From Amsterdam to Berlin, Hamburg and Ibiza; the Dutch boutique hotel chain Sir Hotels is expanding and adding glitz and glamour to the European hotel scene. I recently checked in to their newest gem in Hamburg, Sir Nikolai, which oozes of sophistication and that “home-away-from-home” feeling. Full review below.
Hosted stay
Cheeky and fun!
The avid reader might have noticed my fondness of boutique hotels – and for those of you who still don’t know the concept; a boutique hotel is a small independent hotel in unique settings housing between 10 and 100 rooms. What I like about them is their different expressions – not two hotels are alike – and their laid-back yet always stylish settings. A boutique hotel might be the cheeky boy in the classroom, the odd one out – but it’s also the most fun! I was reminded of this when I had the pleasure of staying at the new Sir Nikolai in Hamburg’s historical Hanseviertel. I’ve only experienced few other places that embodies the fine art of showing off while still making you feel at home. Sir Nikolai does that.
This was my first time staying in a Sir-hotel, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. Inside, an apartment-like reception area, a spacious restaurant with lake views and 94 cosy guest rooms emerged. It’s exactly like they say; “heritage on a heavy dose of new”. Sir Nikolai is located a stone’s throw from the oldest channel in Hamburg, Nikolaifleet, and the city’s buzzing harbor area, which makes it a perfect city hotel. Everything is in walking distance and on summer days, it’s a prime venue in Hamburg due to its green patio and vicinity. What really set my soul on fire though, was the quirky interior, which the Sir Hotels are so known for. These hand-picked items adorning the walls and shelves and giving you the impression that you’re not staying in a hotel, but simply visiting a dear friend. The reception of Sir Nikolai reminded me of a New York’er flat – and who doesn’t want a piece of that?
The place to be
The in-house restaurant IZAKAYA (which is also one of Hamburg’s hot spots for foodies), will undoubtedly spoil your tastebuds with its exotic Japanese-Peruvian flavors and there’s a fireplace – what more could you wish for?! But the front-runner in my books was the lavish breakfast ensemble. We were lucky enough to catch a place on the patio over-looking the river while we indulged in delicacies conjured up by the kitchen; of course these included the basics of bacon and eggs, spreads, cold cuts and a bit of pastry. The real deal though, was the menu from which we ordered avocado bread, porridge and omelets with the works. Need I say more? The perfect start to the day!
Sir Nikolai isn’t a big hotel, hence families with children might find other venues more appropriate. But if you’re a lover of quirky art and sleek design, intimate settings and genuinely good service, this is definitely the place for you!
On weekends, Sir Nikolai offers DJ, drinks and good vibes – and of course, a cosy restaurant experience in front of the open kitchen. I’m already looking forward to my return.
For more information, go to www.sirhotels.com/nikolai
I’d like to tell you a little secret. A secret only guests at the Sir Hotels are invited to be a part of. It’s called Sir Explore and there’s a million good reasons to embrace it if you’re planning to stay in one of the five SIR-hotels.
This new service connects staying guests with local people – simply to provide a fresh perspective on the city they’re staying in! In Amsterdam you can experience the city by night with a local legend, in Berlin, you can join a shopping spree with one of the city’s shopping guru’s and in Hamburg, you can have your perfect portrait taken by a friend-of-the-house photographer. Gone are the days where hotel stays were only a necessary evil – this is the future of hospitality.
Check out the different Sir Explore experiences here.
