Tue, 29 May 2012
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Leisure
Travel & Tourism
museumtickets mystery sleeper editor: Hotel Notting Hill
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In search of a hotel in Amsterdam? Check out this new find.It's sunny morning in Amsterdam and I'm eating breakfast with Andy Warhol, but feeling rather sad about it. Of course, it's not Andy in the flesh, just a colorful print of him hanging on the wall next to my table. The bout of melancholy, mercifully offset by a hearty English breakfast, is a result of knowing I'm about to leave Hotel Notting Hill. A sleek new presence on Amsterdam's boutique hotel scene, it's high on style, comfort and service, making checkout a wistful affair.
Guests at the Hotel Notting Hill have the best of both worlds. Located on Westeinde, it's within minutes of museums, clubs and shopping, but removed from the tourists and neon lights, making it a charming escape within the city. The elegant lobby features a wall of vintage suitcases and a plush red velvet chair that begs for photo ops, but my partner and I proceed to our room on the second floor. Upon opening the door, I discover a compact, yet airy space with a view of a neighboring canal. The layout is simple, with chic glass and chrome accents that make it feel effortlessly hip. A few inviting touches, like the Asian-inspired floral wallpaper and a colorful throw pillow, add warmth to the black and white decor.
The bathroom, located behind a glass door, is well laid out to maximize space. A few shelves above the commode are loaded with fluffy towels and the wide porcelain sink and adjacent shaving mirror make getting ready a snap. The rainshower, surrounded by a transparent glass cabinet, creates a veritable monsoon with the twist of the tap. I enter and don't escape for 20 minutes, captivated by the warm water pouring down from above. Afterwards, I wrap up in a towel and draw the linen window shades, which offer privacy while still allowing the afternoon sun to warm the room.
After getting dressed, we peruse the room service menu and notice the British theme continues with the food, as they offer fish and chips and a weekly Sunday roast. We're in the mood a drink though, so my partner and I decide to visit the hotel bar. Downstairs near the lobby, we find a petite watering hole with vintage-inspired furniture and order a couple of martinis. The friendly bartender crafts them with artful precision, pouring our drinks into chilled glasses and piercing the olives with a skewer, infusing the vodka with a delicious briny flavor. Impressed by combination of good cocktails, nice atmosphere and the absence of a pawing crowd, we make plans to return even when we aren't hotel guests.
We head to bed shortly after finishing our drinks, and climb atop a soft mattress covered with a plush duvet. It makes for an easy night's sleep to say the least, and I can't help but notice that even though I'm minutes from the city center, the surrounds are blissfully quiet. Still, I nod off with a heavy heart. Morning means checkout, after all, and I know I won't want to go.
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