After checking out of InterContinental Amstel, I spent my last night in Amsterdam at the Waldorf Astoria, a hotel I’d long wanted to experience. Compared with the InterContinental, I was even more curious about the WA, given its near-unanimous praise online and glowing reviews from friends. The only painful part was the price: 130,000 Hilton points per night at the time (it used to be 95,000 just a few years ago, and as of writing, it’s now 150,000). Still, compared to paying over a thousand euros in cash, it wasn’t too bad.
The WA’s location is far superior, right on the edge of the most central area, perfectly convenient yet peaceful. The exterior, however, is quite modest, with only a small black sign. In fact, so many buildings in Amsterdam look similar that I accidentally tried to enter the wrong door several times.
The entrance is small and reached by a short flight of stairs. First impressions were excellent: the doorman was proactive, professional, and warm without being overfamiliar. Each time I entered or left, he greeted me by name and made pleasant small talk.
Once inside, I was genuinely impressed. Like the InterContinental, it’s a luxury hotel, but the WA’s aesthetic is completely different – elegant and modern, somewhat reminiscent of the St. Regis Venice, though even more refined and opulent.
A staff member explained that the hotel actually consists of four interconnected buildings. I’ve stayed in similar hotels before (such as The Narutis in Vilnius), but the WA stands out because you’d never notice the seams – the design flows seamlessly throughout. Only the occasional plaque on the wall hints that you’ve crossed from one building to another.
A day before arrival, I saw on the Hilton app that my room had been upgraded one level to a King Deluxe. But when I checked the floor plan, I was horrified: the room was tiny, tucked in a corner, and lacked any view. I quickly reached out via chat to ask about a better option, and to their credit, they upgraded me promptly to a King Grand Premier.
During check-in, I was offered a choice of four in-room fragrances to be sprayed during turndown service , a lovely and thoughtful touch.
I arrived around 1 p.m., and though the room wasn’t quite ready, I wandered around the property for a bit; just as I was about to head out, they called to say it was ready.
In a few words: impeccable quality. The room’s aesthetic perfectly matched the public areas: modern Western elegance, understated yet clearly expensive from every angle. There isn’t one specific “wow” feature, but everything exudes refinement.
The bathroom was semi-open, which is somewhat unusual.
The canal view was just fine, nice but nothing breathtaking.
The welcome amenity was a few pieces of chocolate, which were delicious.
The minibar included three bottles of water and coffee, all complimentary.
I also explored the spa and wellness facilities, where the hallways are decorated with art pieces.
The property used to be a bank, and in a fun historical nod, they’ve preserved the old vault, though it’s now empty.
The heated pool is small but pleasant.
There’s also sauna and steam rooms.
Gym:
Plus a charming little garden outside.
Let’s now check out the breakfast.
Breakfast service was à la carte. You can pick either two main dishes, or one plus the Taste of Waldorf set.
I went with the Waldorf set and the waffles.
To be honest, aside from the smoked salmon, it was just okay – presentation trumped substance. The waffles were too sweet, the bread too soft, and surprisingly, the coffee wasn’t hand-crafted. The menu overall was quite limited – mostly pastries and eggs, lacking variety. In that regard, the InterContinental’s breakfast was better.
When I asked for a late checkout, the front desk initially said my room was booked and could only extend until 1 p.m. But seeing my disappointed look, the staff immediately smiled and said, “No problem – we’ll make it work.” That gesture summed up the WA experience perfectly.
Despite the breakfast being somewhat underwhelming, the hardware and service at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam were absolutely top-notch – nearly flawless, really. If you have the chance to stay here, don’t miss it.
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