Stay in Style: Amsterdam – Lloyd Hotel

For those of you who spend hours pouring over the interwebs looking for the most design-worhty hotels, search no more!  The answer in Amsterdam is Lloyd Hotel.  Not only are the interiors worth drooling over, the prices are just as attractive.

Lloyd Hotel is quirky.  It’s cozy.  It’s unexpected.  The building itself dates back to 1921, designed by architect Evert Breman.  It is steeped in history, originating as a hotel, transformed into a prison, and then rented out as artist studios.

Reopened in 2004 as a hotel once again, Lloyd offers rooms at different levels, spanning from the simple one star room, with shared bathroom facilities, to the the five star, offering more luxourious accommodations (some rooms even have wooden swings).  Each room has a quirky layout, maximizing function and space, and all have been outfitted by Dutch artists and designers.

The dining room is sleek and modern.  Shelves cover one wall floor to ceiling with goodies, most of which are for sale in the hotel shop.  Enormous windows allow light to pour in, making the communal table and standard two and four tops a perfect place to grab coffee before a long day of adventuring.

I had the opportunity to check out two rooms during my stay.  The first featured a red and white interior, where furniture fit into place like Legos.  A bathtub is the central focus, which doubles as a table when covered with planks found hanging on the wall.  The bathroom is neatly tucked away behind two doors: one leading to the loo, the other hiding the sink.  The white part of the room harbors the bed, which is smartly fitted with side tables that slide around the frame on tracks.  The room is truly transformable, and quite fun to play around with.

The second room was on the top floor in the converted attic space.  Though a bit drafty, the room was quite charming.  Features include wood paneled high ceilings, a view overlooking the bay, simple hooks acting as the closet, and a shower and toilet tucked away behind frosted glass.  Accommodations border on the simple, yet they exceed their price point in style.

Architectural detail and design elements hide around every single corner.  Nothing has been overlooked or left to chance.  The hotel is just outside the city center, located in the Eastern Docklands.  Visitors will most likely need to ride their bikes or transfer to the appropriate line from the magnificent Amsterdam Centraal Station to get there.  But it takes a certain type of person to put design above convenience, and therefore the clientele matches the look: plenty of creative types, hip young things, and touring musicians.

When I next find myself in Amsterdam, there is no where else I would rather stay.  If you’re nearly as obsessed with design as I am, I think you’d agree.  Traveling on a budget has never looked so cool.  Escape the prices, and more importantly, the crowds, at The Lloyd Hotel.