A confidently sized Marriott outlet of nearly 400 rooms, on 11 floors, this was the hotel chain's first venture outside of America, opened in 1975 and still doing its thing. Features include a cigar lounge, the popular steak-friendly Midtown Grill and Sorel's Midtown Bar and Lounge. Located across from the Leidseplein and very near the Rijksmuseum and other landmarks, while not necessarily super-close to any of the city's five gay zones. Then again, nothing in Amsterdam feels all that far away.