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Pestana Amsterdam Riverside

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Pestana Amsterdam Riverside - Selected hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands

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Hotel Details

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Pestana Amsterdam Riverside · Amsterdam, Netherlands

Expert Review: Pestana Amsterdam Riverside

Pestana Amsterdam Riverside: A Comprehensive Review of Amsterdam's Michelin Key Selected Property

The Pestana Amsterdam Riverside, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its blend of historic grandeur and modern luxury, offering a refined retreat in Amsterdam. With an overall guest score of 8.9 on Booking.com and an "Overall Experience" rating of 18.7 from the MICHELIN Guide, the general sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting a memorable stay for most visitors.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Guests frequently describe the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside as an impressive, top-notch 5-star hotel. The general consensus points to a luxurious experience with a strong emphasis on excellent service, a beautiful setting, and a comfortable stay. Many guests express a strong desire to return, indicating high satisfaction.

2. Key Highlights

The hotel's most celebrated aspects include its striking architecture and design, a serene riverside location, and a comprehensive suite of amenities.

  • Design & Architecture: Housed within a pair of magnificent Neo-Renaissance buildings – a former town hall and archive that are national historic monuments – alongside two contemporary annexes, the hotel offers a unique aesthetic. The grand lobby, with its coffered ceilings, soaring archways, and marble fixtures, evokes the feeling of a museum.
  • Amenities: Guests appreciate the beautifully illuminated indoor heated pool, a well-equipped spa featuring saunas and steam rooms, and a modern gym. The ARCHIVE restaurant and a glass-encased cocktail bar also stand out as popular public spaces.
  • Location: Situated peacefully on the Amstel River, the hotel offers a quiet yet central base in the vibrant De Pijp neighborhood, close to the Albert Cuypmarkt.
  • Service: The staff consistently receives accolades for their friendly, attentive, helpful, and responsive hospitality.

3. Room Quality

The 154 rooms, suites, and studios at Pestana Amsterdam Riverside are described as sleek, modern, and spacious for Amsterdam standards.

  • Comfort & Design: Rooms feature a somewhat minimalist design with high-quality materials, including king-sized modern canopy beds that guests often liken to sleeping on a cloud. Pristine white bathrooms are equipped with walk-in showers, and some rooms even include baths.
  • Features: Standard amenities include luxurious toiletries, a Nespresso coffee machine, flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
  • Variety: Many rooms offer river views, and some suites boast unique layouts such as mezzanines or sky-facing windows in top-floor accommodations. There are also studios with kitchenettes, ideal for longer stays or families. Rooms are generally quiet, even those facing the main road.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's dining options are a highlight for many guests.

  • ARCHIVE by Pestana Restaurant: This upscale modern-Dutch restaurant, under the supervision of Chef Peter Lute, is set in a light-filled atrium with an inviting patio garden. It serves a blend of Portuguese and Dutch flavors, focusing on fresh, seasonal, and local produce, with options for 3- and 4-course menus.
  • Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is highly praised, offering a wide selection of continental and cooked options, including freshly baked pastries and seasonal fruits. Guests consistently find it delicious and satisfying. Breakfast is available Monday to Friday from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM, and on weekends from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
  • Bar: The greenhouse-like cocktail bar, encased in glass, provides a spacious and elegant setting for drinks.
  • Room Service: 24-hour room service is also available for those wishing to dine in the comfort of their room.

5. Service & Staff

The hospitality at Pestana Amsterdam Riverside is consistently rated as exceptional. Guests frequently commend the staff for their friendliness, attentiveness, and "can-do" mindset. Specific mentions include quick and smooth check-in processes, staff being very apologetic and helpful even when rooms weren't immediately ready, and their willingness to provide assistance with luggage and information. The multilingual team ensures a welcoming experience for international travelers.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel boasts a desirable location on the banks of the Amstel River in the trendy De Pijp neighborhood, often referred to as the Latin Quarter of Amsterdam.

  • Neighborhood: It's situated in a hip residential area that remains quiet yet offers central access to many attractions.
  • Attractions & Transport: The hotel is within walking distance to local restaurants, shops, coffee shops, the Albert Cuypmarkt, the Heineken Experience (18-minute walk), and the Carre Theatre (12-minute walk). Central Amsterdam is easily accessible, approximately 10 minutes by tram or a 20-30 minute walk. Tram lines 3 and 4 are nearby, along with various bus, metro, and train options.
  • Parking: On-site private parking is available, though it comes with a fee of €65 per night, including valet service.

7. Value & Pricing

As a 5-star luxury hotel and a Michelin Key Selected property, the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside operates at a premium price point. Room rates typically range from €144 to €333 per night, varying by room type and season. While some guests find it to be good value for a 5-star establishment in Amsterdam, others note that the value might depend on utilizing the various amenities offered. It is important to factor in additional costs such as the €65 per night parking fee and a tourism fee of €3 per person, per night.

