ZOKU in Amsterdam - Hotel Review with Photos

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Updated: May 27, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Weesperstraat.
• Hotel website: livezoku.com
• Hotel phone: +31-(0)20-811-2811
• Check prices for Zoku

Zoku features trendy, compact, and well-designed rooms and apartments, an inviting top-floor common area, and an excellent rooftop garden.

Zoku – A unique ‘hometel’ in lively Amsterdam-Oost.

In east Amsterdam, a short walk from attractions in Nieuwmarkt and the Southern Canal Ring, Zoku consists mostly of space-sufficient little apartments ideal for self-caterers and business travelers, with sleeping lofts accessed by retractable staircases. The terrific top-floor, open-plan common area (Living Room) adds a homey element to Zoku: there’s a games room, roof terrace with hammocks, lots of nooks for socializing or working, and a communal vibe to the cheery dining area. The young staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and informal, and Zoku is well-placed in terms of public transport access.

Zoku – Location

Area: Centrally located on a busy main street, within easy walking distance from Nieuwmarkt and its cafes and bars, Waterlooplein, and Hermitage Amsterdam. Walklable to the attractions of the Southern Canal Ring and the nightlife around Rembrandtplein.
Address: Weesperstraat 105.
Nearest Transport: Bus, Metro, & Tram – Weesperplein (250m).
How to Get There: Take the train from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Station, then metro #51, #53, or #54 to Weesperplein. Zoku Amsterdam is a 3-minute walk (200m) away.
Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about €50 from Schiphol Airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
Handy to: Hermitage Amsterdam, Jewish Historical Museum, Dutch Resistance Museum.

Zoku – The Basics

Ages: The hotel provides a comfortable, social environment for working professionals in Amsterdam, either short-term or for a longer stay. There is no age limit, and older kids can stay in a Loft XXL.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools/jacuzzis.
Laundry: In-room laundry service.
Extras: The Living Room has ping pong tables for guests, and there are hammocks on the rooftop terrace. Common spaces host several weekly music events by local jazz musicians, and also by guests with musical talents.
When to Book: Reserve 3 months in advance for the mid-March to mid-May tulip season, the July and August high season, and the Christmas-New Year period.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +31-(0)20-811-2811
Email: hello@livezoku.com
Website: livezoku.com

Zoku – Amenities

Pool: No pool.
Spa: No spa, but there’s a massage salon.
Fitness Center: No fitness center.
For Disabled Guests: Elevator access; 1 loft adapted for disabled guests.
For Families: No family-friendly amenities.
Activities: Common spaces host several weekly music events by local jazz musicians, and also by guests with musical talents. Numerous other activities on offer include yoga classes, and cheese and wine tastings.

Zoku – Food and Drink

Restaurants: The excellent in-house kitchen serves an extensive buffet of salads and other healthy dishes for lunch, and a changing menu with meat, fish, and vegetarian options for dinner on communal tables in the Living Room.
Lounge/Bar: There’s craft beer on tap in the Living Room, and there are several bars within a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.
Breakfast: Not complimentary. An extensive breakfast buffet is served in the Living Room from 7am to 10am; €17.50 per person.
Room Service: No traditional room service; instead, a 24-hour ‘Everything Store’.

Zoku – Rooms

Room Types: Zoku Bootstrap • Zoku Room • Loft • Loft XL • Loft XXL • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: Zoku Amsterdam is 100% smoke-free.
Best Room: Loft XLs are roomier than the regular Lofts, and come with fully-equipped kitchenettes, gym rings, loft beds, 4-seat tables, and comfortable work areas. Loft XXL is basically a Loft XL with an extra bedroom.
For Families: No family rooms available, though a Loft XXL can accommodate older kids.

