The Usual Rotterdam
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Hotel Details
Location
The Usual Rotterdam · Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Key Highlights
- ✓The hotel boasts an excellent central location at Westblaak 10 in Rotterdam City Centre.
Expert Review: The Usual Rotterdam
The Usual Rotterdam, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns praise for its innovative design, commitment to sustainability, and prime central location in Rotterdam. While guest experiences are overwhelmingly positive, some minor areas have drawn occasional criticism.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The Usual Rotterdam generally receives very positive feedback, with an aggregated score of "Very Good" to "Superb." Booking.com rates it 8.5/10 based on over 3,500 reviews, highlighting strong scores for location (9.4), cleanliness (8.8), comfort (8.8), staff (8.9), and value for money (8.5). Similarly, Trip.com gives it a 9.1/10 from 51 reviews, and Hostelworld a superb 9.6/10 from 51 reviews. The prevailing sentiment is that it's a stylish, comfortable, and eco-conscious hotel ideal for various travelers.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently love several aspects of The Usual Rotterdam:
- Design & Atmosphere: The hotel is celebrated for its modern, quirky, and "exceptional" design, featuring a relaxed and cozy atmosphere in its communal areas. The hotel champions "circular thinking" with cork walls, terrazzo made from offcuts, and reclaimed furniture, aligning with its eco-friendly and Green Key certified status.
- Communal Spaces: The ground floor communal area, including the bar/lounge, co-working spaces, and games room, is frequently highlighted as lively, cozy, and a great place for work or relaxation.
- Location: Its central position is a major draw, providing easy access to shopping streets, local eateries, museums, and public transport.
- Sustainability: The hotel's strong commitment to sustainability, including the use of recycled products, renewable energy, and locally sourced items, is well-appreciated by guests.
3. Room Quality
The hotel offers 209 accommodations, including standard twin and double rooms, as well as unique "pod" rooms and studios.
- Design and Amenities: En-suite rooms (150 terracotta-toned) feature modern design with warm woods, calming tones, cork walls, ceramic terrazzo tiles, and even mini microclimate terrariums. They typically include air conditioning, walk-in showers, flat-screen TVs with streaming services, and free WiFi. Premium bedding and complimentary vegan amenities are also noted. Studios are equipped with kitchenettes and seating areas, suitable for longer stays.
- Comfort: While beds are generally described as comfortable, some guests have noted that double beds might have two mattresses creating a gap in the middle, and some found mattresses too soft. Pod rooms, though small, are considered cozy, but some can be noisy, especially those near shared bathrooms or corridors. There have also been a few complaints regarding inconsistent room temperatures, with some finding rooms cold.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel's modern restaurant and bar, "The U Bar," focuses on local, seasonal, and plant-based cuisine.
- Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is highly praised for its array of fresh, delicious options, including pastries from local bakeries, healthy overnight oats, savory hot dishes, fresh sandwiches, fruits, and juices. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. However, the full breakfast, priced at €18, is considered expensive by some, with a suggestion that barista coffee should be included. A more affordable option of barista coffee and a pastry for €5.50 is available.
- Other Meals: The U Bar also serves lunch and dinner, with guests admiring the visually appealing dishes and the use of sustainable practices. The truffle zucchini risotto with Vermentino wine has been specifically highlighted as a must-try.
5. Service & Staff
The staff at The Usual Rotterdam are generally described as friendly, helpful, welcoming, and "fabulous." Many guests appreciate the smooth check-in and check-out process, and the 24-hour reception. However, a few reviews mention some staff members being "offhand, scowling and sighing" when asked questions, or even talking negatively about other guests. One guest experienced being asked to move from a co-working space during cleaning.
6. Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an excellent central location at Westblaak 10 in Rotterdam City Centre.
- Neighborhood: It's surrounded by popular shopping streets, local eateries, and museums, making it ideal for exploring the city. Nearby attractions include the Maritime Museum, Markthal, and Cube Houses.
- Transport: Accessibility is a major advantage, with Beurs metro station just a few minutes' walk away (3 minutes for metro line B from Hoek van Holland, 5 minutes for E Line from Rotterdam Centraal). Rotterdam Centraal Station is a 16-minute walk or easily reachable by bus or tram. Rotterdam The Hague Airport is about a 15-minute drive or 3.7 miles away.
