machine for extra comfort. A small mini fridge and safe also come included while the addition of a small sofa is welcome.
A table and chairs are also placed in the centre of the room, angled towards the window allowing guests to relax in their rooms and enjoy the stunning Venice-style canals. Rain forest showers come as standard in the bathroom fitted against a spacious bath with shower gels, soaps and more included at no extra cost to ensure a hassle-free trip.
With health and fitness a central part of the Avani culture, a yoga mat is also positioned in every room. Want something even more luxurious? Avani has you covered with a range of stunning panoramic offerings. Angled floor-to-ceiling glass is fitted in rooms on the top two levels. A daily maid service is available with beds made, rooms tidied and bathroom supplies topped up every morning.
However, in a nod to their climate credentials, Avani offers guests the decision to waive their daily room cleaning for tokens that can be exchanged for free drinks. The lobby is spacious, calming and very relaxing with perfect views of the canal.
Downstairs, Avani has just completed a restoration of the gym with everything from running machines, rowing machines, weights and even an interactive Peleton bike available to guests amid a vibrant mood-lighting setting.
The lack of a fully stocked bar is a slight loss and quietens the atmosphere in the evening. Although beer and some alcoholic drinks are available to buy from the pay-as-you-go store in the lobby, there is nowhere to sit and relax with a drink apart from the hotel lobby or your room. There are no big screens showing sports either, which may not be great for certain groups eyeing up a trip to Amsterdam. This doesn’t feel like a loss and wouldn’t fit with the relaxing families and couples-focused vibe Avani is targeting.
Dining and Drinking
How does Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam hotel compare to other hotels?
Rating: 5/5
Avani’s breakfast is an experience in itself with a fresh and healthy approach at the heart of the menu. Fatty options are off the menu in exchange for fresh fruits, cereal and pastries with gorgeous jams and spreads. Avani offers an extra ‘A la Carte’ breakfast menu with some hot alternatives for a bonus cost but those dipping into the menu won’t be disappointed.
The Poffertjes (Dutch Pancakes) were the pick of the selection with warm butter and icing sugar melting in the mouth. A perfect treat to start an amazing day in the Dutch capital. Refreshments are available through the 24/7 self-service shop located downstairs in the lobby.
This sells a range of sandwiches, snacks and soft drinks available at any time, ideal for a case of late-night munchies. However, trained chefs are also on hand to whip up wraps and pizzas at selected times throughout the day. At lunch, the BLT sandwich was a particular highlight for a refreshing filler while the freshly prepared breadcrumb croquettes were moreish, Visitors hoping for a night in can enjoy dinner in Avani’s very own Pantry restaurant with a wide variety of options available.
Everything from the fiery Chicken Curry and Pad Thai to refreshing pasta meals and more are all beautifully prepared and served with a smile. However, the city centre location means Amsterdam’s finest eateries are well within touching distance.
Those looking for something special should look no further than , a unique Latin American restaurant with a tropical twist located on the 24th floor of the Amsterdam RAI design hotel.
Floor-to-ceiling glass offers Picturesque views over the city with chefs delivering a truly memorable one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Diners can chomp through everything from beautifully prepared Grilled Lobster, tasty Tomahawk Steak, and a creamy Chocolate Ball for dessert with experienced and friendly waiters on hand for detailed explanations of each dish.
Guests can enjoy a range of refreshing meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner (Image: Luke Chillingsworthy)
Location
Rating: 4/5
Avani’s latest hotel is located in the popular Museum Quarter around 25 minutes from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Avani’s front door is just across the road from the popular Heineken Experience and a few minutes walk from the Museumplein and the city’s most popular galleries.
The grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum is front and centre of the square mirrored by the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum. The Stedelijk has around 500 exhibits including Van Gogh’s famous Augustine Roulin (La Berceuse) and Jackson Pollock’s Reflection of the Big Dipper. Less than a mile to the west of Avani’s front door is the beautiful Vondelpark, one of the most sought-after destinations in the whole of Amsterdam.
The stunning 120-acre site welcomes around 10 million visitors a year and is one of the best places to visit for a bike ride on a summer’s day. The park is decorated with statues, water features and beautiful gardens while visitors can enjoy shows at the open-air theatre between June and August.
Also close is the vibrant De Pijp with bustling bars ideal for a late-night drink just a stone’s throw away.
A newly refurbished state-of-the-art gym is available for all guests (Image: Avai)
Activities
Rating 5/5
Unlike many hotels, Avani’s guest experience extends beyond the hotel front doors with a range of added experiences available to purchase on every trip. A bike can be hired from the hotel lobby for the length of a stay and is one of the best ways to see the sights.
Amsterdam is one of the world’s friendliest cycling cities with its range of superhighways covering the entire length of the capital’s tourist areas. Everything is a short cycle distance away and much easier than navigating the metro or tram system, as well as more fun! Those keen on learning the storied history of Amsterdam’s streets should consider signing up for one of the city’s many guided tours with friendly hosts on hand to provide a memorable and informative trip in either English or Dutch.
In the nearby Vondelpark, visitors can book a unique active dance meditation session courtesy of Avani X This.Is.Eden. Energetic host Kim guarantees an unforgettable experience and a chance to unwind. Guests wear headphones and are instructed through relaxing breathing exercises to become one with nature. The energy slowly builds up with visitors eventually dancing passionately in the park reminiscent of a silent disco. To start everyone appears apprehensive to let themselves go but this quickly fades away with laughter, giggles and memories aplenty. This is a fantastic experience but it’s worth noting this will not be to everyone’s tastes.
Those looking to embrace the cultural side of the city should look no further than Avani’s street art treasure hunt. This gives rough locations of the city’s most famous graffiti art, Many are closely located to some of the cutest tourist stores, cafes and restaurants making it an ideal way to spend an afternoon exploring. However, many may find the experience a tad too difficult and confusing with our group failing to find any of the best sites in our hour or so of searching.
Avani’s X Canal SUP Experience is the standout pick and a must-do experience on a trip to the Dutch capital. For a small fee, guests can book a paddleboard from the Baarsjes region in Western Amsterdam and get almost unlimited access to the maze of Dutch canals in a truly relaxing experience.
The canals are one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful tapestries with the city’s peaceful nature rarely spoken about by British tourists. Slowly meandering between the bridges, bars and stacked townhouses is an experience unlikely to be forgotten. Even better, challenging friends to stand up on the board is sure to raise a smile or two.
Occasionally falling in the rather refreshing water isn’t as bad as it may appear and will only add to the memories at the end of any holiday.
Amenities
- Fitness centre
- Restaurant
- Bike hire available
- Extra activities for a small fee
Value for Money
Rating: 4/5
Guests can stay at from £165 per room, per night based on two people sharing through the Avani website.
Or, compare deals and prices for a stay at Avani Hotel Museum Quarter with or
Final Verdict
Hobbemakade 50
1071 XL Amsterdam
Telephone: +31 20 573 8200
Website:
Amsterdam breaks the mould of the stereotypes often associated with it. Everything you’ve heard about is still there but is slightly more subtle than was expected. This feels like a modern Amsterdam focusing on art, culture and history.
The canals are breathtaking, the cycling refreshing and completely reinvents everything associated with a European capital city.
is a first-class experience and one of the finest hotels in this price range that guests will have the pleasure of staying in.
Spacious rooms in a beautiful location with jawdropping views are backed up with tasty food, welcoming hosts and a range of extra experiences which amplify the Amsterdam experience.
This is a blueprint for what all new hotels should follow. It is that good!
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