Toren Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hotel Overview
Review of Toren Hotel, by Kayt Sukel
The word "unforgettable" gets thrown around a lot in hotel marketing copy. But Hotel Toren, a small 38-room boutique property in Amsterdam, truly is. This romantic hotel makes its home in a renovated 17th-century mansion along the Keizersgracht. Its combination of history, luxury and service will soon have you feeling as if you've stepped back in time - and perhaps wondering why you'd ever stay anywhere else.
The facilities
Hotel Toren keeps things simple. The hotel bar, located in the ground floor, is a place you can enjoy your drink of choice while kicking back on one of the comfy refurbished antique sofas. Like the rest of the hotel, the bar manages to seamlessly combine a traditional Golden Age feel with modern touches.
Colored lights dance off the historic crystal chandelier, creating a romantic ambiance. The built-in original sideboard harbors contemporary floral arrangements that seem to grow straight out of the old wood. And the bar itself? Also an antique but one that now can produce the frostiest of frosty beverages. It's the perfect place to unwind before retiring to your room.
The hotel also has a charming garden out back to be enjoyed as weather permits and a small meeting room in the basement. But the true draw for visitors? The service. A family-owned and operated hotel, the Toren takes service very seriously. No question or request is dismissed. And you'll find that the staff goes above and beyond in helping you.
The rooms
The hotel's 38 rooms can be found in both the main hotel building and another historic mansion located a few doors down the street. Each room is unique but they share a comfy, cosy romantic décor that will charm you in no time. The feel is sexy, unadulterated luxury. The special deluxe rooms boast double Jacuzzi baths and large waterfall showers. For very special occasions, a garden cottage is available with a double steam shower cabin.
Some might consider the rooms a touch on the small side. But given the captivating décor and luxurious amenities, I doubt you'll notice. Sinking into the cosy bed after a long soak in the Jacuzzi, I certainly didn't. Hotel Toren has a beautiful, sensual magnetism all its own - and is definitely the place to stay for a quiet, romantic visit to Amsterdam.
Facilities
Rooms
40Who stays here?
The hopeless (hopeful?) romantic
Come for...
- A sexy weekend getaway
- A central yet quiet location
- The incredible Jacuzzi bathtubs in deluxe rooms
Not Suitable for...
- Parents who don't fancy fielding questions about some of the erotic art on the walls.
Children
The hotel welcomes children, and does arrange babysitting services. But with rooms on the small side and the hotel’s sexy décor, it may not the best spot for families.
Eating in
A lovely buffet breakfast is offered in the sitting room each morning. There's no restaurant but the bar does offer a small menu from lunch until close.
Reviews
Review of Toren Hotel, by The TI Review Team
Don't let the austere facade of the canal house fool you: Toren Hotel harbours opulent flourishes and a gregarious staff ready to meet your every need. This smallish hotel sits on a picturesque bend in the Keizersgracht-perfectly accessible to both the chic Jordaan district, with its trendy eateries, boutiques and art galleries, and the city's top museums and sites.
The facilities
The Toren has no restaurant, but there's a charming first-floor bar that's spacious and replete with period details, from foot-wide oak plank floors to beamed and frescoed ceilings. Internet access is available throughout.
The rooms
Consider yourself warned: standard doubles are small by any standards- in some, there's room only for your bed and side tables (the flat-screen's hung on the wall). It's worth it to spring for a superior double, to get the extra breathing room. But decor throughout is delightfully-and unexpectedly-flamboyant, from the deep-red satin bed covers to the Fortuny-style wallpapers to the silk and velvet pillows and throws that abound. A handful of ground-floor rooms have private patios; those in the attic have charming pitched ceilings with original beams. Bathrooms are on the small side, but modern and serviceable.