art’otel, Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Life equals art at Amsterdam’s swankiest hotel. Signature artist Atelier van Lieshout, one of the biggest and most prolific names in the Dutch art world, has waved his magic wand across the appropriately named art’otel, filling every space with more than 120 of his sculptures and curating an inspiring calendar of ever-changing exhibitions and cultural events. The hotel also has a partnership with the STRAAT Museum, Amsterdam’s impressive gallery of street art and graffiti, which is a short ferry ride away.
art’otel occupies an enviable location, overlooking a canal and Amsterdam Centraal Station. It is a grand historic building, but the traditional architecture belies the funky interior. In fact, stepping into the lobby, your first impression may well be that this is a contemporary art gallery or a very fashionable club, and the stylishly-dressed clientele only adds to that ambiance. The quality of the people-watching is second to none.
In this busy city, art’otel’s 107 bedrooms are simple sanctuaries, calm and well-equipped with Egyptian cotton linens, mood lighting, and Marshall Bluetooth speakers for a high-quality soundtrack to your stay. There are Atelier van Lieshout artworks on the walls here, too, so you will have something meaningful to gaze and reflect upon even as you lie in bed.
There are uncountable places to dine in Amsterdam, but one of the best restaurants is within art’otel. Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa combines the flavors of his native Portugal with a fusion of Asian cuisines at ARCA Restaurant. The mid-week four-course menu offers particularly good value at €47 per person, with dishes such as Robalo (seabass, cauliflower, roasted mushroom, and fricassé sauce) and Lombinho de porco iberico. The accompanying wine list is superb and the young, enthusiastic sommelier has a sharp nose and palate, so he can recommend some imaginative, thoughtful wine pairings.
For a nightcap, pop into the ARCA Bar, where the cocktail list mirrors the restaurant’s Portuguese-Asian influences. It’s one of Amsterdam’s coolest watering holes as celebrities and art lovers alike brush shoulders in the art’otel Gallery and then move on here for a drink.
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