Stepping into the atrium of The Conservatorium, it’s immediately obvious that this is a very special hotel indeed. Rich red brickwork meets sharp glass angles, heritage details fit snugly among silky modern luxury; from the fittings and furniture to the architecture, wherever you look something catches your eye.
The Conservatorium’s sense of occasion is tied to the building’s history. Many of its cavernous halls date back to 1897, when it was built as a bank. In the 1980s it became a conservatoire, then it was reconfigured into a hotel by starchitect Piero Lissoni in the 2000s. It opened as a founding member of the luxurious Set Collection in 2011.
The Conservatorium’s rooms, appropriately for a hotel inhabiting a building of many previous lives, vary massively – yet they share plenty of common ground. Whether one is in the basic ‘deluxe room’ or the three-floor, roof terrace-boasting ‘I Love Amsterdam’ suite, well-proportioned rooms boast plush beds, spacious bathrooms, bountiful storage and thoughtful, refined décor.
My room was a ‘royal duplex suite’, with elegant double-height windows looking out onto the humming trams and cafés of Van Baerlestraat. The essentials – bed, space, storage, bathroom, toiletries – were all faultless. Little touches of Dutch-ness (decorative clogs, a Van Gogh coffee table book, Delftware ceramic plates) were unsubtle but still tasteful, restrained. Beyond the room, breakfast (served in the Lounge) was high-calibre and the staff were as helpful and delightful as they could be.
The building and its rooms are just the start of what The Conservatorium offers. Downstairs the Akasha spa and gym is open to all hotel guests and has a pool, sauna, hammam and a range of treatments. The Taiko Bar has a formidable reputation in its own right, while the hotel contains two restaurants, the Asian-inspired Taiko Cuisine and the Mediterranean Barbounia.
Neighbourhood
The Conservatorium is in Amsterdam’s Museumkwartier (Museum Quarter) and quite literally over the road from both the Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum. That means it’s ideal for museums, obviously, but it’s also in a sweet spot for exploring the rest of the city. You’re close enough to the inner canal ring to walk to all of it but far enough for peace and quiet – and you’re also near to great eating and drinking neighbourhoods like De Pijp and Oud-West.
Nearby
The Stedelijk Museum is one of Amsterdam’s best museums, filled with modern and contemporary art, often with a Dutch focus.
Esh Pitabar has staggeringly good pita, falafel, hummus and pizza – and is a lively place for drinks (open until 3am Friday and Saturday).
Vondelpark is one of Amsterdam’s most famous parks and certainly among its prettiest. Like most places in ’Dam, it’s best explored by bicycle.
Time Out tip
Indulge in the spa. Access is free for all guests, so make the most of it!