Still making noise after all these years

Amsterdam’s haute-est hotel has arrived, risen from the ashes of the iconic music academy Conservatorium van Amsterdam. The Conservatorium Hotel is all that jazz plus a design conscience, a groovy pad fit for businessmen and fashionistas alike. Conceptualised and designed by visionary owner Georgi Akirov and Milanese starchitect Piero Lissoni, the hotel pays homage to the hallowed halls of its history, but revamps the interiors with Dutch-meets-contempo-Italian gusto.

A modernist’s natural habitat goes glam

Step inside to 129 sleek suites and duplexes bathed in cream and brown, with wooden-planked floors and oriental embellishments like tribal masks, delft plates and vintage Asian rugs. Ranging from 30 to 170 sq m, each suite has comp Wi-Fi, espresso machines, mirror TVs and funky custom-made Lissoni furny.

Swank central at Tunes by Schilo

Goedeavond, hungry? Trot on down to Tunes Restaurant by Schilo for Dutch delectables whipped up by chef Schilo van Coevorden. If you prefer a casual nibble or tea and cake, head towards the hotel’s Brasserie and the Lounge. Too stuffed for food? Simply get comfy on the oversized plushy sofas at the Atrium and soak up the delightful ambiance.

Mix business with pleasure

Let’s say you’re not in Amsterdam for the dykes, bikes, waterways or cycleways. Bizzy-bees get perks like six meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art devices, signature Schilo cocktails and jam sessions at the intimate Tunes bar, and the largest cigar humidor in Europe, La Casa del Habano.

Time for a serene swim

The canal capital worn you out? Head to the spacious Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Retreat, a 1000 sq. m escape where you can eat organic at ‘Earth’, sweat bullets at ‘Fire’, ohm the day away at ‘Air’, and lather and dive at ‘Water’. Finally, proceed with the signature hammam treatments for stress relief. Bliss!

Van Baerlestraat, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. T: +31 (0) 20 570 0000 W: conservatoriumhotel.com

To discover more of Amsterdam’s fabulous stays, check out our LUXE Amsterdam guide.

Canal House in arty, boho Jordaan

Dear globetrotting hearts, LUXE has partnered up with the lovelies at Singapore Airlines to bring you a travel column on their brand spankin’ new silverkris.com website as well as the inflight mag (which can also be viewed in full on the website). Each month, we’ll be sharing how to spend 24 LUXE hours in some of our favourite cities.

First up, we uncover Amsterdam, the beautiful canal capital charmer that blends urban smarts with a village vibe, with plenty of retail, dining, nightlife, sights, museums and culture, not to mention its UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal ring, in one compact, easily navigable area all in one day. So what are you waiting for? Put your clogs aside and come tiptoe through the tulips with LUXE.

What’s more, silverkris.com readers get an exclusive promo code to score 15% off LUXE guides and boxsets. Jet set go!

LUXElife Q&A

Valerie, your guide to all things fab in Amsterdam

Last week, we lifted the veil on LUXE Stockholm’s resident editor, now meet Valerie van der Meer, LUXE Amsterdam’s resident editor and the go-to gal for all things fabulous in the city. A former advertising and TV production creative, Valerie made the switch to freelancing 3 years ago and hasn’t looked back since, keeping busy with copywriting, interior styling, photo shoots and graphic design as well as being a super mum to 2 little boys, phew! She’s also recently co-launched 9straatjesonline.com, putting the stylish Nine Streets retail nirvana online so stylistas across the world can shop for independent Dutch brands, jewellery, lifestyle and more, 24/7, come rain or shine. Ace! With her finger on the pulse of what’s hot, Valerie floats from shop to restaurant to bar to party, so you know that she’s in the know. In this interview, Valerie shares her personal picks for Amsterdam, her essential addresses, and her opinions on what the city’s most famous for…

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On yer bike - pretty Keizersgracht canal

Alrighty, sweet peas, in case you missed it in The Independent, the brand spanking new LUXE Amsterdam guide is out, hurrah! As you’ve come to know and expect, the guide is packed with the best places to sleep, dine, drink, spa, visit, shop and shop some more. And because we love to share with our dear readers, this week we’ll be giving you a sneak peek at our picks of the city’s top hotels, restaurants, bars and, of course, shops! OK, pluk de dag.

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