Cornelis Schuytstraat 58-60, Amsterdam, Netherlands | (888) 252-1244
Pleasant location in attractive residential area
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Functional rooms provide minibars and flat-screen TVs
On-site brasserie and lounge bar
Decor and furnishings dated and lacking in style
Many signs of wear and tear
Some noise in street-facing rooms
There is little that marks the Memphis EMB Hotel as particularly remarkable beyond, perhaps, its pleasant location in an upmarket neighborhood just south of Vondelpark. Rooms are functional and decor is modern, but many showed signs of wear and even damp, and most of the hotel feels in need of a refresh. In addition to these shortcomings, the hotel lacked many of the frills or facilities you might expect from an advertised four-star property -- the overall package (and price) feels decidedly mid-range. The nearby and similarly priced Conscious Hotel Museum Square is much more appealing.
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Scene
Uninspiring decor and lacking of ambience
Allegedly once part of a number of prestigious family homes, one of which was the birthplace of businessman Alfred Heineken, the Memphis EMB Hotel is now an unexceptional, five-story building scantily clad with ivy and fronted with grey awning. A row of bicycles is parked outside ready for guests' use, and adjacent is a small outdoor terrace area with tables and chairs. Through a set of sliding doors, a bland lobby area is decorated in pale tones, plaid carpeting, and mismatched furnishings. Despite a liberal spattering of modern art on the walls, uninspiring interiors continue through hallways and up stairs to similarly characterless guestrooms.
Location
Attractive upmarket neighborhood near museums
The hotel is situated just within the boundaries of the Museum Quarter, in the leafy and largely residential neighborhood of Oud-Zuid, within walking distance to popular museums and a few blocks south of Vondelpark. Despite being situated on the corner of a relatively main road the area is generally quiet and safe, with a good selection of cafes and restaurants close by. It's a bit of a hike to the city center, but local trams are quick and frequent.
Rooms
Functional rooms with little charm
The Memphis EMB has 78 rooms, all of which are decorated in a simple, modern style with functional contemporary furnishings and little real charm. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi, while bathrooms provide hairdryers. Rooms had the occasional whiff of damp, and single-glazed windows allow some street noise leakage. Some bathroom fixtures show signs of wear and rust.
Features
Organic brasserie and Heineken on tap
The on-site Brasserie Lairesse serves up a daily breakfast and a menu of hearty fare prepared from organic produce, while a lounge bar also offers a range of drinks (including, of course, Heineken) and soft seating. Decor and furnishings in are in need of a refresh. Meeting rooms are also available, as is a business center with free Internet access.
