July 16, 2018, by Maartje

Hotel Lancaster & Restaurant The Birdhouse Amsterdam

Accommodation
July 16, 2018, by Maartje

Hotel Lancaster & Restaurant The Birdhouse Amsterdam

Opposite Artis, which is a good start, the Lancaster Hotel Amsterdam was expanded last April with a whole bunch of rooms and got a new bar-restaurant: The Birdhouse. Surprise (or okay, not really): Restaurant The Birdhouse has chosen the bird gardens of Artis as a source of inspiration and so you will find bird details everywhere in the interior: bird tiles, bird statues, bird cages as decoration. Birdsbirdsbirds. Ambience? Warm. Birdwatcher-style. Dark (camouflage) colours, a golden throat, er, bar and lush plants and the low sofas with lots of cushions to nestle in.

 

The Birdhouse

The Birdhouse

Dining at The Birdhouse? Do it! Various types of seating are at your disposal: a sofa, long tables, round tables or at the bar, high tables with bar stools. Choice stress mucho. But also walk to the back. There you may secretly find an even nicer space than the first part of The Birdhouse. The part at the back is light! With large windows with sleek black Venetian blinds that offer a view of the beautiful courtyard full of herbs. Which are of course used in the kitchen, what else.

Luxurious sofas and soft chairs to sink your cadets into and not get up all day or evening. What else can you expect from The Birdhouse? First of all, a very (very!) very good service. 10 points. Unfortunately, we still don't always come across that everywhere and it is all the more noticeable when it is. A glass of wine is inside no time before your nose. Note: a delicious wine. 'Chunky Red Double American Oak Zinfandel' is the name of the wine we chose - recommended. A mouthful, literally and figuratively.

Then the food. The menu feels a bit strange at first. No problem, you just have to get through it. The dishes are divided into 'bites' and 'bowls & toasts'. Sounds like something for birds, yes. Or for lunch. But dinner? Less. Wrong! The opposite was proven. Dylan - we can just call him Dylan - the chef of The Birdhouse clearly makes all those bird-focused dishes with a lot of love. The bowl of crispy chicken with avocado is a cracker and not to be missed, and the orange and sesame make you want more. So crunchy. The sauce makes it complete. Don't skip the Teriyaki Chicken either! The menu is still available for now as it is but Dylan is brooding (see what we did there?) on the next menu…. Stay stunned!

 

Hotel Lancaster

Hotel Lancaster

And then. Then you've had a good meal and you roll into the elevator to your room. A straightforward hotel room with everything you need. A large comfortable bed. Nespresso coffee. Rain shower. Soft bathrobe. As befits a hotel room. That way you sleep like a baby and wake up like a early bird to be the first to report for breakfast.

Hotel Lancaster is, as we already hinted, a real recommendation mainly because of its location. And you know what they say… (locationlocationlocation). Across from Artis, in the heart of the east (the hood du moment if you ask us), around the corner from the city's best coffee shops, museums… Anyway, all the works.

Do you prefer the hustle and bustle of the city centre? Then turn the corner and you're there in no time; cross the Waterlooplein and you're on the Kalverstraat. Or do you prefer peace and nature? No problem: the Oosterpark and the Sarphatipark are just a stone's throw away, just turn the other way. Oh! And don't forget Artis of course.

What do we recommend The Birdhouse for? A lazy Sunday. To tap bites all day and 'accidentally' fill yourself up a bit with just too good wine. It can happen to anyone. And if you feel like it, book that room as well. You also get the extensive and excellent breakfast the next morning for free.

More tips