InterContinental Amstel Hotel Amsterdam is a 150-year old purposefully built luxury hotel on the riverbank of the Amstel River. The hotel has been described as a place of ‘traditional elegance’ in this TabletHotels review. That seems to be a good description based on our experience. The hotel seemed like a special oasis set apart from the normal hustle and bustle of busy Amsterdam at most hotels.
I reviewed the InterContinental Amstel hotel room for our stay in this post last week – A History of Wellness at Amsterdam InterContinental Amstel Hotel. That post is mistitled since I focused on Dr. Sapharti, the hotel’s founder and never really explained the history of the hotel as a wellness center in that piece.
There is a plaque in the pool room for Dr. Johan Georg Mezger who worked with guests at the Amstel Hotel 1870-86 practicing physiotherapy for joint injuries.
The Google Translate version of Dutch Wikipedia on Dr. J.G Mezger states he was said to have ‘golden thumbs’ that squeezed, rubbed and tapped the limbs of his patients. Prominent members of society and European royalty came to the Amstel Hotel for treatment with Dr. Mezger, including Baron Walter Rothschild, a frail man whose passion for zoology and collecting specimens formed the initial collection of today’s London Natural History Museum. Empress Eugenie, wife of Emperor Napoleon III and last French Empress was another of his clients. He made his physical therapy treatments a successful career in Amsterdam and the Amstel Hotel was developed a reputation as a spa for wellness treatments in the 19th century.
The fitness center and spa of the Amstel Hotel are located on the –1 floor at river level. The elevator deposits you into a little hallway with a reception desk. Past the desk the room opens into the indoor pool room.
Amstel River view outside windows of indoor pool and fitness center. Too cold in February to have open door access to riverside deck with chairs.
  
  
Indoor pool lounge area and snack table. The pool area is a relaxing space with newspapers, magazines, fruit, juices, coffee and tea.
Fitness Center
The fitness center adjacent to the pool room offered several machines with stair steppers and running treadmills and weights.
  
The men’s pool bathroom has keyed lockers for storage, shower and sinks.
  
La Rive, fine dining restaurant
La Rive is the Michelin 1-star fine dining dinner restaurant at the Amstel Hotel. A quick Google check shows this restaurant on several lists of Amsterdam’s finest restaurants. The closest I came to the restaurant was the sign outside.
Lobby Photos
It is hard not to be conspicuous walking around the hotel lobby with a camera. Unlike many luxury hotels, I was encouraged by staff to take photos of the interior.
The entrance to Amstel Hotel features a grand staircase in the lobby.
I walked the staircase and snapped some First Floor photos.
   
  
InterContinental Amstel Hotel Amsterdam is a classic luxury hotel with history and stories, yet a place where a guest can find a comfortable bed in a boutique style grand hotel. We adored this place and hope to have the opportunity to return.
  
InterContinental Amstel Hotel Amsterdam is 50,000 points per reward night. Rates are regularly over 400 EUR per night. This a good hotel to book on points, if you can find availability for one of the 55 rooms or 24 suites.
Monterey to Amsterdam February 2016 trip report
1. Allegiant Airlines low cost nonstop flights between Monterey and Las Vegas.
2. SLS Las Vegas, Starwood Hotels Tribute Portfolio
3. American Airlines LAS-PHL in First Class
4. PHL lounge reviews British Airways First and American Admirals Club
5. American Airlines Philadelphia – Amsterdam Business Class and Economy Class Seats Comparison
6. Radisson Blu Amsterdam location is perfect for poke and toke
7. Hotel Review – Amsterdam Radisson Blu Hotel
8. InterContinental Amstel Hotel, Amsterdam
9. Hulp! Albert Heijn only accepts Maestro cards. How do I get one?
10. 75th Anniversary of the Amsterdam Strike 1941 against Nazi persecution of Jews.
11. Dutch Resistance Museum, Amsterdam
12. W Amsterdam Hotel – After drinking up at W Amsterdam rooftop bar, go downstairs for toilets
13. Rembrandt House Museum, Amsterdam
14. Oude Kerk Amsterdam – Second most famous dead woman of Amsterdam – Saskia Rembrandt’s gravestone in Oude Kerk Amsterdam.
15. American Airlines Flagship Lounge London Heathrow
16. American Airlines London LHR – Chicago ORD business class
17. The Venetian, InterContinental Alliance Resort
