Amsterdam’s Conservatorium Hotel now bears the name of the international group – we checked in.
In 2024, Amsterdam took a firm stance against overtourism, introducing a strict ban on new hotel developments to curb the steady influx of millions of annual visitors. As with all rules, there was a getaround: big-name groups who wanted a presence in the city could take over an existing one.
It’s under this guise that earlier this year, the Conservatorium Hotel became the Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium, Amsterdam. Dating to 1897, the building has lived many lives. It was first the Rijkspostspaarbank (National Savings Bank), then transformed into the Sweelinck Conservatory of Music – one of the nation’s most prestigious music schools – in the 1980s, before lying dormant for several years until it was transformed into a luxury hotel in 2011.
The building’s history remains embedded. From the front, the building is all towering Gothic Revival grandeur, but head up the steps, past the row of boutique shops, through to the back of the hotel, and you’ll find an ultra-modern lounge, lobby, and dining atrium, where a soaring glass ceiling gives the impression of open skies.
See also: The Check-In: Mandarin Oriental Announces its First Hotel in Mallorca
In the older portion of the property, ornate tiles line the walls, with their design becoming more simple the higher you climb. “There were no elevators when the bank was built, so the most important people had offices lower down,” I’m told. “Their offices were the ones with the better designs.”
So far, the Mandarin Oriental touches have been light (minus the arrival of an all-new, big-name restaurant): the team all bear the brand’s signature fan pin, and the logo is liberally dotted around, but otherwise the handover feels understated. Time will tell how much of a stamp the big-name group will put on the historic property.
Stay
During the Mandarin Oriental takeover, the hotel remained fully operational and felt pretty close to full when I visited mid-week in early spring. As a result, the guest rooms and suites haven’t been given much attention – although, I have been told they will be upgraded in due course.
Until then, guests will find slick, contemporary rooms (129 in total), each with plenty of space. Despite the number of rooms (129 in total). The property’s biggest accommodation is the Penthouse, which has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, a mammoth soaking tub, lounge and dining areas, and private lift access. While the penthouse has the biggest square footage, the other signature suites all have special merits: the Amsterdam Suite, for example, sits way up in the eaves and has its own rooftop terrace, while the Garden Suite has, as you’d expect, its own pretty garden area.
The age of the hotel shows in places, namely in the in-room technology, which was likely top of the range when it was installed but, in 2026, feels frustrating to manage.
Dine
The headline act of Mandarin Oriental’s takeover was the launch of Israeli-British chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s first restaurant in the Netherlands. In London, Ottolenghi’s premium delis have achieved cult-like status, and he is widely credited for bringing veg-forward Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes to the forefront in the city.
This approach has carried over to Amsterdam. Like Rovi, Ottolenghi’s Fitzrovia restaurant, the menu here is predominantly vegetarian and focused on open fire cooking – expect lively, fresh flavors, with a dose of smoky charring.
Breakfast, too, has had the Ottolenghi treatment and in addition to a substantial buffet, guests can order from a small selection of specials – the tahini French toast is good, but the shakshuka is even better.
Taiko remains a core part of the hotel’s dining scene since the takeover, and continues to serve Japanese-inspired fine dining, highlighting local Dutch ingredients.
Relax
The hotel’s subterranean spa has been largely left alone in the re-brand – likely due to standards already being high. The space includes a substantial gym (far larger than most hotel offerings), a 59-ft lap pool, a hydrotherapy pool, and a yoga studio. It might be below ground, but a smart glass wall pulls in plenty of natural light.
Explore
The hotel is a touch out of the main Amsterdam drag, but feels quieter for it. What is right on your doorstep, however, are some of Europe’s – if not the world’s – most famous museums. This includes the Rijksmuseum, where you can see works by a selection of the great Dutch master, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh – and the dedicated Van Gogh museum, which houses some of his most celebrated works as well as personal letters and mementos.
Добавить комментарий