Special hospitality concept: The Green Elephant in Maastricht
I’m often asked: “What are truly great hospitality concepts?” Here’s my answer! Every week, I take you to the most special restaurants, bars and hotels at home and abroad. Today, we’re heading down to Maastricht, where the new ‘glossy hostel’ The Green Elephant recently opened.
Have you ever heard of a ‘glostel’? It’s a combination of glossy and hostel. Yep, a trendy hostel! One recently opened in Maastricht’s Wyck district that is absolutely worth visiting, both for sleeping and eating: The Green Elephant.
Designer beds
No, you won’t find rickety bunk beds, peeling walls and smelly bathrooms here. In fact, according to owner Rino Soeters, the design of the rooms is ‘futuristically natural’. What does that look like? Traditional bunk beds have been transformed into sleek firewood design elements, and the rooms are furnished in a sustainable, bright, clean and calming style. The glostel has 170 beds spread across 27 rooms, such as the ‘Tiny Dream House’, which you can close off, or a Bunk Bed in the Green Space, where you can meet other globetrotters (or digital nomads). Would you rather sleep with two people? That’s possible in the Tiny Dream House for Couples.
Restaurant Serendipity
And then there’s the food, also very important during a stay! There’s no shortage of responsible food at breakfast in restaurant Serendipity. It’s an extensive buffet filled with fresh vegetable and fruit juices, fruit, breakfast cereals (including overnight oats), fresh bread and vegetarian and vegan toppings. Good to know: gluten-free and lactose-free products are a standard part of breakfast. The menu also features dishes without unnecessary additives and with less sugar and gluten. How about a vegan pastry or green curry? Or a protein-rich salad after your workout in the ‘micro gym’? Responsible and delicious! Would you rather cook for yourself? You can! At the DIY meal prepper, you can get to work on your own or with your fellow travellers.
Yoga and wellness
A stay at The Green Elephant becomes even more special thanks to the beautiful wellness haven with yoga and meditation facilities! Also striking are the oversized portraits of city nomads throughout the glostel and the magnolia tree in the garden. A nice touch: every room makes extensive use of the renowned Danish furniture brand HAY.
Healthy surroundings
In short, The Green Elephant is all about meeting people, sleeping and eating in a healthy environment. And successfully so: the glostel was nominated for an Entree Award 2019 in the Best Hotel Concept category.
The Green Elephant, Sint Maartenslaan 11, Maastricht.
Iris Kranenburg is editor-in-chief of hospitality trade magazine Entree Magazine and chair of the jury for the annual Entree Awards (industry awards for the best new bars, restaurants and hotels in the Netherlands).
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