Hotel New York, Rotterdam – Old-school glamour in the heart of a modern city

If you’re visiting the Hotel New York Rotterdam, you’ve picked a great base to explore Rotterdam. It’s ideally located for hopping on the Metro, crossing the Erasmus Bridge, or catching a water taxi from right outside the hotel into the city centre. The surrounding area is buzzing with things to do—bars, restaurants, the floating eatery Putaine, and the Nederlands Fotomuseum are virtually on the doorstep.

Much of the original architecture and décor of the hotel has been lovingly preserved, you get the sense of stepping back in time the moment you enter. I was completely charmed by its grandeur; each of its individually styled rooms has a sense of character and a touch of old-school glamour that makes your stay feel genuinely special. The reception area has a little snug in case you need to wait to check in, and you can't miss the enormous art deco clock behind the desk, as well as the walls that are adorned with nostalgic maritime prints and memorabilia - it all adds to the storytelling effect.

The main restaurant—Hotel New York Restaurant, or HNY—is beautifully maintained and absolutely delivers on atmosphere. Think wooden floors, cushioned booths perfect for gathering, and some seriously dramatic chandeliers. The windows are huge and provide the most amazing views out across the Nieuwe Maas.

One thing I particularly loved—breakfast is served until 12pm, and lunch until 5pm. That’s my kind of pace!

Hotel New York has a subterranean cocktail bar ‘NY Basement’ or NYB, with a high-end speakeasy kind of vibe, serving food, if you want to try somewhere different during your stay. The vintage décor continues, and you could easily imagine you’ve walked onto a 1920s film set.
Either way, the food and importantly, the cocktails at both restaurants are fantastic - though vegans will find more options at HNY.

And the rooms?

My first floor room was incredibly impressive. A corner sofa lounge area to relax in, a poseur table positioned for the perfect view of the bustling Port Authority building, and a huge, comfy bed that was hard to leave.

I was all set to brag about it—until I heard that someone else in our group had a freestanding bath on a raised platform in their bedroom. Now that is the dream. I was more than a little jealous!

I'd recommend this lovely hotel for anyone who wants to get a feel for the history of Rotterdam in luxurious surroundings, while being a just stone's throw away from the heart of the city.

I'll leave you with this interesting fact – Hotel New York is the 97th miniature in the KLM Delft Blue Houses collection. Cute.

If Rotterdam is on your radar, take a look at my ‘48 hours in Rotterdam’ article for tips and inspiration. Whether you’re travelling as a family or planning a grown-ups’ getaway, it’ll help you make the most of your time in this dynamic city.

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Thanks for reading,
Sally