Seven one Seven (Amsterdam)

Seven one Seven

Prinsengracht 717
1017 JW Amsterdam

Telephone: +31 (20) 4270717

Fax: +31 (20) 4230717

Email: info@717hotel.nl

www.717hotel.nl

Standing outside Hotel Seven One Seven amidst the noise and perpetual motion which seems to characterise central Amsterdam, it is hard to imagine that such a secluded and peaceful escape can form part of this city. Set on the edge of the picturesque 17th Century Prinsengracht canal, the hotel offers little indication to passers-by of the luxury which lies within. It resembles a grand private house rather than a hotel, and we soon learn that it was in fact a privately owned residence until it became a hotel. The huge front door complete with over-sized brass knocker creates a sense of privacy as it closes behind us and shuts out the noise of the bustling city.  The entrance leads to an old marble hallway, off which several stunning reception rooms are situated. We are invited to relax on a sofa in one of the sitting rooms where we are offered refreshments and are made to feel instantly welcome and at ease. There is no formal concierge or reception desk and this is certainly the most relaxed check-in that I have ever experienced. The sitting rooms and library are bursting with unusual antique furniture and ornaments, and the painstaking detail with which the hotel has been furnished is evident.

As we prise ourselves from the comfortable surroundings to venture to our room we realise that our bags have been delivered ahead of us, without our noticing. This is the first of many slick moves from the hotel’s exceptionally attentive staff.   An original oak stairway leads to  eight opulent suites and rooms, which are all individually themed to celebrate various European artists and writers. Ours is the Shakespeare suite, which extends to a generous fifty square metres and has five floor to ceiling windows which overlook the hotel’s pretty terrace. The furnishings are luxurious and the unique pieces of antique furniture complement each other beautifully. Remarkably, the attention to historical detail does not compromise the modernity of the room, and it is complete with Bang and Olufsen television and sound system. The result is a sumptuous hideaway which oozes style and sophistication. The bathroom is done to a similarly high spec and is resplendent in white marble. We are spoilt for choice by an enormous bath and a shower with a showerhead the size of a small planet.

We decide to take advantage of the complimentary drinks on offer and within moments an excellent bottle of wine is delivered by a helpful porter with a selection of canapés on a genuine silver platter. It is this acute attention to detail which happily reminds you that you are not staying at an ordinary hotel.

Breakfast the next morning is a delight. Mountains of fresh fruit, pastries and first class scrambled eggs are served in a traditional morning room. The crockery and tableware is exquisite, and the waiting staff’s service impeccable. Check-out is similarly stress-free and comprises simply of an exchange of keys and a warm farewell. The one unpleasant moment that we experience during our fleeting visit to Hotel Seven One Seven is the act of actually leaving, which is tempered only by the promise that we make to ourselves to visit again, and soon.

James Clayton-Payne, Magic Circle Firm