The Netherlands, MaastrichtJanuary 25, 2019, by Maartje

Hotel Monastere Maastricht

Accommodation
The Netherlands, Maastricht, January 25, 2019, by Maartje

Hotel Monastere Maastricht

There is a reason I refer to that hotel: the people behind it Mercier Hotel, namely the people of Vondel Hotels in Amsterdam, open one hotel pearl after another and thus seem to become 'our' own Soho House hotel entrepreneurs. Ha! And lord knows that's a huge compliment! The club also did this outside its own city limits, namely in the always wonderful, pleasant and vibrant Maastricht. Hotel Monastere Maastricht is the name there. Nice to meet you.

 

Hotel Monastere Maastricht

Hotel Monastere Maastricht

Where to start? Let's start again: the place. The people at Vondel Hotels found that for them Hotel Monastere (and restaurant Café Louis, more about that in a moment) on Boschstraat. That may not be a street that you have often heard of as a non-Maastricht resident, but since the development of the emerging Sphinxkwartier in Maastricht (the nicest new neighborhood in the city! More about that soon) it is one of the best streets to stay in as it forms the link between that quarter and the historic city center that we all know (and adore) so well. Prime location, that's one thing. Which also applies to the building itself: the word says it all: monastere, or monastery in French. That monastery is part of the five-building building, although the original monastery hall is - unfortunately - not part of the hotel: the current owner is a private owner who probably wants to have a party or something there himself. Nevertheless, the grandeur is still evident, inside and out.

You enter in one Farrow and Ball-esk light blue hall where you find the square in the middle walk around-check-in desk, a trick that seems to be unique to the Vondel Hotels group. And rightly so: a standing reception that you can get around on all sides is very inviting. No lengthy check-in procedure, but a welcome drink on the couch if you want, and otherwise quickly to your room where a large folding bed is waiting and where the walls are also painted in those powdery old French tones. Value headboards have cool prints, just like the room dividers, there is striking art everywhere, the Marshall speaker is ready to start and the bathroom is small but just right and handsome and where the windows look out over the charm of Maastricht - honey, we are home!

All rooms have authentic details: a marble fireplace, a vaulted ceiling - beautiful! This is further emphasized by well-chosen use of color and sober furniture. We love.

If you book one of the larger rooms, the suites (there are 52 rooms in total), you can easily find a bed with a claw-foot bath, right in front of the window. And then suddenly your life is complete. Like it's nothing.

Hurry on to your room where a large folding bed awaits you and where the walls are also painted in those powdery old French tones. Value headboards have cool prints, just like the room dividers, there is striking art everywhere, the Marshall speaker is ready to start and the bathroom is small but just right and handsome and where the windows look out over the charm of Maastricht - honey, we are home!

Cafe Louis

Cafe Louis

Hotel check. What's next? In any case, don't leave the house again: Cafe Louis is the in-house café-restaurant with bar (yes!) of Hotel Monastere Maastricht and we are fans. Café Louis consists of two parts: the bar on the street side and the spacious restaurant with conservatory (and large indoor terrace!) at the back. Here, a great breakfast is served in two parts in the morning: on one side there is the buffet (rolls, pastries, yoghurt, granola, eggs, salmon, sweet toppings, savoury toppings – everything is perfectly fine) and on the other side there is a small menu for the extras. Such as pancakes in different shapes and sizes, our favourite. Small thick pancakes that we found delicious. No fuss, just very good. You have breakfast anyway, and although it seems logical to leave the house for the adventure, in this case, making a reservation a few floors below your nest is highly recommended: Café Louis is exactly that French in its own country. Very friendly and correct service and a delicious French menu (oysters! steak! shrimp croquettes! fries!). Everything tasty.

If possible, start the evening in the bar area, at the bar. We did too and we can only recommend it. Wine, beer, cocktail and a quick chat from behind the bar. Pleasant. They had to pull us away to sit at the table where the party continued: first shrimp croquettes (but prawns, pearl couscous and a fish soup of the day were also available) and a suitable white wine on the recommendation of the Maitre d '. Then a seasonal stew (my dining companion) and a perfect steak with red wine sauce (and red wine) for me (but various fish dishes and pastas are also available). Tasty, but real. We ended with the chef's chocolate dessert... It's almost amazing that we can still tell the story.

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