I think NH City North is probably a great hotel but in a lousy location. If you mean Hotel Damrak at 49 Damrak it's a lousy hotel at a probably good location.

NH City North is in Noord (North) Amsterdam. There's really not much to see in Noord, it's a working class suburb- some say it's boring. You'll have to take public transportation to go just about anywhere tourist wise and after 12:30 AM only the limited night buses are available.

At channels.nl there's a large amount of very negative reviews on Damrak. Use the A to Z button to read them. It's a very central location but on the most touristy street with lots of noise.

I can't reccommend a hotel as you and your woman's choices are so different. But I think you'd like the hotels at www.eurocheapo.com

Any location in the Centrum, Jordaan, or Grachtengordel (canal ring) is great for clubbin' and nightlife as well as being walkable to almost all the major tourist attractions.

I think the Hotel Brouwer is particularly romantic and cozy but it's very small and books up months in advance. It's a no smoking hotel.