Hemp Hotel

The Hemp Hotel stands out in a city known for thinking differently. From the linens and mattresses in the one-star hotel’s five unique guestrooms to the beer served in the cool, dark lobby downstairs, if it can be made of hemp, it is.

Full disclosure: This “smoke-friendly” hotel is not for everyone. Finicky (or noise-averse) travelers should look elsewhere.

Each room at the family-run Hemp Hotel sports sweeping wall murals and is themed around a country with a hemp heritage. The Tibetan room, for instance, is graced by a relaxing a scene from the Himalayas, while other rooms feature Caribbean, Moroccan, Indian and Afghani themes.

Rooms are what we call “amenity-lite,” but there are plenty of interesting features, from hand-carved picture frames to hemp curtains. Rooms in the front have views of the Fredericksplein as well (although to be honest, this isn't Amsterdam's loveliest square).

A couple of the rooms have simple, private shower cubicles. The shared facilities are spartan, with toilets stored in a closet-like space off the common hallways. Soaps and shampoos (made from hemp, of course) are provided.

The Hemp Hotel’s world-renowned bar, Hemple Temple, is friendly and chill, replete with lava lamps, backlit bar and more hemp products than you can imagine (ice cream, beer... you name it). The space also boasts a free Wi-Fi, so you can hang out in the same hotel lobby Willie Nelson and Woody Harrelson have enjoyed, and, er, get some work done.

Breakfast (yeah, more hemp) is included in the room rate. Note that the Hemp Hotel has some very steep stairs.