Conservatorium Hotel

"What's the scoop with this place?The imposing building was once a former bank and then a music conservatorium. After staying empty for five years, Italian architect Piero Lissoni has now transformed it into chic hotel, where the focal point is the glass-enclosed lobby. Nice. What’s the crowd like?Cosmopolitan sophisticates. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Both the guestrooms and bathrooms feature clean lines and soothing natural tones like beige and gray, with an occasional sprinkling of colors like scarlet or vibrant yellow in the form of a nightstand tabletop or barrel chair covered in soft leather. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies?Fine toiletries by British perfumers Floris. Room service and food: How is it?Chef Schilo van Coevorden and team serve lavish dishes like lobster salad with green asparagus and black quinoa ($35) in the gasp-worthy glass-enclosed lounge. Anything stand out about other services and features?The spa, named the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre, is divided into four different areas inspired by natural elements. Bottom line: worth it, and why?The location, with the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum on one side and designer shopping on the other, feels worlds away from the seedier side of Amsterdam. The Conservatorium Hotel is the first Dutch hotel awarded with a Green Globe certification, and you'll see sustainable practices throughout the building, from eco-certified spa products to the organic restaurant." - Meredith Bethune