Soho House Amsterdam
"We've heard a lot of buzz about this place—what's the deal?The opening of Soho House Amsterdam has been one of the most-hyped launches in Europe of 2018. Located in, according to locals,"the heart of everything," on the Spruistraat, the hotel has taken over the imposing Bungehuis, a circa-1930s trading building-turned-university. Staff dash out to open the taxi door of your transfer, so your first thought is about the quality and friendliness of the service, followed by the grandness of the building: It has a distinctly older feel and vibe, mixed with contemporary, stylish finishes. Sounds lovely. How's the crowd?Soho House members are easy to spot; they're typically well-groomed, well-dressed, well-spoken, well-heeled, and, well, relaxed. (Think of Soho House as their happy place.) Guests are a mix of the international jet set (especially Brits who have a special affinity with the homegrown brand) and cool locals. Apart from some key Houses, members need to contribute to the creative scene in order to be offered membership, so you’ll likely hear quite a bit of film and music chat, and rarely spot a suit. Got it. Back to the hotel: How was check in, getting to your room, and all of that?Check-in was the fastest I’ve ever experienced: We were ferried from the car to the reception desk, and promptly given our key. The introduction to the room was also super quick—the only thing to note is that the door isn't auto-locking, so we had to use a real key to close it up. There are a lot of lights—10!—but dimming and turning them off is easy and intuitive. AC was a little harder to work out, but nothing that can’t be figured out by punching buttons, and a little bit of trial and error. The room feels like it might be in your cool grandparents' house, and the tech is reassuringly simple, which adds to the overall sense of comfort and relaxation you feel. Tell us more about the room.It wasn't huge, though the bed was—it was definitely the biggest and softest we’ve ever slept on. The room smells like every other Soho House (Cowshed products and a hint of fresh paint), and the interior is very Art Deco, with a sprinkling of modern touches: think a curved, mahogany bar-cupboard, a dark blue and cream color scheme, and a leather headboard. A peachy, shell-shaped chair—a signature of Soho House properties—sat in the corner, and a large multi-colored rug could be seen under the bed. Pictures were framed with wood of different shades and uniquely hung from the upper skirting board via two chunky, swing-like chains. The wardrobe was just a shiny, exposed bar, and the bathroom had a signature rain shower and an oversized sink, plus a rippled-glass shower door. Any special details we should know?WiFi was free, fast and, if you’d been to another Soho House, you didn’t even have to log in. The line of very large Cowshed bottles always generates a wow moment—primarily because of the colors of the multi-hued bottles, then because of the clever "knackered/grumpy/lazy cow" names, which focus on the mood of the user, rather than the gel in the bottle. The second "wow" moment was inspired by the mini-bar, which, as well as being contained in a stylish 1930s-style bar cupboard, also contained a pre-mixed Old Fashioned in a small liquor bottle. There were cookies in the silver treat jar, as well as a "drawer of snacks" filled with Goop-esque treats including tomato chips, dried broccoli, dark chocolate, and cashews, plus the usual Pringles and Kit Kats. The initial wow factor, though, is the height of the ceiling, the size of the bed, and the intricate way the pictures are hung. One other thing to add—a drinks trolley makes the rounds to each room between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and you can order an espresso martini or another cocktail to ease into the evening. That's a nice little feature. Speaking of service: If you could aware one staff member a trophy, who gets it, and why?Nick Jones (the founder) was staying the weekend we were there. He’s incredibly gregarious and charismatic, and charming, not to mention very "on brand." Apparently, his weekend was made because "the water pressure in the bathrooms was just right." Any other services or features you want to shout out? Childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The pool on the roof in a city without a rooftop scene is particularly cool (though it rained the whole weekend we were there, we felt better knowing it was up there). The Cowshed spa offers blowouts (though you can book one in-room, if you prefer), speedy manis and pedis, and 30-minute facials and massages. The gym is also more special than most, with great views over the city’s tall, skinny houses, eclectic equipment, and a TRX room as well as a yoga studio. Male and female changing rooms connect to a steam room and sauna (where guests must wear swimwear). And, unrelated to the services, we had a three-course Champagne lunch on a canal boat during our stay. Yes, it was a special occasion, but being right next to the canal was super-convenient. That's a must-do. So, bottom line: Worth it, and why?Absolutely. We left feeling rejuvenated—Soho House Amsterdam manages to feel both extremely relaxed, and in the middle of the action. Also, it’s worth it just for the huge, supremely comfortable beds." - Becky Lucas
