When you start looking at hotels in Amsterdam, it’s very tempting to focus on the canal belt. I mean…waking up to a canal view does sound pretty great. But those hotels are expensive, and they’re also in the busiest part of the city.
If you’re open to staying just outside the historic center, you can actually get way better value without making your life harder. And that’s exactly why nhow Amsterdam RAI caught my attention in the first place.
I’ve actually had my eye on this hotel in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district for over a year now. It’s pretty hard to miss! With its three giant glass triangles stacked on top of each other, it definitely doesn’t look like a typical Amsterdam hotel. And honestly, every time I passed it on my way to Amsterdam Zuid, I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like inside.
So when my husband and I decided to plan a little weekend getaway, this felt like the obvious time to finally see it for ourselves.
Here’s my nhow Amsterdam RAI review, including what it’s actually like to stay here, who it’s best for, and whether I’d book it again.
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nhow Amsterdam RAI Quick Overview
nhow Amsterdam RAI Location
nhow Amsterdam RAI is located in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, right next to the RAI Convention Centre. If you’re picturing canals and crooked little houses, this isn’t that. Instead, this part of town is modern, spacious, and much quieter than the city center — which, honestly, can be a relief.
The hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from Amsterdam RAI and Europaplein metro stations, as well as the tram stop, so getting around is incredibly easy. Scandinavian Embassy is also just a short walk away if you’re in the mood for excellent coffee. They’re pretty famous for their cardamom and cinnamon buns, too.
From Europaplein its just one stop on the metro to De Pijp, one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. From there, you can eat your way through Albert Cuyp Market, grab brunch at my favorite spot, Bakers & Roasters, or visit the historic Heineken brewery. You’re also just a short tram ride from Museumplein, where you can visit the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum.
In the other direction, it’s also just one stop on the metro to Amsterdam Zuid. Here you’ll find lots of bars and restaurants. Market 33 is great for casual Asian street food, and the views from Hasta La Vista, Baby Rooftop Bar are really hard to beat.
Getting to Amsterdam Centraal is also easy, and only takes around 10–15 minutes by metro. From there, you can explore De Wallen, the Nine Streets, or hop on a free ferry to Amsterdam Noord to check out my favorite graffiti museum, or swing over the edge at A’DAM Lookout. If it’s your first time in the Dutch capital, I share more of my favorite highlights in this in-depth city guide.
Oh, and if you’re visiting during tulip season, this location is even more convenient. Bus 852 to Keukenhof departs from Amsterdam RAI station nearby, so you don’t have to go via Schiphol or back into town first, like with this option. I’ve shared more about visiting Keukenhof for the first time if you’re planning to add it to your itinerary.
How to Get to nhow Amsterdam RAI
Getting to this hotel is pretty simple. If you’re already in the city, you can take the metro to Europaplein or Amsterdam RAI, or hop on Tram 4 to Station RAI. All of them drop you within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel. Since I was already in Amsterdam for work, I took the metro from Amsterdam Centraal. The ride only took about seven minutes, and then it was an easy five-minute walk to the entrance.
If you’re arriving from Schiphol, you can take an Intercity or Sprinter train straight to Amsterdam RAI. It usually takes around 11–15 minutes, and you won’t need to change trains. If you’re unsure how it all works, I’ve explained the different ways to get from Schiphol to Amsterdam in more detail.
Of course, driving is also an option. The hotel has underground parking, but I’ll warn you — it’s quite expensive. Expect to pay around €42 per day. If you are planning to leave your rental car here, I’d recommend booking a parking spot online in advance, as you can usually get a small discount.
If you’ve got lots of luggage and really want door-to-door service, Bolt or Uber are also an option. I really wouldn’t bother with a regular taxi, though, unless you have to. They are expensive, and unfortunately, some drivers are known for overcharging tourists in Amsterdam.
The Design & Overall Vibe
The hotel is part of the NH Hotel Group, but this is their more design-focused brand. The building was designed by architect Reinier de Graaf of OMA, which explains its futuristic shape.
I’ve stayed at other NH hotels before, including recently at the NH Hotel in Ghent, and the nhow feels completely different. It’s super quirky, colorful, and fun. The first thing you notice is the exterior with its three stacked cubes, but it gets even more interesting once you step inside.
