in this hotel you wake up with views over the Oosterpark
That Hotel Arena has one of the best terraces with a view of the Oosterpark is a fact that we’ve tried out multiple times ourselves the past couple of months. But did you know that the hotel is now also officially opened after an extensive renovation? I’ve had the honor to spend the night there as one of the first guests for a mini staycation in my own city recently. Or better yet my own neighbourhood, because I live close to the Oosterpark. Not too bad at all, because I just love lifestyle hotels! Modern hotels to stay in and work with a nice restaurant. PARK Café-Restaurant at Hotel Arena also serves as a lobby to relax in after a day in the city. In the colder months of the year they have a cozy fireplace where you can sit. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
a green oasis in the city
After the renovation Hotel Arena in Amsterdam has gotten a new wing with beautiful rooms. I stayed there in one of the new rooms with a view of the Oosterpark and the PARK Café-Restaurant where you can join them for breakfast in the morning. Waking up in a green environment in the heart of the city will always remain special to me! There are a couple of rooms with a vide where you sleep and a seating area and bathroom on the ground floor. I stayed in one of those rooms and because of the giant windows the rooms are really bright and you have an amazing view. After we’ve checked in a bottle of sparkling wine awaits for us in the room together with two delicious pastries made by the Chef. Always a warm welcome!
Make sure to have some time for breakfast whenever you’re staying in Hotel Arena in Amsterdam. They serve so manu healthy options and this delicious breakfast is the perfect start of the day for exploring Amsterdam, if you ask me. From pastries to homemade marmalade, to delicious salads, fresh juices and lots of fruits and veggies. What I also really liked is to see that the breakfast shows how the vegetables play a big part in the concept of the PARK Café-Restaurant!
have dinner in the evening at park carfé-restaurant
If you’re staying in Hotel Arena you really don’t have to leave the building to have dinner. Recently a complete new team has started at PARK Café-Restaurant and since then it’s the right address for a menu with vegetables in the lead. Fun fact: a part of the vegetables and seasoning comes from their own vegetable patch that can be found behind the restaurant. I’ve written an extensive blog about the lunch on the beautiful terrace here before. The menu is plant-based but if you’d rather have a piece of fish or meat there are also several options. My suggestion: taste as many as you can from the menu, because all the dishes are suitable for shared dining!
We started the evening with a nice cocktail. You can tell them what kind of flavours you like and let yourself be surprised with one of their signature cocktails! As for dinner, we shared several starters, like the salad with fennel and a salad with artichoke. The menu differs per season and contains the use of vegetables that are available at the moment. A part of it even comes from their own garden behind the hotel! As a main course we shared the sea bass, ravioli with morel mushrooms and a potato gratin with truffle. Very tasty! Make sure to leave some room for dessert, because the Chef of PARK Café-Restaurant is also a really good pastry chef. The cheesecake is to die for!
If you’re staying in Hotel Arena in Amsterdam make sure to have some time left to explore the cozy neighbourhoods outside of the city centre of Amsterdam. Like the Javastraat in the East of Amsterdam, but also the great neighbourhood De Pijp with its cozy stores and cafés are areas you won’t want to miss.
Have fun!
Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>
WITH LOVE,
ANNE
