Originally Posted by
marlee1421
Staying at the Apollo in two weeks.
1) Do you think renovations will be completed?
2) Any recommendations for restaurants within walking distance from the hotel?
3) Any interesting sights to see or places to go within walking distance to the hotel?
4) Nearby place to get GOOD stroopwaffels?
5) any other recommendations in the area?
6) How did you find the hotel restaurant (breakfast and/or dinner)?
1. Hard to tell. The lobby, and certain rooms were still boarded up when I visited a couple weeks ago.
2. There are quite a bit of restaurants in De Pijp, which is about 15-20 mins walking distance from the hotel. I ate at The Seafood Bar there; the seafood was fresh. I had breakfast at Bakers & Roasters, and liked the banana nut bread French toast. Le Pain Quotidien, which I think is a chain, had some delicious croissants.
3. The area around the hotel felt quite residential to me. You may grab a seat behind the hotel restaurant (i.e. behind the Harbor Club) during sunset if the weather allows. It faces the canal, and made a nice area for reading a book (or drinking a beer!). For everything else, you would probably need to head into town. Also, if the weather permits, walk around Vondelpark.
6. Google Maps, and Yelp worked fine for me for locating restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores. Google's Project Fi worked well in Amsterdam.
Side note: SPG Craving works at the Harbor Club. SPG members get 10% off.