“Dam(n)…” is what you’ll be saying when you stay at Hotel TwentySeven in Amsterdam. First, to the cab driver to take you to Dam Square, then once more when you walk through its doors. A hotel dripping in such luxury and extravagance with not a single detail spared, this gem of a hotel is an assault on the senses in the best possible way.
The man behind Hotel TwentySeven is none other than Dutch two-time winner of the Hotelier of the Year Award, Eric Toren, who dreamt of a hotel that could deliver the crème de la crème of luxury to the world’s most discerning guests.
The previous owner of Hotel Sebastians and The Toren in Amsterdam, Toren left all that behind to devote his complete time and attention to realising his dream, and in 2017, Hotel TwentySeven was born.
Location
Sitting smack dab in the centre of Amsterdam in Dam Square, Hotel TwentySeven rubs shoulders with the Koninklijk Palace (Royal Palace) on one side and luxury department store, De Bijenkorf, on the other. From the hotel’s plush suites, guests can watch the plebs below shuffle around by metro, tram, foot or bicycle.
Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of The World collection, the hotel takes up a few floors of a historical building dating back to 1916 that is home to the Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club. This private members’ club is still active to this day, and with two lifts and one spiral staircase, the building is meticulously refurbished with original banisters and windows.
Rooms
Exclusivity is key at Hotel TwentySeven, and with just a total of 16 suites – each with their own Italian marble steam sauna with two shower heads as a standard – the utmost privacy is ensured. Decor-wise, you’ll feel as if you’re in a gilded palace, being surrounded by Pierre Frey silk wallpapers, Brand van Egmond lighting, and Rubelli damasks in Venice.
All credits go to award-winning designer Wim van de Oudeweetering and interior designer Cris van Amsterdam, who’ve also sourced world-class carpets from Nepal, sofas from Ascension Lattore and though-provoking artwork from Cobra Art in Amsterdam to drape guests in luxury.
The “smallest” bijou suites at Hotel TwentySeven start at 40 and 47 square metres (sqm) with views over the Dam and Rokin, while the one- and two-bedroom suites go up to 75sqm and 102sqm respectively. If you’re after something bigger, the hotel has even bigger suites that sprawl up to 245sqm and give you birds’ eye views of Amsterdam.
Food and drink
Hotel TwentySeven’s in-house diner, Restaurant Bougainville, was awarded a Michelin star only a year after opening, so that should give you a sense of what to expect. Since then, Executive Chef Tim Golsteijn has continued to craft multisensory culinary journeys that excite all six senses.
Guests (and non-guests) shouldn’t leave town without trying the Bougainville Breakfast Experience, which can be added to your stay any day of the week. Sink into plush settings with panoramic views over Dam Square while the multi-course brekkie feast is prepared fresh by the Michelin star kitchen team and served one course at a time until your belly feels like it’s about to burst.
From the hot bread basket and different butters and cheeses to bitterballen, eggs benny with Dutch smoked herring and more sweet and savoury dishes, everything was prepared to perfection.
By night, Bar TwentySeven comes to life on the third floor of the hotel, with a sumptuous and stylish interior of plush velvet chairs and sofas, warm candlelight and a blingin’ bar made of shiny Onyx.
What else
The staff at Hotel TwentySeven are absolutely wonderful and service is both personal and attentive. Butlers were especially helpful in setting up the spaceship-like coffee machine, temperature-controlled wine cabins and giant in-room jacuzzis in the suites with mood lighting.
The LUXE Verdict
Bring your fancy pants, because this is one ultra-plush hotel you won’t ever forget staying at. For those who think they’ve seen it all (when it comes to luxury), you ain’t seen nothing yet until you’ve stayed at Hotel TwentySeven.
Hotel TwentySeven, Dam 27, 1012 JS, Amsterdam, hoteltwentyseven.com
Hotel TwentySeven is part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collective. For more independently minded boutique hotels, visit slh.com!
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