Hotel to Heart: Mainport Rotterdam

Last week I had the pleasure to stay in the newly opened Mainport Rotterdam Hotel. The five-star hotel is a new addition to the design hotels selection and part of the Inntel Hotels group. Mainport is ideally located in the center of Rotterdam, with a glass facade overseeing the old harbour. The sleek hotel is only 10 steps from metro-station Leuvehaven and in walking distance of the many shops, sightseeing landmarks and restaurants.

Upon arrival I was immediately impressed by the spacious lobby and its design. Focal point is a huge lamp with compass design. Handmade Vitra poufs and colourful Italian design furniture add pops of colour to the glistening space. The hotel’s interior design is the work of Karin Geurts and designer Feran Thomassen who is famous for his digital wall coverings.

After a friendly welcome and check-in I was led to my room. The glass elevators are a fun ride as the waterfront location gives you an excellent view of the Maas river and the renowned cable-stayed Erasmus bridge.

I stayed on the fifth floor which is African themed. I soon learnt that each floor represents a different continent which is carried through in the wall papers, colour palette, accessories and furniture. Mainport stands for the gateway to all continents, a hub to global destinations in a five star setting. How befitting! Sounds like it’s made for me! The digital wallpapers are pretty awesome, giving each floor a different character.

There are 215 rooms and the hotel has five types of rooms with either a city or harbour view. In the harbour view corner room on the Oceania floor I was much amused by the orange chair and the desk lamp like a lantern. The room is meant to give you the ultimate Rotterdam experience, with its floor to ceiling windows and 180 degrees view.

Wellness is another recurring theme at Mainport. Many of the rooms have facilities usually reserved for hotel spas, like oversized hot tubs overlooking the city or water, and private Finnish saunas in the bathroom.

I stayed in a long-stay room which is ideal for expats or business(wo)men who are sent on a project for a longer period but not long enough to rent an apartment. This type of room has a small kitchen. All the rooms in the hotel are very spacious, and even the smallest room is large enough to hold a king-size bed. My bathroom was almost the size of my bedroom at home with a walk-in shower, and a separate bath tub with whirlpool. And as you know by now, I value a comfortable bed, and a good shower. Two checks! Another thing I appreciate is amenities. It’s all in the details e.g. free coffee from my Illy espresso machine, and cute Dutch gifts to take home from the mini bar.

In the bathroom I was happily surprised with one of my favourite bath- and body products: Malin + Goetz. There was even a exfoliate washcloth. And while relaxing in the bath tub you can enjoy television on a mirror-built-in TV screen. A magnifying mirror to apply my make-up is also a big plus.

If you fancy some pampering and total relaxation you can get a treatment in their spa. They offer hammam treatments, Turkish sauna, 4 elements treatments and much more.

At the On the Rocks Bar you can indulge in alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails that are swiftly shaken by the friendly bartender Gilborn. A great hot spot to lounge after work or in the weekends with a stunning view on the city skyline. The bar as well as the adjacent restaurant Down Under, are Australian themed.

The food at Restaurant Down Under is magnificent with on the menu a blend of cultural flavours. You can get anything from an Argentinean steak to Japanese sashimi. I had Monkfish with wakame and ginger as an appetizer and a non-alcoholic cocktail with the bold name: Pussy Foot. For dinner I had something that was both appealing visually as well as tasty: Monkfish wrapped in tempura with sweet potato gratin, lime dressing and fried vegetables. It was delicious! For dessert I opted for a New York Cheesecake with blue berries. And let’s not forget the tiny brownies that came with my cup of tea. They were too good! Chef de cuisine Pim Bakker really knows how to woo his guests.

Although the hotel is very spacious I was most struck by the details and the way the travel, harbour and wellness themes were tastefully carried through in the styling. The lighting is carefully picked and matched with the interior. I noticed so many interesting design lamps…

For a LIVE report of my experience at the Mainport Hotel in Rotterdam, watch my 3 minutes video below or on YouTube channel 30sMagazine LIVE