|
Well-placed along Kerkstraat, one of Amsterdam's most popular gay streets, the Gay Hotel the "Golden Bear" was the city's first gay hotel. Since it came out of the closet in 1948, the hotel has been offering gay men and women (and their friends) cozy, welcoming accommodation in the heart of the city.
The townhouse itself was built in 1737 and is cute in its own right. Seventeen guestrooms are located up the steep and comically spiraling staircases (with no elevator, no less!). Five rooms look out onto Kerkstraat, while the other 12 face the fairly bright courtyard. Basic rooms are clean and share baths in the hallway, while rooms with private facilities are spacious and decorated with more panache. Private rooms provide stylish furniture, modern art, track lighting, as well as spotless renovated tiled baths.
And yes, we spotted a few bears... Mostly on the shower curtains, and a few were framed on the wall.
|