GENERATOR HOSTEL AMSTERDAM: STYLISH HOSTELLING FOR THE SAVVY TRAVELLER
Attempting to catch a peacock, who’d found itself on a road in the east part of Amsterdam, with several other people who happened to be passing by is not your everyday occurrence but then we are walking past the Artis Zoo and La Plantage so we assumed the bird got a bit confused.
While a Police car and officer on a bike tried their best to coax the bird off the road, and the rest of us stood with our arms open like a kind of rubbish human fence, the bird decides he’s had enough and takes flight to a grassy area across the road, leaving us looking pretty stupid.
We’re en-route to the Generator Hostel and already worked out that we have had three experiences that we’ve never had before. 1. Trying to catch a Peacock, 2. Seeing a Peacock take flight, and 3. Staying in a hostel! It is the latter that we’re more surprised at.
But luckily this is not a hostel in the traditional vision that we had (smelly young backpackers, bad guitar playing, white boys with dreadlocks); this is an uber-cool design-led hybrid hostel. One that has a superior sense of style, that could easily be a boutique hotel but just so happens to also have shared accommodation and (thank goodness) sole-use rooms.
Premium twin room
This is for the cool and savvy traveller; one that likes smashed Avocado on Sourdough swilled down with craft beers while listening to a DJ. Striking illustrations adorn the walls (we spend too much time taking photos of these) and while we see a few backpacks they belong to the well-dressed with not a dread or instrument insight.
Our room is a corner twin on the third floor that has floor to ceiling windows and a pretty sweet view of the pretty Oosterpark. We can watch the joggers and smug exercisers go about their weekend fitness regime at our desk or while sat on one of the scandi design style chairs. Or gaze from the bed wrapped in a nice black and white throw with a splash of orange fluoro.
So there is no TV, kettle, or glasses for water (although there are bottles of water) but we remind ourselves ‘oh year this IS A HOSTEL’. We do thank them for the spa quality hand washes, shower gel and body cream but note at the reception some residents have to hire towels.
A mighty fine breakfast selection
The communal areas are equally stylish. The Auditorium Bar pumps out beats from DJ’s and hosts evening events (craft beer tasting and open mic nights for instance). The cafe serves up decent food (although their version of Poutine is way off) in comfy design chair and sofa surroundings
The east Amsterdam neighbourhood is one that appears to be changing with a decent set of bars (check out Bar Bukowski over the park for some very nice G&T concoctions) and restaurants (Smokin’ Barrels serves up a mean line in ribs and a very substantial Lobster roll). Organic local brewery Brouwerij ’t IJ is a great venue for beer sampling and it’s situated in a windmill which just makes it that little bit better. For a coffee & croissant we liked concept store All the Luck in the World which hosts a cute cafe at the front of the store and vintage furniture and pretty jewellery at the back.
The area is pretty and green with wider streets than the central areas and the Hostel itself is housed in an historical brick building originally opened in 1908 as the University of Amsterdam’s science department and serves as the only upscale hostel in the city.
Inspired by the building’s history and park-side location, Generator maintained the lecture hall and science lab aesthetics while modernizing the spaces with playful graphics (which are GREAT) and pops of colour to create a labyrinth of sprawling amenities and hang-out spots.
Generator Hostels expands its portfolio of design-focused micro-chic guest rooms with Stockholm and Rome opening in time for peak the summer season.
As Europe’s fastest growing hostel brand, Generator currently has over 8,600 beds located in the hippest areas of Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, Venice, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Rome. www.generatorhostels.com
Starting rates are €18 for shares, €70 for private rooms, €100 for luxury suites.
