Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam

A deeply disappointing experience that falls far below five-star standards. We stayed at Mandarin Oriental Amsterdam from July 30 to August 3, expecting the exceptional service associated with such a prestigious luxury brand. Unfortunately, our experience was marked by repeated issues, poor communication, and an unacceptable lack of professionalism. We booked a Deluxe Room based on the photographs and information displayed on the booking website. The room shown appeared considerably larger and included a spacious bathroom with two sinks. Instead, we were given a smaller room with a very small bathroom and only one sink. We raised the issue with more than four members of staff over several days, but nothing meaningful was done. Eventually, we were shown another room that was essentially identical and did not address our concerns. On our first evening, we attempted to reserve dinner and were informed that the kitchen would close at 8:30 p.m., which seemed surprisingly early for a hotel of this level. More concerning was the attitude of the staff member assisting us. She spoke to us in an arrogant and confrontational manner, at one point beginning her response with “Listen, Sir…” in a tone that was completely inappropriate for any hospitality environment, let alone a five-star hotel. On another day, we asked four separate times for our room to be cleaned earlier. Despite our repeated requests, we waited approximately four hours before the room was finally serviced. The final incident occurred when we asked the concierge to arrange a taxi. While we were waiting outside, a member of the concierge team approached us, raised his arms and voice, and rudely instructed us to go back inside because it would supposedly be a problem if the taxi arrived and we were not there. The way he communicated with us was unnecessarily aggressive and disrespectful. I travel extensively for both business and leisure and regularly stay in luxury hotels around the world. I have never experienced such a consistent lack of courtesy, professionalism, and guest care. What was most disappointing was the complete absence of service recovery. Throughout the stay, we received no sincere apology, thoughtful gesture, or meaningful acknowledgment of the inconvenience caused. This is not about receiving compensation or something in return. It is about how guests are treated and whether the hotel demonstrates genuine care when things go wrong. Sadly, this stay did not reflect the standards, attention to detail, or hospitality one would expect from the Mandarin Oriental name.

We would like to sincerely thank the entire team at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Amsterdam for making our stay so enjoyable and memorable . A special thank you to Richard, front desk manager, who was so caring, attentive, efficient, and always welcoming our family. Fitness center is fully equipped with full range of weight and cardio training equipment. Indoor swimming pool and sauna is a bit crowed because space is limited. We would also like to thanks the concierge team for their professionalism and superb customer service, as well as the housekeeping staff for their excellent work and dedication. The quality of the service provided by every member of the team was outstanding and contributed greatly to our experience in this beautiful city. We will certainly remember this hotel for future visits to Amsterdam. Thank you all for your hard work and hospitality.

My stay at the Conservatorium predates the Mandarin Oriental name, but the hotel’s identity was already fully formed. The lobby was spectacular, with the original brick meeting a soaring expanse of glass in a way that felt unmistakably Amsterdam. Its Museum Quarter location put us close to the Van Gogh Museum, yet the building itself was interesting enough that I kept wandering through it simply to take everything in. Our room was one of the most distinctive I have encountered, arranged across two levels with the bathroom tucked beneath a lofted sleeping area. Large windows looked onto a handsome street where bicycles streamed past, giving us a quiet vantage point on the city’s daily rhythm. Despite the activity outside, the room was remarkably peaceful. The design felt imaginative without sacrificing comfort, which is harder to achieve than many ambitious hotels make it look. What makes the hotel truly special is the history embedded in the structure. The building began as a national savings bank and later became Amsterdam’s Sweelinck Conservatory of Music, making its conversion into a modern hotel an extraordinary display of Dutch ingenuity and creativity. The staff was warm and kind, the city was easy to explore on foot, and a late afternoon run led me to a nearby park. I was fortunate to stay before the rates climbed beyond my budget, and among the many beautiful hotels I have visited, this one captured its city with unusual precision. Incredible experience and highly recommended.

This was once a music school. Floors 7-8 remind me of going to music practice myself and not in a good way especially compared to the enormous atrium and doors on the other floors. Luckily I had the privilege to stay in a corner suite at the end of the hall overlooking a quiet street. The lobby is loud due to the acoustics. The spa is wonderful, both the hamam and sauna are stunning and spacious. The jacuzzi spa is probably 94 degrees Fahrenheit which would only be interesting to children. Luckily I had a deep soaking tub in my room. The rooms are spacious but the sheets are not soft by any means and the lights flicker due to the poor electrical. The breakfast buffet is extensive, be sure to come hungry. the best thing about the hotel is the proximity to the van gogh museum and luxury shopping, and tram stop. I have stayed in countless luxury hotels around the world. There is nothing impressive nor memorable about the experience other than the gorgeous building itself and its location. The staff is kind and helpful for the most part but could use more hospitality training. I may be critical but when spending $800+ I expect everything to be pristine.

We arrived very early after a two week cruise. The hotel common spaces are stunningly beautiful. The combination of the classic architecture with the modern of the MO is very pleasing. Check in was smooth. We were informed that we received an upgrade because we booked through Amex’s Fine Hotel (more on that later). We also received free breakfast and a €85 credit to use. Unfortunately, we had an early flight and breakfast doesn’t start until 7 am. Also, there are no breakfast items on the all-day room service menu. So, we couldn’t use the breakfast or credit. I wish they had something to offer those with early departures. Other hotels of this caliber have offered to arrange something special, but MO did not. Our room wasn’t ready yet, which was understandable since we were early and we had museum tickets anyway. I found it very strange that the entrance is actually an active driveway without a pedestrian walkway, so you have to dodge cars. Once we arrived back we were shown to our room by the receptionist. We booked a Deluxe room because after comparing the rooms online, we didn’t want a loft with the bathroom downstairs. Our upgrade was to a Junior Suite Loft. I almost said something when we shown the room, but we were told there was a second bathroom upstairs so we went with it. The second bathroom door made a terrible squeak when it opened. It was taken care of before we returned from dinner which was nice. The room looks great, but the functionality didn’t work for us. The living room space was tiny. We weren’t going to haul our luggage upstairs and the proper bathroom was downstairs. I think I hit my head on the extra low drum light over the desk 3 or 4 times. Overall, we should have stayed with our original choice of room. Having said that, I believe the hotel is top notch and wouldn’t hesitate to try it again with more time to enjoy the facilities.