The Neighbour's Magnolia

Hotel the Neighbor’s Magnolia offers 21 trendy rooms decked out in a playful style. It’s fun, friendly and fresh, and a great choice for those looking for a quiet spot near the Vondelpark.

For years, the hotel was known as the Zandbergen, a sweet and inexpensive EuroCheapo pick. Now new owners have taken the reigns (one of whom is an interior designer), and they decided to overhaul the entire enterprise, injecting it with splashes of color (all of which, by the way, can be found in a magnolia tree).

Rooms follow the same theme, with carpets, walls, ceilings and furnishings all in the pink, green and light brown spectrum of the flowering tree. Standard doubles are pretty tight, but Deluxe and Superior rooms are larger for those willing to splurge. All rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, and fan, and each has a simple wooden desk and a mod pod-like chair. (You’ll also find a small stuffed animal, a dog named Sparky, waiting on the bed.)

The private bathrooms are less flowery, with straightforward white-and-red tiling and showers, soap and a hairdryer.

Downstairs, the hotel’s lounge area is a cool and friendly scene. You’ll find a communal computer, “honor minibar”, and a mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings. Continental breakfast is also served with treats like fresh-baked bread. It is sometimes included when booking.

Complimentary wireless Internet is available throughout the hotel, but there is no elevator.

Finally, what’s with that name? When renovating the hotel, one of the items on the to-do list included tending to the magnolia tree in the backyard, which was growing on the property line. To whom did it belong? According to the hotel, it’s “The Neighbor’s Magnolia.”