London Evening Standard (June 2016)

Eindhoven: where to stay, eat and shop in the Dutch design capital

Amira Hashish ventures to Eindhoven to shine a spotlight on the unsung hero of the Netherlands and discovers a smart, vibrant city for our Design Destination series... • •

AMIRA HASHISH Friday 10 June 2016

As the Dutch design capital, Eindhoven is brimming with creative energy. The home of Philips electronics until recently, much of the city is made up of former factories which have been converted into industrial style hotels, restaurants and shops. There is even a Philips Museum in the town centre.

Less than a one hour flight from London Stansted, the cutting edge Netherlands hotspot is an ideal destination for a weekend break. It is high time it was given its moment in the spotlight...

Where to stay Inntel Hotels Art Eindhoven Partly housed in the Philips Light Tower, none of the 230 spacious rooms are alike. Art, history and science collide in the imposing building which dates back to 1909. The first light bulbs were made and tested in this very space and many of the original features of the factory remain.

Exposed brickwork and soaring four metre high ceilings in the Loft suites are a must for those who love urban style while the Jacuzzi rooms are perfect for romantic trips. Vintage Philips posters which display the room numbers are a quirky reminder of the heritage.

Metallics, funky wallpaper and bold tiles add a vibrant touch.

A delicious breakfast is served in the ground floor restaurant with an open kitchen. There is also a cosy bar which is popular with locals on

the weekend. It is kitted out with comfy and cool chairs, striking rugs and statement lighting.

A new spa is launching with relaxing treatments, a Finnish sauna, Turkish steam room and gym at hand.

Conveniently situated in the centre of Eindhoven, the shops, restaurants, Central Station, PSV football stadium and Design District Strijp S are in close proximity.

Rates start from around ÂŁ60 per night.

Visitinntelhotelsarteindhoven.nl to check and book.

Where to eat and drink Kazerne This is a restaurant like no other. In a listed former military police barracks and industrial warehouse, Kazerne is a vast space filled with

art, food and drink. At 2500 m², the venue hosts a series of exhibitions, with local and international creatives showcasing their projects throughout the year. The experience is immersive and visitors should pay close attention to the detail. From the cutlery to the coat hangers, the items on show are often the work of upcoming designers. There is also a shop on site with interiors, paintings and books on sale. The gallery-meets-dining hall has delicious food to boot.

Forever evolving, there are plans to open a boutique hotel which backs onto the pretty outdoor terrace.

The driving force behind Kazerne is architect Annemoon Geurts and her musicican husband Koen Rijnbeek. They developed the concept from a sense of social responsibility. "It is often designers who

initiate social innovation and those in the creative industries, from artists to designers and architects, who are able to let go of old principles and see the ways to shape society anew...With heart and head," they say. They have created a unique offering which champions culture in an innovative and enticing way, kazerne.com.

Wynwood In the hip Strijp-S area, Wynwood offers great value fine dining. The name is a nod to the arts and fashion district in Miami. Modern interiors merge with nature in the form of a 'living wall' made of plants. The chefs can be seen at work through sliding glass panels and floor to ceiling windows offer a view of the surrounding Philips buildings.

There is a buzzing atmosphere for dinner with 'surprise' menus ranging from three up to eight courses at â‚Ź 9 (ÂŁ7) per dish. There are also Wynwood Specials, which can be ordered separately. All dishes can be accompanied with matching wines and be sure to order a cocktail. The Apricot, Elderflower and Wynwood Sparkling comes highly recommended. Just the place for a fun evening with friends,wynwood.nl.

Bar Bistro Calypso This is a sweet spot for a chilled out lunch. Run by former marketing manager Louis Croonen and music journalist Rachel Sloven, it is a labour of love. The pair have kitted out the venue with vintage finds so there is an eclectic style. They are popular with locals who give them feedback on their favourite dishes. The veggie spaghetti bolognese gets a big thumbs up. Specials are served throughout the week so Thursday is pizza day while Sunday is dedicated to the Calypso roast. A cosy, cool retreat, bistrocalypso.nl.

Bagels & Juice Resembling a surf shack, the chilled out cafĂŠ is just the place to pick up a bagel and smoothie, bagelandjuice.nl.

De Vooruitgang

A trendy cafĂŠ at the city's central Market Square. Perfect for drinks at night, with a lively vibe and international appeal, de-vooruitgang.nl.

Van Moll The city's first brewery with a beer tasting room and 12 beer taps.

Plus, a nice selection of bottles, vanmolleindhoven.nl.

Stadsbranderij Eindhoven In a century-old warehouse in the medieval De Bergen area, freshly roasted coffee is served with treats, stadsbranderij.nl.

Where to shop

Urban Shopper Make a beeline for the Strijp district where 27 hectares of the old Philips site have been transformed into a creative hub. Kick off the visit at The Urban Shopper which houses 20 pop-up stalls for local designers, urbanshopper.nl.

Yksi A celebration of Dutch Design with smart exhibits, yksi.nl.

Onder de Leidingstraat A cute grocery where you can find deli items to take away or relax and have a bite, onderdeleidingstraat.nl.

Vershal het Veem An indoor food market with beautifully presented stalls,vershalhetveem.nl.

Piet Hein Eek Once the Philips ceramic workshop, now the home of designer Piet Hein Eek who has created a factory, shop, restaurant, exhibition and events space, pietheineek.nl.

This is Eindhoven Brandstore Much more than a souvenir shop, there is a great selection of gifts from Dutch designers in a fun setting. Do take a break in the lovely coffee shop on site and hire a bike to explore the city. Before scooting off pick up a free city guide which contains discount coupons and all the tourist information you might need, thisiseindhoven.nl.

Sissy Boy Located in the futuristic ‘Blob’ building, there is a great mix of clothing and interiors with affordable price tags. The cafe with free WiFi is a good place to take time out of shopping, sissy-boy.com.

You are Here Every season the concept store in central Eindhoven transforms its interior to match its edit of clothes and artm youarehere.nl.

Deense Kroon Scandinavian style for varying budgets, deensekroon.nl.

Vielgut Denim and more with a vintage twist, vielgut.nl.

How to get there

Fly from London Stansted with RyanAir from £24. At Eindhoven Airport the 401 bus takes about 15 minutes to the Central Station.

Find more information atthisiseindhoven.nl or facebook.com/Eindhoven.

Follow Amira Hashish on Twitter @amiranews and Instagram @thedesigneditor • • • • • •

More about: Eindhoven Inntel Hotels Art Eindhoven Design District Strijp S Netherlands Design Destination