"Why book? It wasn’t too long ago that an overnight stay in Rotterdam meant booking a beige business hotel or a past-its-prime historical number. In the past few years, though, fresh boutique hotels have cropped up all over town—and âme, with its Scandi-Japanese design and third-wave coffee shop vibe, is the smartest of the bunch. Plus, its location smack in the middle of the city makes sightseeing a breeze. Set the scene Ever wondered what it would feel like to step inside the pages of Kinfolk magazine? This boutique bolthole in downtown Rotterdam might just give you a taste. Taking over a 19th-century townhouse with ornamental window frames and swirling wrought-iron balcony consoles, âme doesn’t strike you as a hotel at first. It’s entered through a cafe, where you’ll find impossibly hip German city trippers and local laptop workers sipping matcha lattes and flat whites with oat milk. The space doubles as a concept store specializing in everything Japandi (a blend of Scandinavian functionality and Japanese minimalism), such as incense from Japan’s Awaji Island and chrome desktop tchotchkes. The rooms, all muted hues and pared-back decor, fill the four remaining floors and look as if lifted from a Kinfolk spread. Even the signature scent wafting through the building, a heady blend of hinoki wood, jasmine, and bergamot, feels decidedly on-brand. The backstory Hotel âme is a passion project of ceramicist-turned-hotelier Angel Cheung-Kwok and her husband Manfung Cheung, who spotted the monumental building for sale in 2017 and immediately fell in love with it (hence the hotel’s name). A lengthy legal process and renovation followed, during which the couple made sure to retain as much of the building’s historical features as possible, including the sweeping staircases, cast-iron balusters, and stained-glass windows. Today, it’s also a showroom for Cheung-Kwok’s ceramics—earthen donabe pots and cups speckled like quail eggs—which decorate the rooms, are used in the cafe, and are for sale in the concept store. The rooms Due to the building’s haphazard original layout, no two of the 14 bedrooms are the same. Right under the slanted roof on the top floor, the cozy entry-level rooms feature exposed ceiling beams and about 20 square feet of floor space, but their small windows (and no views to speak of) leave them a little dark. The light-flooded suites deliver a better sense of place: They have lofty windows overlooking the city and freestanding bathtubs under high ceilings adorned with swirling ornamental cornices. The “Garden” room, which opens to a small private terrace out back, is the one to book when sun is forecast. Regardless of type, the room designs are universally austere, with subtly plastered walls and palettes of taupe and beige. Black steel fixtures furnish the bathrooms, while linen bedspreads and curtains add a tactile touch. Their minimal decorations—earthy ceramic bowls, dainty hand-carved spoons, and wisp-thin drinking glasses—are of the kind you’d wish to slip into your suitcase on the way out, though most of them are also for sale at the concept store downstairs if you’re less kleptomaniacally inclined. Food and drink From 8 to 9 a.m., the ground-floor cafe is exclusively reserved for breakfast for in-house guests. The à la carte menu isn’t big, but satisfactory and beautifully presented on Cheung-Kwok’s ceramic crockery (think: granola bowls topped with honey and peach, fresh fruits, juices, and pastries). The menu is limited to excellent locally roasted coffee, tea, and cake for the remainder of the day, so for a substantial lunch or dinner you’re better off elsewhere. That’s hardly an issue, though—you’ll find dozens of excellent restaurants within walking distance. The neighborhood/area The hotel has a plum position on the Eendrachtsplein, a buzzy town square in the heart of the city with trams, buses, and a metro line connecting it to all corners of town. The surrounding streets are dotted with restaurants and cafes (hit up Kaapse Maria for Asian-inspired bites and local beers, or stroll down the gallery-packed Witte de With street just around the corner). Rotterdam’s museum square, with the new Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen at its heart, is just a five-minute walk away. The service The service feels more “neighborhood coffee joint” than “hotel,” but that’s a good thing. The friendly staff works both the check-in desk and the espresso machine, and greet their guests like old friends—whether they’re newcomers or regulars. For families Children are welcome, and cots and additional beds can be arranged, but the hush-hush atmosphere is better suited for grown-ups. Eco effort There’s a focus on sustainably sourced natural materials, including coconut fiber beds by Coco-Mat and linen spreads. Plastic straws, mini-toiletries, and single-use bottles are, naturally, out of the question. Accessibility No, there are no ramps or elevators. Anything left to mention? Raw-edged Rotterdam isn’t usually a love-at-first-sight affair, so some insider intel comes in handy. If âme’s design is your jam, you’ll love the staff’s local recommendations. Find them on the hotel’s website, or ask them over a cup of coffee during breakfast. Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List? With cultural festivals, buzz-worthy museum openings, and big-name architectural marvels in the works, it’s Rotterdam’s time to shine—and its hotel scene is finally catching up. The smartest one out of the handful of boutique stays that have opened their doors over the past few years, âme eschews the rather predictable post-war industrial look for a serene Scandi-Japanese setting in a century-old monumental townhouse." - Chris Schalkx