The lobby is large and colorful, with pink reception desks, giant koi fish hanging from the ceiling, and bold murals across the floors and walls. What I love most is the mix of influences. You’ll see Japanese cherry blossoms, koi fish, sumo wrestlers, and even waving lucky cats, alongside Mexican-style skulls, African masks and wildlife scenes, and Middle Eastern patterns layered throughout the space.
This same design carries through to the rooms and restaurants, making it a fun place to base yourself for a few nights.
Our Room at nhow Amsterdam RAI
At check-in, we were assigned room 2121, and it absolutely exceeded all our expectations. It turned out to be a corner room, with two full walls of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the RAI station and the Zuidas financial district. Waking up to that skyline every morning was such a treat and easily one of my favorite parts of the stay.
The design carried through beautifully from the lobby. Behind the bed was a Japanese-inspired geisha mural, paired with red patterned wallpaper and lantern-style lights. It immediately reminded me of my trip to Kyoto a few years ago.
The king-size bed was extremely comfortable, and we slept well both nights. The room was bright and spacious, with enough room for our luggage, a comfy sofa, a large flat-screen TV, a safe, an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer, and an espresso machine stocked with a surprisingly generous number of pods (always a huge plus in my book).
The mini fridge only came with water, but if you’re craving snacks or drinks, you can grab sandwiches, beer, or even a bottle of champagne from the Grab & Go in the lobby. I did find the prices a bit on the higher side, but you’re paying for the convenience of not having to leave the hotel. That said, there’s a Dirk supermarket right across the street if you’re on a budget.
The bathroom was a good size, too. It came with a proper rain shower that had great pressure and plenty of hot water, La Bottega toiletries, fluffy towels, robes, and the cutest, colorful slippers.
I also really loved all the smaller design touches.
There was a retro phone, a cool Delft Blue skull kettle, a Delft Blue geisha statue, and even Delft Blue matching cups and plates, which was pretty cool as it’s from the same set I actually have at home. Even the little fish inside the bedside tables made me smile.
Overall, we loved our room. It was bright, comfortable, and fun to stay in for two nights.
Breakfast and Dining
While this hotel definitely ticks all the boxes for cool design and room amenities, let’s get to the good part — the food.
I really love a good hotel breakfast, and, besides the service, it’s usually what makes or breaks a stay for me. So naturally, we read through dozens of reviews before booking, and one thing we were genuinely curious about was whether the food would live up to all the glowing comments.
And it absolutely did.
- Data: I use Airalo for eSIMs. It’s easy to set up and works instantly when you land.
- Attractions: I book skip-the-line tickets or tours through GetYourGuide or Viator to avoid queues and last-minute stress.
- Accommodation: I use Agoda and Booking.com to compare prices, location, and cancellation options.
- City Pass: The I amsterdam City Card is a great way to save money if you’re visiting many sights. It includes free entry to top attractions, unlimited use of GVB trams, buses, and metros, and a canal cruise.
- Travel Money: I use Wise to pay in local currency at the real exchange rate and skip hidden bank fees.
Breakfast at The View
Breakfast is served on the 17th floor, and the view alone makes it worth getting out of bed. There are loads of window seats overlooking the city, and on a clear morning, it’s a pretty great way to start the day.
If it’s not covered by your rate, it costs €25 per person.
The spread was varied and generous. Think fresh pastries and breads, fruit, cheeses, cold cuts, eggs, chicken sausages, fried mushrooms, and hash browns. There was no bacon on our first visit, which I did find slightly strange, but there was so much else to try that it honestly didn’t matter.
In fact, we liked it enough to come back again for breakfast even when we weren’t staying at the hotel. Non-guests can join too, and you don’t need a reservation. Just head up to the 17th floor and pay there.
It was only on our second visit that we realized you can order things like fried eggs and bacon. You just need to ask, and they’ll make it for you.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s also a waffle station with a ridiculous number of toppings. I tried it on our second visit, and it was actually really good. And if you enjoy a boozy brunch as much as I do, you can even make yourself a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa.
Everything tasted fresh and well prepared. Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying the banoffee yogurt. It was the chef’s kiss for me, and I’m still regretting not going back for seconds.
The Rooftop Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Selva and Sonora are both on the 24th floor, and if you loved the view at breakfast, you’ll love it even more up here.
The interiors are bold and colorful, and we loved the Amazon jungle vibe — think deep greens, tropical prints, and lots of layered textures.
Selva Restaurant
Selva focuses on Latin American–inspired dishes, mostly served as sharing plates, which works well if you like ordering a few different things to try between you, like we do.
