The Neighbours Magnolia

"We recently stayed at this hotel in Amsterdam and would like to share a balanced review of our experience. To begin with, this is a three-star hotel, comparable to something like an Ibis—so it’s not luxurious, but you expect a certain basic standard and comfort beyond a hostel. The main highlight is definitely the location. It’s excellent. While it’s not right in the very center of Amsterdam, this actually worked in our favor. For travelers who are not looking for the busiest, most crowded areas, this neighborhood is a great choice. It’s cleaner, quieter, and full of lovely cafés, restaurants, and a nearby supermarket. The transport connections are outstanding: about a 10-minute walk to Museum Square, a train/tram stop just a couple of minutes away, and only a few stops to reach the city center. There’s also a direct bus from the airport that stops just a few blocks from the hotel, which makes arrival and departure very convenient. Unfortunately, aside from the location, the experience was quite disappointing. The building itself is a typical historic Amsterdam property (which we expected), with steep stairs and no elevator. However, the main issue is the lack of maintenance. The hotel no longer matches the photos shown online. We stayed on the top (third) floor, and the room was extremely hot. Even with temperatures just above 20°C outside, it felt uncomfortable inside, and there was only a fan—no air conditioning. The room had potential to be pleasant, including a small balcony, but unfortunately it was not well maintained. The balcony was dirty, with cigarette butts left behind. The carpet, although seemingly cleaned, had visible stains and clearly needs replacement. The walls were marked and damaged, and the door showed signs of moisture swelling. The bathroom was very basic, with a shower curtain that did not appear clean. While the towels and bed linens were clean, the bed itself was comfortable, and there was hot water—these are, however, the minimum expected. Basic amenities were missing: no minibar, no kettle, and no in-room phone to contact reception. Additionally, the bathroom sink tap was loose and in poor condition. The most serious issue occurred on our second night, when we returned from a day out to find there was no water in the hotel. This lasted for about five hours. We had to walk down three flights of stairs multiple times to speak with reception, and several other guests were experiencing the same issue. Although the staff was polite, the hotel operates with reception only until 10 PM, after which everything is handled remotely. This was not reassuring, especially in situations like the one we experienced. Having someone physically present at all times would make a significant difference. Another minor downside is the check-out time, which is at 11 AM—slightly early compared to many other hotels. Overall, while the stay was acceptable considering the lower price and excellent location, we would not recommend this hotel. It may be particularly challenging for guests with mobility issues or those traveling with large luggage, as the steep stairs make access very difficult. In many ways, the experience felt closer to a hostel—just with a private room and bathroom—but at a higher price point."

"Super, charming hotel. Rooms clean and warm with everything you need. Modern bathroom with plenty of hot water and toiletries provided. Lovely breakfast with hot and cold options and free tea / coffee available throughout the day. Light airy breakfast room/ lounge. Staff very friendly and helpful and all speak English. Hotel positioned about 100 yards from the bus stop (number 2 route) and shops and restaurants nearby. Rooms all up stairs on first and second floor and the stairs are steep (it's Amsterdam - the buildings are tall and narrow ! ) so no good for anyone unable to walk. Would highly recommend and hope to stay again."

"The rooms were fine but a little renovation wouldn’t hurt. We had rooms on second floor and there was no elevator and the stairs where small and very steep. The breakfast was ok, there was bread, juices, eggs and bacon, yoghurt. Just a ordinary breakfast like at home. The staff was very friendly and helpfull!! There is a tram station like 2 min from the hotel that goes to city center and like 5 min from the hotel there is a bus station that goes to the airport so that’s a plus! We hade our room out to the road so you could here the cars and the tram pretty loud and it was quit loud from the other guest when they open and close their doors. But overall an absolutley ok hotel!"