Hotel Bellevue

Opposite the central railway station, the Bellevue Hotel is a short distance from the shopping streets, Leidseplein, and a twenty minute tram ride from the museum district.

If you want to take the lift to get to your room, you'll need the key. The Bellevue Hotel houses the oldest café in Amsterdam.

As is the case for many of the hotels in Amsterdam, this establishment brings together several independant buildings, of which only 5 facades were kept. The construction that lies behind these is new and dates from 2005. The reception area of this 5 storey hotel is rather small and boasts traditional furniture. The leather armchairs in the entrance hall are reminiscent of the Spanish style and fit in well with the black and white tiled floor. The blue tones of the window frames and wooden beams are somewhat strange. Next to the reception, on the way out, there is a restaurant-bar, and a little further on, the oldest bar in Amsterdam, dating back to 1606.

Having seen the reception, you'll never guess what is in store on the upper levels. The 75 rooms have a modern interior that is in sharp contrast with the communal areas. For one thing, you'll appreciate the indirect lighting that is projected onto the ceiling from wall fixtures. The choice of theme will also be cause for amusement: sea, sand and pastures. Depending on the theme, the room boasts a very distinct dominant colour. The flower shaped chairs add a touch of fun. All the rooms have double-glazed windows and despite being quite small, the bathrooms are cleverly designed but just a little bit noisy. Some have a bathtub, others a shower.

Breakfast is served in the De BrasserlJ' restaurant from 7:00am to 10:00am during the week and from 7:30am to 10:30am on weekends. It consists of a buffet that includes a choice of bread, juice and toast. This costs 8 pounds. The restaurant opens out onto the street and also caters to the general public. The interior is simple. During the day, you can enjoy a sandwich, snacks, salads, and pasta, or a small dish of fish or meat. The food is always fresh, simple and tasty.