Hotel Review: Max Brown Hotel Canal District, Amsterdam

You know how you can search for hours to find the right hotel online? It always happens with a prayer and a click, and then you hope it works out.  That’s how I ended up at the Max Brown Hotel in the Canal District of Amsterdam.  Lucky for me, this is a great hotel in Amsterdam.  A 34-room boutique hotel based out of Germany, the Max Brown Hotel is the ideal location for anyone visiting Amsterdam. Less than a 10 minute walk from the city’s main Amsterdam Centraal train station, the area is charming and quiet. It is only a few blocks from the arterial streets that create the bustle of this Dutch capital city. When I’m looking for a hotel, I prefer one that is quiet but in a good location, and not insulated from the outside culture. A quiet hotel must be somewhere without too many tourists and with quick access to major sights. This meets that criteria.

Across three buildings with facades over 300 years olds, the narrow corridors are the only hints of aging in the modern and renovated hotel.  Rooms to choose from include a tight standard room with two single or one double bed, or a superior room with the same bedding options plus an additional couch and seat.  Both options are available with interior facing views, or for an upcharge, a view of the canal.  During my stay, I was in the second building in room 204, two floors up from the ground level.  I had a superior room which meant I had plenty of space. This boded well for my Max Brown Hotel review. Glass french doors and another set of windows with views to a small rooftop garden were lovely. With only eight hours of sunlight in late November, having both these options really brightened up my room.

I loved that I had space for my luggage and a place on the couch to remove my boots and various layers.  At 40°F/4°C, I really layered up to spend my days outside.  I also got a goody tray for my Max Brown Hotel stay. It included wine, chocolate, and potato chips aka, my favorite snacking food.  For meals, however, I left the property. They also delivered my luggage to the room, which was a Godsend because of the narrow staircases.

I spent most mornings feasting on the complimentary breakfast spread.  With a variety of cheese, bread, meat, and coffee drinks, I set out each morning with a full belly. It was the perfect base to take on my activities of the day.  The dining room served as a bar and lounge during the day, as well as the check-in desk.  Part-bar and part-café, this modern spin on a lobby often had people gathering for conversation, but never felt crowded.  Although there is no kitchen on the premises, many snacks for purchase were available at the bar. With a bibliophile theme, used book covers lined the walls in a very eclectic yet tasteful vibe.

One of the added values of the hotel is that it offered community activities each night.  During my stay, there was a movie night and a quiz night available for guests  In the summer, the hotel also provides canal cruises on a private boat.  Talk about a perk! If I were visiting  Max Brown Hotel Canal District in a more temperate season, that would also make this a great hotel in Amsterdam.

Final Thoughts: Ideal for the leisure traveler with limited time, the Max Brown Hotel provides comfort and kitch akin to the best boutique hotels.  The gorgeous location on the canals and the nearness of the train station and trams make it an ideal home base for anyone in Amsterdam. While there are no elevators or desks in the rooms, the helpful staff and evening programming make up for it. There is no doubt in my mind that I would stay here again, and will in the future. All in all, this is a great hotel in Amsterdam.