8. Common Complaints

While feedback is largely positive, a few minor recurring issues have been noted:

  • Noise from other guests: One guest mentioned noise from other guests talking loudly on windowsills while waiting for taxis.
  • Room readiness: On rare occasions, rooms might not be immediately ready upon arrival, though staff are noted to be very apologetic and accommodating in such situations.
  • Parking Cost: The high cost of parking (€65 per night) is a point of criticism for some guests.
  • Value Perception: A few guests expressed concerns about the overall value if they didn't fully utilize the hotel's extensive facilities.

Sources

  1. booking.com
  2. michelin.com
  3. hoteladvisorexpert.com
  4. pestana.com
  5. youtube.com
  6. tablethotels.com
  7. michelin.com
  8. michelin.com
  9. luxurylink.com
  10. com-amsterdam.com
  11. hotels.com
  12. thehotelguru.com
  13. pestana.com
  14. youtube.com
  15. conferencehotelgroup.com
  16. pestana.com
  17. agoda.com
  18. amsterdamhotels.it
  19. moovitapp.com
  20. momondo.com
  21. kayak.com

Points to Consider

  • While feedback is largely positive, a few minor recurring issues have been noted:
  • Parking Cost: The high cost of parking (€65 per night) is a point of criticism for some guests.
  • Value Perception: A few guests expressed concerns about the overall value if they didn't fully utilize the hotel's extensive facilities.

Google Reviews

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4.4

1,368 reviews

Recent Guest Reviews

Liam Cayton

a week ago

Amazing hotel I highly recommend staying here, we booked for a few nights and the hotel was great. The location is really good just outside of the city, but easily accessible. The staff and overall service was fantastic and as we went for a birthday treat their celebratory room add ons and packages were a great a personal touch. The facilities such as the spa, the bar and the food were amazing, we...

Response from the owner

Dear Mr. Cayton,<br><br>Thank you for sharing such gracious feedback about your recent stay. We are delighted to know you enjoyed a memorable visit and that your recommendation means so much to our te...

Stanley Tsang

Local Guide2 months ago

Really happy I picked this hotel. It’s a fantastic building very historical on the outside and modern on the inside. Staff members are very professional and efficient. I’m welcoming. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and it was a great experience. Next time when I’m back in Amsterdam, I would definitely choose a hotel again. On site, you have plenty of facilities and amenities.

Response from the owner

Dear Mr. Stanley Tsang,<br><br>Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. <br>We are delighted to hear that you were happy with your choice and that you enjoyed the unique combination of our histo...

Paul Rogan

Local Guide2 months ago

Very nice hotel. Room was clean, good facilities and very modern. Staff were friendly and helpful whenever we had questions or needs. Only minor point was the accessibility of the lift as it always seemed to be in use, often by staff. We only used the lift once in the 3 days as a result of not being able to access it. Will stay again next time we visit.

Response from the owner

Dear Mr. Rogan,<br><br>Thank you very much for your wonderful review and for choosing to stay with us at Pestana Amsterdam Riverside. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, found...

Miriam Wagner

Local Guidea week ago

It’s a pretty place in a stunning building and good location but it sadly doesn’t live up to what it’s promising online. I wanted to have a romantic and particularly peaceful holiday here with my girlfriend and when I saw it had a spa, gym and five stars I digged into my pocket to pull it off. I can look away when it comes to stained elevator doors or the room service not filling up the toilet p...

Response from the owner

Dear Mrs. Wagner,<br><br>Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback. We are grateful that you chose our hotel for a special stay and appreciate your kind words about our building, location, and the ...

Olivia Stanek

Local Guide3 weeks ago

Beautiful hotel, excellent service, high quality furnishing and bedding; gorgeous view of the canal. Totally worth it The pool and sauna area is quite small with only 4 chairs so on a late Sunday morning it was packed with couples needing to use only one chair between them.

Response from the owner

Dear Ms. Stanek,<br><br>Thank you for sharing your thoughtful feedback. <br><br>We are sorry to hear that your experience in the wellness area did not meet your expectations. Our aim is to offer a rel...

Irene S.

Local Guide2 months ago

Pestana Riverside Hotel, is in a lovely location of Amsterdam. Close enough to the hussle and bussle of busy area's and quiet inside the room. Public transportation is around the corner. There are many many diverse restaurants any which way you go. The super market a hop and skip away. The staff is so generous and kind on all levels and all stations. You can pick from a list of different material ...

Response from the owner

Dear Irene S.,<br><br>Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review and for choosing to return to our hotel. We are delighted that the location, peaceful rooms, and proximity to public transportation...

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