Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American is a four-star hotel of 173 rooms in the Art Nouveau building on the Leidseplein, home of the famous Café Americain. It was a Hard Rock Hotel until 2023 and has had many names, but the building has stood here since 1902. It suits travellers who want a historic address in the middle of the city’s theatre and nightlife district.
Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American at a glance
| Address | Leidsekade 97, 1017 PN Amsterdam (Café Americain: Leidseplein 28) |
|---|---|
| Category | 4 stars, Clayton Hotels; formerly Hard Rock Hotel |
| Rooms | 173 rooms and suites |
| Neighbourhood | Canal belt, on the Leidseplein |
| Nearest tram | Leidseplein, trams 1, 2, 5, 7, 19 and 24: 1 min walk · Prinsengracht, trams 2 and 24: 5 min walk |
| Nearest metro | Vijzelgracht (52): 12 min · Rokin (52): 16 min |
| Nearest train station | Amsterdam Centraal: 32 min on foot (2.4 km), or by tram or metro |
| Schiphol Airport | Bus 397 to the Leidseplein, 30 to 40 minutes, then a 1-minute walk |
| Food and drink | Café Americain (all day) and Bar Americain |
| Gym | 24-hour fitness centre, according to booking sites |
| Check-in / check-out | From 15:00 / until 12:00 |
| Pets | No; assistance dogs only |
| Parking | None at the hotel; public garages nearby |
Checked in November 2026 against the hotel’s own website and booking sites. Walking times from OpenStreetMap routing.
Why stay at the American
The first American Hotel opened here in 1882. The present building, an Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) design by Willem Kromhout, replaced it in 1900–1902, and the café and the 1927–28 extension are national monuments.
Café Americain is the heart of the place. It opened in 1902, still has its stained glass and Tiffany lamps, and was a meeting place for artists and writers in the 1950s and 60s. Today it serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.
The hotel has changed name more than most: Crowne Plaza, Eden, Hard Rock from 2020, and Clayton since 2023. In 2025 the lobby and breakfast room were redesigned. The operator changed hands again in November 2026, so check that your booking shows the current name.
The rooms: what you should know before booking
Read the room description carefully before you book; these are the points that matter most here.
- Noise. The Leidseplein is the city’s busiest nightlife square, and rooms facing it can be noisy at night. Ask for a room on the canal side of the Leidsekade if you want quiet.
- Views. Rooms look out over the Leidseplein, the Singelgracht or the city.
- Families. Free cots are available on request in Executive Rooms and Junior Suites.
- Old names. Many websites still call it the Hard Rock Hotel. It is the same building.
Restaurants, bars and facilities
Café Americain
The Art Deco grand café, open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.
Bar Americain
The hotel’s cocktail bar.
Services
Free luggage storage before check-in and after check-out, and a 24-hour gym according to booking sites.
Getting there and getting around
From Schiphol Airport
Airport bus 397 runs directly to the Leidseplein in 30 to 40 minutes, and the hotel is next to the stop. By train, go to Amsterdam Centraal and take tram 2 or 24 to the Leidseplein.
Getting around
The Leidseplein is one of the best-connected squares in the city: trams 1, 2, 5, 7, 19 and 24 stop here. The Rijksmuseum is ten minutes on foot and the Van Gogh Museum twelve.
Nearest stops
| Stop | Walk to the hotel · lines |
|---|---|
| Leidseplein | 1 min (100 m) · trams 1, 2, 5, 7, 19 and 24 |
| Prinsengracht | 5 min (340 m) · trams 2 and 24 |
| Keizersgracht | 7 min (520 m) · trams 2 and 24 |
| Vijzelgracht (metro) | 12 min (930 m) · metro 52 |
| Rokin (metro) | 16 min (1.2 km) · metro 52 |
| Amsterdam Centraal (train) | 32 min (2.4 km) · trains to Schiphol and the rest of the Netherlands |
Walking times measured with OpenStreetMap routing, November 2026. Lines as in the GVB timetable.
What is around the American
| Place | Walk from the hotel · why go |
|---|---|
| Leidseplein | 2 min (180 m) · Theatres, bars and the city’s busiest nightlife square |
| Rijksmuseum | 10 min (730 m) · The Night Watch and the national collection |
| Museum of the Canals | 11 min (830 m) · How the canal ring was planned and built |
| Houseboat Museum | 12 min (870 m) · Walk through a houseboat on the Prinsengracht |
| Van Gogh Museum | 12 min (930 m) · Book a time slot; it sells out first |
| Museum Van Loon | 14 min (1.1 km) · A merchant house with its own garden and coach house |
| Concertgebouw | 15 min (1.1 km) · The concert hall on the Museumplein |
| The Nine Streets | 15 min (1.1 km) · Small independent shops across four canals |
| Heineken Experience | 15 min (1.1 km) · The former brewery on the Stadhouderskade |
Staying here in winter
The winter market on the Leidseplein is right outside, and the Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. The ice rink and Christmas market on the Museumplein are about ten minutes away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American the old Hard Rock Hotel?
Yes. The building was Hard Rock Hotel Amsterdam American from 2020 and became Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American in 2023.
Is Café Americain still open?
Yes. Café Americain is open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.
Is the Clayton American noisy?
Rooms facing the Leidseplein can be noisy at night, because it is the city’s nightlife square. Ask for a canal-side room if you sleep lightly.
What is the nearest tram stop to Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American?
The nearest tram stop to Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American is Leidseplein, served by trams 1, 2, 5, 7, 19 and 24, about 1 minute on foot. The nearest metro station is Vijzelgracht (52), about 12 minutes away.
How do I get from Schiphol to the Clayton American?
Airport bus 397 goes directly to the Leidseplein in 30 to 40 minutes. The hotel is next to the stop.
Are pets allowed at the Clayton American?
No. Only guide dogs and other assistance animals are allowed.
Other hotels nearby
Compare the whole area on our canal belt hotels page, or start with where to stay in Amsterdam.