This was our second visit to Hotel Uptown/Hotel Rookies.

We stay at this property specifically because of their liberal smoking policies. We will continue to return because of those policies, the rates, the value and the location.

This is an easy ride from Centraal Station to Leidseplein or back to Centraal Station on the 1, 4 or 5 trams. From the tram stop, it's no more than a 5 minute walk to the Hotel.

Check in/out was easy, and the desk staff helpful.

Breakfast is across the street in its restaurant, and is adequate.

Wi-Fi is free, but you will need to give the staff your computer ip(?) address for access to the signal.

We had the luxury double, and it was clean and comfortable and quiet (last time we faced the street during world cup - not so quiet in the summer).

The location is excellent if your goal is the museums and Vondel Park. The location is just fine for us for almost everything else - but we generally walk at least 5 miles a day, and usually more like 8 miles a day. But again, tram service is readily available if you aren't inclined to walk. Get a strippenkart for the tram and everything is within an easy distance.

The patio in the back is one of my favorite features - we like to sit out there and smoke and check e-mail, update our website or write out post cards.

Very nice hotel situated in the Leidseplein area, with plenty of bars and restaurants. The location is perfect to visit the city, a walking distance from all major sites. We had a nice Luxury Twin room overlooking the beautiful hotel's terrace. The room was nice, larger than the Amsterdam standards,quiet and clean. There's a desk, a cupboard with a safe, and the beds are comfortable. Large bathroom with a tub, wich is rather unusual in hotels.
The owner was friendly and helpful, and being a small hotel, there's a "family atmosphere" that makes you feel at ease.
A great experience, we will definitely stay there next time we visit Amsterdam.

This hotel, now simply referred to as The Rookies Hotel(right off Leidseplein about 30 seconds walk to the square), has made some changes (adding the separate bar and restaurant) due to new local rules about serving alcohol in coffee shops. The hotel is above it's coffee shop, but the room we stayed in (23) was excellent, large, facing the back, and had a huge bathroom, with views to a small courtyard and The Rookie's private patio behind. Even the bathroom had a swinging door window that you could open up so that while you rested and painfully remove last night's Doner/Kebab (stay away from hot sauce), you could peacefully look at the trees out back and hear the birds sing. The bathroom was a major success, where you dont have to tuck your elbow's in just to dry yourself off! It's huge!! I will always ask for this room, it's quiet and fantastic (it's just roughly 5-10 euro each more per night). The only difference now is that you have to head across the very narrow street to the Rookies Restaurant to get your beer, as opposed to sitting at their coffee shop to smoke and sip your beer. But it didnt matter; we grabbed the smoke and did that with the beer at the restaurant seats out front of it!! No big deal!! I have been to Amsterdam 6-7 times, and this was by far the biggest room and bathroom yet. (and I usually will travel with one or two others and anything off or near Leidseplein will set you back 50euro or more each for two star and up...from my research anyway....). Staff is excellent and friendly too!! there is also a newer Smart Shop right next to it and a gift shop across. You have everything within 2 seconds, even a small little grociery store two doors down!!

A somewhat quirky little hotel situated above 'The Rookies' coffeeshop. If you can cope with the resulting laid back atmosphere then this is probably The Place for you to stay in Amsterdam.

The hotel location is ideal - there are many small restaurants and bars on the same street, the museums are about five minutes walk away and the Albert Cuypstrat market is also nearby. That is, if you ever decide to explore beyond the coffeeshop ...

The proximity of all this action made the place somewhat noisy in the evenings (and well into the night).

We had room 4.1 on the top floor. It took some time to get ready, but the staff (all one of them) eventually got it together to change the sheets, clean the room of the remnants of the previous occupants and helpfully moved our bags up the somewhat steep staircase. The room was not spacially exceedingly large, but managed to contain all the trappings of a hotel room - a double bed, a single wardrobe, a couple of chairs, a TV, etc. A door opened to an even smaller bathroom/toilet room. If cat-swinging is your hobby then look elsewhere :)

Air conditioning comprised a small desk fan and a sash window which opened a few inches after a bit of gentle persuasion. There appeared to be no extractor fan fitted in the bathroom, so it might be advisable to avoid large curry dinners while staying here.

The sheets were clean and there were fresh towels every day. The shower, toilet, TV and a wind-up alarm clock all worked as intended.

Breakfast comprised of a narrow selection of delicacies - bread (brown or white), cornflakes, fresh orange juice, ham, cheese, jam, coffee or tea and eggs. The latter came either scrambled or omeletted (there being little perceivable difference). One morning we managed to persuade the chef of the day (it was only his second day in the job) to try frying them, with a near 100% success.

There is a small patio/deck at the back where you can chill out if you can't face the great outside.

Would we stay there again ?

Probably yes, I've stayed in much worse (and much more expensive and pretentious) places. And at The Rookies you don't have to stuff a towel under the door in order to have a smoke in your room :)