29 July 2015

THE HOXTON AMSTERDAM

TRIED & TESTED

The Hoxton Amsterdam is the hot Summer opening. The first Hoxton opened its doors in 2006 in Shoreditch, London and it was (and still is) the place to stay for sophisticated travellers. A few times per year they organized 1 pound room auctions and I still see myself sitting behind my laptop trying to get a room, but they were sold out in a blink of an eye. That shows how everyone wanted to stay there! Last year they opened The Hoxton Holborn, in that upcoming part of the city and immediately it attracted a cool crowd. People who love to stay in a well designed room, have a sense of humor and like to spend a few hours in the happening lobby. At The Hoxton Holborn they not only opened a hotel, but a block where smart entrepreneurs do their thing. Start the day with a coffee or eat downstairs at The Chicken Shop. That restaurant is part of the Soho House Group and for Amsterdam those two important hospitality groups decided to work together. So you’ll have The Hoxton (the hotel part) and Lotti’s (the restaurant part owned by the Soho House Group). In 2017 Amsterdam will get its own Soho House and here they can already try out the Amsterdam crowd and see what they like. Well, when I’m there a week after the official opening it’s packed with actors, bloggers and fashion designers at night. And during the day creatives get together to talk about their future plans. So it’s already the most popular spot in town. I’ve tried two dishes at night: the burata and ceviche (light dishes because I followed a yoga class at the nearby De Nieuwe Yogaschool, definitely a must go if you love to combine a city trip with a yoga class) and they were both delicious. Especially the ceviche.

They have three room types: the shoebox, the cosy and the roomy. The three room types can face the Herengracht, the Singel (best for typical Amsterdam views) or the courtyard. My room (508) was a roomy and was located on the top floor and I slept underneath the beams and looked out over the canals. A lovely room to book for a romantic weekend in Amsterdam, that’s for sure. The interior of the hotel is done by Nicemakers, a creative duo who also designed the beautiful SLA cafes in Amsterdam, and they told me they worked with furniture designed especially for this hotel and some vintage pieces. I loved the overall atmosphere in the room and also liked the mirror next to the bed and the copper tubes in the bathroom you can use to hang your towels. I’m also like some humor in hotel rooms. There’s a cupboard with a drawer saying ‘crap’ and you will find some pencils and other small stuff in it. When you book a room you get a Breakfast Bag. When you go to sleep at night you hang it on your door, tell them how late you like to have your breakfast and they will deliver orange juice, yogurt, granola and a banana to your room. If you wish you can of course extend your breakfast downstairs if you want more, but this is a perfect solution if you’re in a hurry or just not that hungry in the morning. I really like The Hoxton and would definitely recommend you to stay here!

Check out: www.thehoxton.com

For more beautiful addresses in Amsterdam, download The Amsterdam Guide here