7. Value & Pricing
The Usual Rotterdam is generally considered good value for money, with Booking.com rating it 8.5/10 in this category. Room prices can start from around £38.52 or US$51-52 per night. Guests looking for the cheapest deals might find them in March and January, or by booking stays on Wednesdays or Sundays. While the overall pricing is reasonable for the quality and location, the €18 full breakfast is sometimes seen as a bit pricey.
8. Common Complaints
Despite the generally positive reviews, some recurring issues or criticisms include:
- Bed Comfort: Complaints about beds being too soft or having a gap in the middle due to two mattresses in a double bed.
- Room Temperature: Several guests reported rooms, and even the building, being cold.
- Noise: While pods can be soundproofed when closed, corridor noise and noise from adjacent pods can be an issue.
- Staff Consistency: Occasional feedback about some staff members being less hospitable or "impolite."
- Breakfast Cost: The full buffet breakfast is considered expensive by some, particularly without barista coffee included.
- Room Cleaning: Some guests reported no room cleaning for stays longer than one or two nights unless requested with an additional fee of €25.
- Shared Bathrooms: For pod rooms with shared facilities, the mixed-gender shared toilets/showers were uncomfortable for some guests.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Despite the generally positive reviews, some recurring issues or criticisms include:
- •Bed Comfort: Complaints about beds being too soft or having a gap in the middle due to two mattresses in a double bed.
- •Noise: While pods can be soundproofed when closed, corridor noise and noise from adjacent pods can be an issue.
Google Reviews
1,590 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Gabriela Lara Puga
Overall, I had a good stay at this hotel. The room was very nice: modern, clean, and comfortable, and the location is excellent for getting around Rotterdam. I especially liked that I could rent a bike easily, which made exploring the city very convenient. The coffee area is also a great touch and a pleasant space to relax. That said, there are a couple of areas that could be improved. Breakfast ...
Response from the owner
Dear Gabriela, <br><br>Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed review of your stay with us. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the comfort and cleanliness of your room, ...
Aleksandra Skrzypecka
A 4-star hotel that unfortunately felt more like a hostel with private rooms. The windows are not soundproof. Since the window in the room cannot be opened, there is a very loud ventilation unit right above the bed, blowing fresh but therefore cold air (very unpleasant to sleep in under such conditions in winter). The room is heated by air conditioning, which is even louder—and which even the staf...
Response from the owner
Dear Aleksandra,<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review following your stay at The Usual Rotterdam. I’m truly sorry to read that your experience did not provide the comfo...
M. Pallari
The first room that I stayed in, the shower flooded very easily. We mentioned that in the reception, so they provided us another room quickly. The other room was much better as there the shower didn't flood and there were four pillows on the bed instead of just two in the first room. The room was a bit basic, but it was as expected from the online description. Star of the show in this hotel was t...
Response from the owner
Dear M. Pallari,<br><br>Thank you very much for taking the time to share such detailed feedback about your stay at The Usual Rotterdam.<br><br>I’m sorry to hear about the issue with the shower in your...
Mariana Ramírez Esquivel
Hello! I stayed the last week of January 2026 in the room named "The Usual". I had a great experience since the beginning. It is very easy to check-in, and there are people from the staff helping you to pay the city tax. The room is cozy, clean and warm. I enjoyed the lighting because you can change it and adapt it differently. The only inconvinience is that if you sleep in the spot next to the w...
Response from the owner
Dear Mariana,<br><br>Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay in The Usual and appreciated the cozy room, flexible ligh...
Emily
This place is in a super central location! Just a short walk to the metro, and only about 10 minutes walk to the famous Markthal. 🚶🏻♀️ The check-in area is pretty cool and definitely not your typical front desk. It has a more open, unconventional feel that I really liked. It gives off a sense of freedom rather than formality. I also have to mention their bathroom amenities. The body wash and ...
Response from the owner
Hello Emily,<br><br>Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed our central location, the relaxed check-in experience, and our bathroom amenities. And your love for...
René Michel
The lobby was perfect for reading, grabbing a coffee & croissant and meet with friends! Overall the experience here feels at home. And it is possible to work, they also have meeting rooms for long and private working sessions or video calls! Either you're visiting Rotterdam or even if you're living there, the Usual is a Must!
Response from the owner
Dear Rene, Thank you so much for fantastic 5 stars review! :) Hopefully, see you soon! <br><br>Warmly, <br>Aga | The Usual
Marriott
Minor
