Mr. Jordaan3

Mr. Jordaan is a heartfelt and incredibly cozy boutique hotel, set in a 17th-century building right on the banks of the quiet Bloemgracht canal. Guests unanimously praise the wonderful home-away-from-home atmosphere, crafted by exceptional staff hospitality and a host of complimentary touches like round-the-clock coffee and evening pastries. The main trade-off here is the typically modest room and bathroom sizes of historic Amsterdam, along with a very slow elevator. The hotel is ideal for those seeking authentic Dutch charm and caring service in one of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods.

Key Observations

Exceptional service and homey atmosphere: Staff deserve the highest praise for their genuine care and friendliness. Guests are welcomed with a personalized tour of the hotel, helped with any requests, and made to feel as though they’ve returned home after a long day of exploring.

Incredible generosity with treats: Round-the-clock access to a high-quality coffee machine, fresh pastries at 4 PM, complimentary candies and juices, and a generous snack-filled goodie bag at check-out leave a thoroughly delightful impression.

Historical compactness: Rooms and shower stalls are very small, requiring guests to be flexible with luggage storage. Tall or large guests may find the bathrooms cramped.

Trajectory: The hotel consistently maintains the highest standards of service and cleanliness. All of its signature touches — from evening cakes to departure gifts — have been delighting guests for years, and minor quirks like the slow elevator are offset by the staff’s good humour.

Main Pros

• Superb location on a quiet, picturesque canal in the prestigious Jordaan district, within walking distance of key attractions.
• Exceptionally warm, family-style service and genuine hospitality from the staff.
• Plenty of complimentary perks for guests: round-the-clock coffee, tea, drinking water, fresh pastries in the evening, and drinks from the lobby fridge.
• Impeccable cleanliness throughout the hotel, including spotless rooms and linens.
• A thoughtful goodie bag with water, nuts and sweets handed to every guest at check-out.

Main Cons

• Extremely compact rooms and very small bathrooms, where it’s easy to soak the floor mat after a shower.
• A very slow elevator, which is also occasionally closed for maintenance.
• Noise from the bells of the nearby Westerkerk church, which chime every hour overnight (may disturb light sleepers).
• Poor soundproofing between rooms and creaky wooden floors, typical of the historic building.

Overall Grade: A-

Hotel Overview

Basic Information:

• Name — Mr. Jordaan
• Address — Bloemgracht 102, 1015 TN Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Contact — phone: +31-206265801, email: [email protected]
• Year opened — historic 17th-century building (operating as a guesthouse since the 1960s, fully renovated in 2016)
• Number of rooms — 34
• Positioning & category — 3-star designer boutique hotel

Description: The concept of Mr. Jordaan grew from the story of its founder, who began renting out his couch to travellers in the 1960s. Today it’s a stylish boutique hotel blending a 17th-century façade with warm industrial interiors. The heart of the hotel is the communal lounge, where guests can enjoy a complimentary coffee machine, board games, books, or simply socialize.

Target Audience: The hotel is ideal for couples, solo travellers and adventurers who want to immerse themselves in local life and value a personal touch. It’s less suitable for families with small children, guests with reduced mobility, and those accustomed to spacious chain-hotel rooms.

Location & Transport

Location: The hotel is in the prestigious, quiet and incredibly picturesque Jordaan district. This is the perfect base for those who want to stay in an authentic canalside neighbourhood filled with stylish cafes and independent boutiques, yet away from the noisy tourist crowds of the centre.

Key Points of Interest: The Anne Frank House and Westerkerk church are just a 5-minute walk away. The “9 Streets” shopping quarter (De Negen Straatjes) and Dam Square are reachable in 10–15 minutes on foot. Amsterdam Central Station is a 20-minute walk.

Transport: Tram stops (lines 13 and 17) are a 3–5 minute walk away, providing quick access to any part of the city. Staff can help arrange a taxi or airport transfer.

Walkability: The surrounding area is perfect for safe walking at any time of day. Be mindful of the heavy bicycle traffic on Amsterdam’s streets.

Grade: A+

Rooms & Cleanliness

Rooms are decorated in a contemporary style with attention to detail, featuring comfortable beds, tea-making facilities, air conditioning and safes. The main characteristic is the compact size dictated by the historic 17th-century layout. There’s little space to store larger items and the bathrooms are very tight. Soundproofing is average, with audible floorboard creaks and footsteps from the corridor. Guests strongly recommend choosing canal-view rooms or the cosy attic room on the top floor for a romantic atmosphere. Cleanliness is immaculate, and daily housekeeping earns the highest marks.

Grade: B-

Service

The staff interact with guests in a genuinely warm and friendly manner, completely breaking the mould of impersonal hotel service. Guests regularly mention employees by name — Ines (from Spain), Melissa, Felice and Bianca are especially praised. Staff are happy to share recommendations for local restaurants, help with bookings, and on holidays or birthdays they leave handwritten cards and thoughtful treats in rooms. The signature service touch is the goodie bag with snacks for the journey, handed to every guest at check-out.

Grade: A+

Dining

A continental breakfast buffet is served in the dining area and costs around €12.5–18.5 (cheaper when booked in advance). The spread includes fresh pastries, cheeses, cold cuts, salmon, yogurts and fruit. The breakfast is quality, though some guests find the selection modest for the price. A huge plus is the free, premium round-the-clock coffee machine in the lobby, water jugs, and daily complimentary treats: fresh cakes at 4 PM, sweets, and one free can of soft drink per room per day.

Grade: A-

Facilities & Amenities

Facilities match the format of a small boutique hotel in a historic building. Wi-Fi is available with a stable signal throughout. There is an elevator, but it moves extremely slowly, leading many to prefer the steep, authentic staircase. Rooms do not have minifridges, but a shared fridge stocked with free soft drinks for guests is available in the lobby. Laundry, dry cleaning and luggage storage are offered. The cosy lounge provides books and board games.

Grade: B

Important Notes

• The Westerkerk bells chime every hour around the clock — earplugs are a must for light sleepers.
• The building's layout is historic: steep, narrow stairs, creaky floors, and a very slow elevator.
• Space in standard rooms is truly limited — if travelling as a couple with a lot of luggage, it’s better to book a higher category.
• A city tourist tax is charged at check-out; its amount should be confirmed in advance.

Practical Tips for Guests

• Book breakfast in advance when reserving your room — it’s significantly cheaper than paying on site.
• Definitely choose a canal-view room or the charming attic room — the water view compensates for the small square footage.
• Don’t miss the chance to snack: every day at around 4 PM, free fresh pastries and cakes are set out in the lobby.
• Bring earplugs so the church bells don’t disturb your sleep at night.
• Make the most of the free coffee machine in the lobby at any time — the coffee and hot chocolate are excellent.
• Each day you can take one complimentary can of soda or juice from the guest fridge in the lobby.
• At check-out, be sure to collect the signature goodie bag with snacks that the staff thoughtfully prepare for every guest’s journey.

Final Verdict

Mr. Jordaan is the perfect choice for those seeking a soulful, stylish and truly Amsterdam experience in one of the city's most beautiful neighbourhoods, and who are willing to trade room space for superb service and coziness.

Overall Grade: A-

Breakdown: Location: A+ | Rooms: B- | Service: A+ | Dining: A- | Facilities: B | Value for Money: B+

Best for: Romantic couples, solo travellers, lovers of authentic boutique hotels, and those who appreciate caring, informal service.

Not for: Families with small children, travellers with heavy, bulky luggage, guests with reduced mobility, and those expecting spacious rooms on a par with five-star chain hotels.