We went for the set menu and paired it with a nice bottle of rosé from Provence. At €75 per person, it was definitely a splurge, but the food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented.
Some highlights for us were the shrimp and mango cocktail on a sweet potato chip, the smoked burrata with Mexican salsa, the steamed seabass, and the grilled entrecôte with chimichurri. The steak was my favorite and honestly reminded me of the steak I had in Argentina years ago. Even the chocolate lava cake at the end was excellent.
Portions were generous, and the service was friendly and attentive. We enjoyed every bite, and it’s definitely earned a spot on my list of favorite restaurants in Amsterdam.
Sonora bar
After dinner, we headed over to Sonora, the cocktail bar on the same floor. Just something to note: it only opens at 6 pm. We’d planned to have pre-dinner drinks there, so that didn’t quite work out. If that’s important to you, it’s worth booking a slightly later table at Selva.
The bar has the same bold vibe as the restaurant, and the views are just as good. They also have quite a creative cocktail menu, which is always fun to try. I’ll admit, though, the Millionaire Martini wasn’t really for us, but the Andes Highball was very good. If you’re feeling snacky, they’ve got a couple of bar snacks available too. Definitely order the empanadas. We had them at Selva and loved them.
One practical thing to keep in mind: both the restaurant and bar are cash-free, so you’ll need to pay by card.
Facilities & Little Extras
nhow is a modern 4-star hotel, so all the basics are there, along with a few small details that made our stay more comfortable.
The reception and the main lobby area are on the ground floor. You can store your luggage at the reception if you arrive before check-in or have a late flight out and still want to explore the city.
There’s also a cute little Grab & Go shop here that’s open 24/7. You’ll find all kinds of drinks, snacks, and a few useful bits like toiletries and USB cables if you forgot something. I also noticed tins of stroopwafels in there, which always make an easy last-minute Dutch souvenir if you’re heading home.
Right by the concierge, there’s a self-serve sweets station that was surprisingly popular with guests. The candy was honestly so good, and we definitely helped ourselves more than once.
If you take the escalator up one level, you’ll find the Moana Bar area. It’s a great spot for a coffee or a beer, with loads of seating if you want to work for a bit, wait for a flight or train, or just sit somewhere other than your room. I also noticed some lockers here, too, which are useful if you prefer a self-serve option instead of leaving your bags at reception.
There’s also a gym on the 10th floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows and views over the city. It’s open 24 hours, which is great if you want to squeeze in a workout before breakfast. We didn’t use it, but you’ll find treadmills, bikes, weight machines, and complimentary towels and water.
The only thing to keep in mind is that this is a big hotel with around 650 rooms, so during peak times you might have to wait a few minutes for the elevators. It wasn’t an issue for us. They were actually pretty quick, but it’s just worth noting.
Service & Overall Experience
Since we booked a stay over Valentine’s weekend, the hotel was quite busy when we arrived, and there was already a long queue at reception. Thankfully, it moved much faster than I expected, so check-in was still quite quick. The reception staff was also really lovely. They were friendly and clearly explained where to find everything, including breakfast, and how to get to our room.
The best part? That friendliness didn’t stop at the front desk. Throughout our stay, everyone we interacted with, from housekeeping to waitstaff, was warm and welcoming.
I also liked that you can choose whether you want your room cleaned each day. Inside the room, you’ll find two door hangers: one if you’d like the room refreshed and one if you’d rather not be disturbed. A lot of hotels are trying to be more eco-friendly, which I appreciate, but having the option is always nice.
Is the nhow Amsterdam RAI Hotel Worth It?
nhow Amsterdam RAI surprised me in the best way. It’s quirky, modern, and super comfortable, with absolutely stunning skyline views.
While it’s not in the historic center, the metro makes getting around incredibly easy. And at the end of the day, coming back to a spacious room and epic city views felt like a pretty good trade-off.
For us, it worked perfectly as a weekend getaway. The design is fun, breakfast was genuinely yummy, and having the metro just minutes away made exploring the city effortless.
If you’re happy being a few minutes outside the busiest part of Amsterdam in exchange for comfort, views, a cool design-forward hotel, and more affordable prices, I’d say nhow Amsterdam RAI is definitely worth considering.
So, would I book it again? Absolutely.
If this sounds like your kind of stay, you can check current prices and availability here.
FAQs
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