Backstage Hotel

Backstage Hotel is quite possibly the coolest Hotel/​Backpacker Hostel in all of Amsterdam! It is a venue of choice for most of the big up and coming bands and solo artists when touring through Amsterdam which automatically makes it ooze cool/​rock and roll cred.
Yes– the stairs are a nightmare and yes, the rooms are small with no air conditioning BUT that adds to the entire vibe. The downstairs bar has a pool table and is open 24 hours, they also host an open mic night for budding musos to get onstage and perform in front of a sizeable crowd. The WiFi is free, they will do your laundry for free, you get an AWESOME free, continental breakfast every morning and you are smack bang in the centre of the bar/​club/​restaurant district.
I also think the staff deserve a special mention as they were so helpful, friendly and happy to help with any concerns.

First time touring through Europe and we decided to head to Amsterdam 2 days early. We had a room booked at Backstage Hotel already but called ahead and they gladly put us up for the extra two nights.
Fantastic location, clean EVERYTHING and the staff is very accommodating. Everyone was a sweetheart and treated us wonderfully. Incredible songwriter coalition on Tuesdays as well. It really feels like a little epicenter of something special here.
We can’t wait to head back!

This place has got to be the saddest excuse for hotel accommodation I have ever experienced. The location is the only thing even half decent about it. It began with them placing me into the wrong room even after booking me in for another one, which progressed to kicking me out a day early because they messed up the booking and they had «promised it to someone else» already. Accompany this with the maid’s incessant screaming on the phone in the other room. This carried on for ages until I had to get up and go shush her. They locked my luggage in my room at one point. The sad, lethargic, bitter staff will have nothing nice to say to you, nor will they give any attempt at something which might resemble work, assistance, or other forms of effort. The environment feels toxic, I’m sure their grumpiness stems from their horrible work environment and lack of organization. Perhaps they dream of throwing themselves down the flight of incomprehensibly steep stairs leading to the second floor. I sure did.

I stayed for 3 nights, had a 1-​person room on the first floor, overlooking the canal. The room was… cute. Ok– it was tiny but it worked. My only solid complaint is that the rooms need hooks or something to hang your stuff on. I left my wet towels on the door hinge to dry. Everything worked well and the bed wasn’t too bad. I had to ask for more pillows and blankets (the window was very drafty) but the staff responded immediately. It was off the stairs and overlooked the entrance, so it got a bit loud but that didn’t bother me.
The location is great for walking or taking transit just about anywhere and the views are wonderful. I have told my friends it’s very funky. I would NOT recommend it to my parents or anyone over 35. The shared bathroom was fine– I got up early and never had to wait for the shower.
I read reviews complaining about the stairs and yes, they were steep, but that’s Amsterdam. I managed them with my luggage (including a 15kg pack on my back) — be careful, take it slowly and use the railing. If you’re staying there, a rucksack may be your best form of luggage– it goes up and down stairs more easily than a suitcase.
All in all, I’d go back if I was traveling solo. Maybe with a friend– depending on their taste.

Please pack lightly as the staircases here are extremely narrow and you will probably find it difficult to carry your luggage to your room. Some of the staff are really cool, and others are a bit more on the curt side. Either way, we were taken care of just fine and even got into our room just a bit early– however, I wouldn’t advise anyone to try to check-​in early as it can be a nightmare for you as it initially was for us. Due to a technicality, we got a room upgrade and checked into a room meant for four people for just two of us. The room was amazing with a view of the nearby canal and the street below, and the décor was modern and artsy. This bigger room had an ensuite bathroom and it was stocked with hand wash and shower gel and extra TP. There was even a PS3 in the room which we took advantage of before leaving. I would say my personal experience was excellent value for money in a place like Amsterdam, but only because we got a situational upgrade. My experience and opinion could have been different if we had gotten our original room. We forewent the 6 euro breffus in search of cheaper food, but it did look tasty. Beds were comfy, showers were good, WiFi worked well once you could actually sign on, and the location was perfect. Right next to the Leidseplein with tons of stuff to do. Amsterdam has an amazing tram system that makes it really easy to get around the city and I would definitely stay here again if I could get a reasonable rate again.

Awesome spot! Killer location in Leidseplein just off the main drag and around the corner from Melkweg.
5 of us stayed in the Jagermeister room for 5 days. Private bathroom and gorgeous view from our private mini-​balcony. Beds were comfy, heaters were adjustable, tons of outlets for our power converters, nice vanity mirror, and a great rock n roll vibe.
Lobby/​rec room/​bar featured a pool table and guitars and a bass that you could take off the wall and play — a great way for musicians to while away a short break between coffeeshops.
Which reminds me — go out the door and take a right, and you’ll find Crush. Purchase, roll up and enjoy on the Jäger porch.
Although we only woke up in time for breakfast once, it was awesome.
Free, reliable wifi.
Best of all: It worked out to $ 60 per person per night. Unbeatable for the room and service.
Only downside: There is no physical barrier or slope between the shower and the rest of the bathroom, so to prevent the entire place from flooding we had to pile towels around the shower and hang them out to dry between rinses. With all the care they took to make the room comfortable and awesome-​looking, you’d think they would have looked into improving the drainage.
That said, we’re already planning on getting a group of 5 to return so we can book the same room!