We’ve all been guilty of having a bit too much fun when in Amsterdam, but the best part is coming back to a place you can call home. Verge was lucky enough to partner with Booking.com on a special edition of Where To Go Now where we spent 3 nights in probably the cosiest and insanely cool hotel yet; ZOKU.
If you haven’t already heard, Booking.com is the global leader in pairing each traveller with accommodation choices that will match your wildest expectations. From stylish apartments and luxury resorts to family-friendly holiday homes, heart-warming B&Bs and even igloo’s if that swings your boat.
Naturally, we were very excited to see which holiday treat they had picked out for us and we were not disappointed, in fact, we felt slightly spoiled! Zoku perfectly combines work and play effortlessly by creating an inspiring environment that allows business and fun to flow. From desks that transform into ping-pong tables, to meeting rooms with epic Amsterdam views, it’s hard to not fall in love with the Dutch lifestyle whilst staying here. Zoku is designed for both short and long trips with residents being able to extend their stay up to 3 months- looking at the lofts they have available, I was tempted to extend my time there too!
In order to check in for your time away, you have to head up to the top floor, where a beautiful greenhouse inspired pathway leads you to the communal area. After passing all different types of wonderful greenery and rooftop views, you’re welcomed to paradise by a friendly member of staff who will check you in and walk you around so you feel even more at home. As soon as you arrive, you notice a great blend of locals and tourists getting to know each other over fantastic fresh coffees and homemade nibbles. We also noticed tables of guests working from laptops and using the meeting rooms provided to take calls and chat, some even using the outer area to hang out as well. The exciting hustle and bustle of the hotel is perfectly accompanied by great tunes, a brilliant restaurant area (where they had their first pizza night under their new chef), and a great bar for an evening wind down. Delicious breakfasts, brunches and dinners are also available at the hotel restaurant, providing everything to please the health conscious to the holiday cheeky eaters.
The rooms at Zoku aren’t just your typical hotel setups; they’ve used pretty much every cubic centimetre of space, so there’s another useful surprise in every nook and cranny. Don’t worry, if you’re looking for something a little bit smaller than a loft there’s the Zoku Room which is a standard room with a double bed and the Zoku Bootstrap which includes a bunk bed, perfect for a short stay with one or two guests.
The lofts range from standard to XXL, fitting between 2-3 guests with additional space to enjoy. With stairs that slide away into the wall and a private little birds-nest-like bed with foldable wooden shutters, it’s easy to have some privacy whilst being in the same area as others. Think of the Zoku lofts as mini studio apartments with some bite and attitude. Each loft includes a desk area to get work done privately, a dining table to entertain, a fully-equipt kitchen (dishwasher, utensils and fridge included), a sofa and TV area for chilling out and a separate bedroom level to rest up for another day of exploring. There was even plenty of storage drawers and wardrobes to hide away valuables, suitcases and clothes if you fancy. The room decor didn’t fail to impress as there was plenty of creative art on the walls and some unique plants to enhance the rooms relaxing vibe.
A decent bathroom is essential for a carefree trip, there’s nothing worse than being afraid to open the shower door each morning. Zoku provided the exact opposite feeling, with inspirational quotes on the wall politely reminding you to breathe rather than sigh (which is a bad habit for all of us Londoners), and a great private shower with multiple functions ensuring the ultimate relaxation. Zoku ensures that each of their guests gets the best of both worlds with fresh towels and room cleaning provided regularly, bringing the perfect fusion of home and hotel together seamlessly. The security throughout the hotel was impeccable; each lift and hallway was locked and operated with key-card access only, so you never had to worry about random people disturbing your sanctuary.
We didn’t want our stay at Zoku to end, and when it came to the last day we made sure to soak it all in before heading back to the cramped tubes of London. If you’re wondering what getting around town from the hotel is like, you’ll be happy to know that it Zoku is far enough to have some quiet but close enough to get into central Amsterdam within 15 minutes. The street is still surrounded by epic canal views and has great tram and metro access, as well as a great variety of coffee shops, restaurants and supermarkets nearby.
Although our visit has to come to an end, we will definitely be back for another dose of Zoku Life and we recommend this hotel highly for locals, frequent visitors and newbies! It was the perfect stay for a few days away.
Check out more of what Zoku has to offer by heading to their website here
Check out all the other incredible stays that Booking.com has to offer by visiting their site here