Zoku – Local Transport

Walking: Hermitage Amsterdam is 6 minutes’ walk (500m) away, as is the Portuguese Synagogue, while the Rembrandt House and Jewish Historical Museum are a 10-minute stroll (800m). Walkable to the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Royal Zoo, Museum of Bags and Purses, Foam photography museum, and other attractions.
Tram/Metro: From the nearby Weesperplein stop, metro #51/#53/#54 is 3 stops away from Centraal Station. From the eponymous tram stop, trams #7 and #19 run west through De Pijp, and along the Southern Canal Ring to lively Leidseplein and the southern half of the Jordaan.
Taxis, Uber: Taxis and Uber charge around €35 from the airport to the hotel. Within the city, Uber rides cost around half of taxi fares. It’s often quicker to walk, cycle, or jump on a tram.

Zoku – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants and Cafes

Water en Brood – All-day, American-style brunch, including pancake stacks, plus homemade burgers, smoothies, and Dirty Bloody Marys. (75m).
De Magere Brug – Bar-café facing the famous Magere Brug bridge. Good for a coffee, bottled Belgian brew, grilled fish, and pasta dishes; popular with theater-goers. (250m).
Bagels & Beans – Reliable all-day bagel and coffee chain, with an emphasis on organic ingredients. (400m).
Bistro Baret – Bistro popular with theater-goers, showcasing a short, eclectic menu that includes steak and mussels in red curry. Reservations recommended. (400m).
De Plantage – 19th-century greenhouse turned hip brasserie; creative salads and stews, wonderful garden terrace. (600m).
Mama Makan – Upscale, largely authentic Indonesian cuisine inside the Hyatt Regency. (700m).
Marits Eeetkamer – Multi-course vegan tasting menus, locally, seasonally, and organically sourced. Stylish decor, organic wines, local beer. Reservations recommended. (900m).
Beter & Leuk – Small, friendly vegetarian café, organic ingredients, vegan options. (1 km).

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

Bar Lempicka – American bistro specialising in French-American dishes such as steak frites. Large outdoor terrace great for people-watching and afternoon beers. (600m).
Amstelhaven – Great location right on the river, good spot for a coffee or beer (but skip the food). Leisurely service. (700m).
De Ysbreeker – Terrific waterfront terrace, organic Gulpener beers on tap and by the bottle, quality bar snacks, and a crowd-pleasing menu of steaks, burgers, oysters, croquettes, and sandwiches. (900m).

Nearby Market or Grocery

Waterlooplein Flea Market – Vast flea market (Monday to Saturday) selling designer knockoffs, antiques, jewelry, and more. Street food stalls also. (700m).

Zoku – The Hotel

The Living Room features ping-pong tables and plenty of seating.

The Living Room on the top floor of Zoku has plenty of comfy seating for socializing, as well as ping-pong tables.

There is an honesty bar in the Living Room with craft beer on tap.

The Living Room includes an honesty bar with craft beer on tap.

The hotel features a communal dining space to encourage socializing between guests.

Meals are served and eaten in communal fashion to encourage socializing between guests.

The breakfast buffet is extensive and popular.

The extensive breakfast spread includes hot and cold buffet dishes.

The rooftop terrace is a fun place to hangout on sunny days.

The rooftop garden area with hammocks and seats doesn’t have much of a view, but is very popular on warm days.

Bootstrap rooms with work areas and power showers are popular with business travelers.

Bootstrap rooms, designed for short-term stays, are popular with business travelers, and come with a work area and power shower in the bathroom.

Zoku Room is popular with short-stay visitors.

Zoku Room is essentially a Loft without a kitchenette, aimed at short-stay visitors.

The Loft makes excellent use of space, without feeling cramped.

With a fully-equipped kitchen, dining and work area, and cozy sleeping space, the Loft makes excellent use of space.

The Loft XL is more spacious than the Loft.

The Loft XL is somewhat more spacious version of the Loft, with similar amenities, and gym rings for exercise.

All rooms and Lofts come with power showers.

