Sir Adam Hotel Amsterdam, Netherlands: A Stylish Boutique Hotel

While Sir Adam flirts around €200 per night (once you add taxes and the small matter of breakfast), Sir Adam finds that Goldilocks’ status of being functional and design-forward. It successfully navigates that world of both the beautiful and the orderly. It’s (an increasingly) fashionable location in North Amsterdam. Sir Adam’s location allows you to step out into leafy charming Jordaan. The Sir Adam also faces Amsterdam Centrale Station giving you direct access to the airport or other major Dutch cities. You could also simply take refuge within Sir Adam’s abundantly comfortable rooms if you are travel-weary. The disco-themed karaoke elevators are a bit of kitsch fun that tells you they do not take themselves too seriously. When was the last time you saw that?

Sir Adam: The Rooms

The rooms are a collision of themes that work despite the odds. The Sir Boutique room is the love child of an industrial-chic DJ and a hunting lodge enthusiast. The room is decked with enough leather and fur to rattle the moral fibre of a PETA advocate left with only hand-selected vinyl and a Crosley record player for comfort. The masculine decor of dark walls, warm brown leathers and wild hare fur are tempered by softer, thoughtful and practical features. The bedding is sumptuously soft like folding into a bao every night; the room is quiet and the only noise you might hear comes from the satellite dish-sized rain shower stocked with indulgent Dead Clean toiletries.

The ample wardrobe space accommodates more than just a long weekend stay in a 20-square-metre room that is larger than you would expect by normal European standards. The rooms do get larger such as a 24-square-metre for the Deluxe Corner and clocking in at 42sq for the Suite which also includes a free-standing bathtub. I always stayed in Sir Boutique, their entry-level room. It is perfectly comfortable for a couple to stay for a long weekend or for one person to stay longer. You may want the Deluxe Corner if you are a couple staying for a week.

Each room comes with Illy espresso machines, kettles, flat-screen TVs, a mini-bar and a Gibson guitar. Other features appear as you book higher up the value chain including magazines, iPads, bathrobes, slippers and free access to the A’DAM Toren for panoramic views across Amsterdam.

Sir Adam: Facilities

The Fitness Centre. Sir Adam is equipped with one of the best hotel gyms that I have ever seen in a European city. The gym resembles a cross-fit box: dark, moody and stocked with plenty of weights, ropes and timers. There is enough of the stalwart cardio equipment. You still have access to a strong Wi-Fi connection allowing you to do emails, stream music or play YouTube videos. The hotel also offers fitness classes, yoga classes and more booked in advance. Personal training is also available.

The Butcher Restaurant. The Butcher restaurant is the Sir Adam restaurant allowing you to fill up after your workout for breakfast. The Butcher with its well-selected breakfast items including healthier options like yoghurts, cereals, smoothies, juices and even shots of juice (because this is the thing now). There are nods towards Middle Eastern mezze breakfast such as labneh, dolmades and olives. For €23 you can have the pleasure of choosing an item from the à la carte menu and buffet! The à la carte includes some of the greatest hits that you would expect: the now ubiquitous poached eggs on avocado toast with or without smoked salmon, more Middle Eastern nods with shakshuka and, of course, the traditional Full English.

The Butcher transforms in the evening into a bustling cocktail bar serving solid main courses for a casual vibe still sophisticated for discerning audiences. I am a fan of The Butcher because it is good enough that I will enjoy a meal at the hotel if my (or Mrs EatGoSee’s) feet are not up to venturing out to find dinner. Fun fact: it rains in Amsterdam, a lot. The Butcher will cover the bases if you cannot bear going out in the reliably unreliable Amsterdam weather. I can confirm the burgers and the substantial barbecue pork ribs are a must-order. The spicy Thai beef salad is for the brave of heart and cast iron of stomach.

The staff quickly remembered how I like my coffee and juices which they continued to provide to me during a nearly week-long stay. This is that cosy personal touch which is lost in larger hotel chains just turning tables and waiting for you to leave so they can start prepping the lunch service. I am talking about you Doubletree by Hilton in, well, everywhere I stayed frankly.

Other more upmarket dining options nearby. The Butcher is nowhere close to a fine dining or special occasion restaurant. You should look further afield to meet these criteria such as Restaurant Moon just upstairs or Lion Noir in the Canal District. You can reach out to me for other suggestions or I know another group of handy people…

Other facilities. A roundup of other services and facilities include a gift shop, massage treatments, on-site parking (EUR44 per day, ouch!), bicycle rental (welcome to Amsterdam!), business centre (highly recommended), laundry & dry cleaning and room service.

Sir Adam: Service

Normally these trendy hotels are polluted with staff who are keen, bouncy lambs and energetic but seldom well-informed or helpful. This is not my experience with Sir Adam who is still young and buzzing but very resourceful, helpful and organized. The reception staff sort taxis, restaurants, recommendations, tickets: name it.

Would I Return to Sir Adam, Amsterdam Noord?

Without a doubt! The location is perfect and easily accessible to most locations within Amsterdam. A large river does flow between the Sir Adam and the central Canal District but there is a free ferry that leaves every 5-10 minutes that shuttles between the hotel side and Amsterdam Central. This is not an issue. You can get from Amsterdam Airport to the Sir Adam Hotel by train and ferry within 25 minutes. This is MUCH faster and cheaper than an Uber which is approximately the price of a good dinner out in a good Amsterdam restaurant.

Who Should Come To The Sir Adam?

Young couples, lovers of design-friendly hotels, weekend and long weekend travellers and people who like creature comforts.

Family-friendly?

This will depend on your circumstances. Currently, children under two can stay for free. There is a maximum of two-person occupancy in each room with no room for baby cots. There is a 50% discount for children between 3 – 11 years old. I did not see any children in my multiple visits to the Sir Adam Hotel. This coupled with its location makes me think this is an unlikely choice for families. Sadly pets are not allowed. Yes, I consider pets family!

Disabled friendly?
There is ample space in The Butcher restaurant and elevator access throughout the rooms. However, I doubt the width of the hotel rooms is adequate for wheelchair users so you should enquire with the hotel to see if they have any options. There is a ramp to access the entrance of the hotel.