Artis Royal Zoo is Europe's oldest, and boasts the world's first microbe museum.

Artis Royal Zoo is the oldest in mainland Europe, and has a new Micropia wing – the world’s first microbe museum.

Bagels & Beans serves good coffee and bagels.

Halfway between Zoku and the Dutch Resistance Museum, this branch of Bagels & Beans is a reliable spot for good coffee and filled bagels.

The Dutch Resistance Museum showcases Jewish history during WWII.

Opposite Artis Royal Zoo, the excellent Dutch Resistance Museum tells the harrowing story of Holland under Nazi occupation during WWII.

De Plantage brasserie is located inside a former 19th century greenhouse.

Next to the zoo entrance, De Plantage is a hip brasserie inside a former 19th century greenhouse.

De Plantage is known for its imaginative and modern dishes.

De Plantage serves light, imaginative dishes, such as burrata salad with blood orange.

Mama Makan is known for its Indonesian fare.

Surprisingly good for a hotel restaurant, Mama Makan serves largely authentic Indonesian dishes in beautiful, plant-filled surrounds.

Beter & Leuk is a popular vegetarian cafe offering organic breakfasts and lunches.

Beter & Leuk is a small vegetarian café popular with local office workers for its organic breakfasts and lunches; service can be slow.

Water en Brood serves excellent American-style breakfast and brunch.

Across the street from Zoku, Water en Brood is an excellent breakfast/brunch spot; American-style pancake stacks are a specialty.

Bistro Baret offers an eclectic global menu and early dinners.

One of several nearby restaurants popular with theater-goers, Bistro Baret has an eclectic global menu, and is open for early dinner.

Hermitage Amsterdam is one of Amsterdam's best art museums.

Along the Amstel waterfront, Hermitage Amsterdam is one of the city’s top art museums. Superb art exhibitions on a 6-month rotation, with loans from the original Hermitage in St Petersburg.

The Stopera is very popular with opera and ballet enthusiasts.

The Stopera is the home of the Dutch Opera & Ballet, with visiting performances from world-renowned ballet companies.

Rembrandt House features Rembrandt's recreated living quarters, studio, and original etchings.

Near Waterlooplein, Rembrandt House is home to the artist’s original etchings, recreated living quarters, and studio.

Jewish Historical Museum showcases Jewish history in the Netherlands.

Also near Waterlooplein, the superb Jewish Historical Museum is spread across 4 beautifully-restored Ashkenazi synagogues, and covers Jewish history in the Netherlands from 1600 to the present day.

Waterlooplein Flea Market sells a lot of odds and ends, as well as food.

Waterlooplein Flea Market takes place every day but Sunday; lots of bric-a-brac, plus food stalls.

Amstelhaven serves good coffee and beer by the riverside.

Amstelhaven has a good riverside location and popular outdoor terrace for a beer or coffee, but skip the mediocre food.

De Ysbreeker has a great outdoor terrace and overlooks the Amstel.

De Ysbreeker is another popular bar overlooking the Amstel; the organic Gulpener beers go well with the croquettes, oysters, and homemade burgers. Great outdoor terrace.

Bar Lempicka serves good French-American food.

Bar Lempicka is equally popular for its French-American dishes and its riverside terrace, good for people-watching and beers.

Marits Eetkamer is one of Amsterdam's best vegan restaurants.

One of the best vegan restaurants in the city, Marits Eetkamer specializes in imaginative multi-course tasting menus, paired with organic wines.

De Magere Brug is popular for Belgian beers, coffee, and early dinners.

De Magere Brug overlooks the eponymous bridge. Good for Belgian beers, coffee, or pre-theater dinners.

The historic Magere Brug connects East Amsterdam with the canal ring.

One of Amsterdam’s most famous bridges, the 17th century Magere Brug links east Amsterdam to the historic canal ring. It also appeared in the Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever. Check rates and availability: Zoku

Zoku Hotel in Amsterdam

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