Old church turned compact design hotel in Utrecht
Bunk Hotel / Utrecht / Netherlands
I am the biggest fan of when old buildings that has lost its purpose are re-purposed into something different and by that preserved for future generations. This is what has happened with this old church in Utrecht that has been transformed into a design hotel with a popular bar/restaurant without totally demolishing the heritage of the building.
Bunk Hotel Utrecht opened in 2019 and is the first of currently two Bunk Hotels. The second one is in the north part of Amsterdam and the ambition is to continue to expand, but to do so by always staying true to the concept, to convert old churches into cool, contemporary budget design hotels that function as meeting place also for non-guests.
The first thing that hit me when we arrived is that this is a no-frills kind of place. The rooms are cleverly designed to maximize the small space and the ambition is to try to keep the room prizes as low as possible. This is done by not having a traditional reception but instead there is a self check-in.
Half of the church is made up of hotel rooms and the second part is an open space where bar- and restaurant guests hang out on two different levels enjoying a modern take on comfort food. Basically a buzzing, fun place with youthful energy.
I am such a fan of when old buildings are repurposed and get a second lease in life. Especially when it is accessible to the public. Like a hotel in an old church. Our room was situated in the tower, you can see the three windows at the top.
I am usually not the biggest fan of self check-in but when it looks this good, I must say I am inclined to re-evaluate my stance. Love plant walls!
Our room at Bunk was fairly small and very cosy. We got a room on the top floor with views of the city. Almost made us feel like we were living like the hunchback of Notre Dame.
Love this seating area in our room, perfectly placed so we could enjoy the view from our three windows.
Half of the old church is made up of hotel rooms and the other part is a lively bar/restaurant, which is very popular among the locals and hotel guests alike.
I am a huge fan of the use of mismatched vintage furniture. It really enchanted the clash between the old church and its heritage and the contemporary atmosphere created by the people hanging out here.
Utrecht is a creative hub and is competing with Eindhoven on which city is the creative capital of The Netherlands. Everywhere you’ll find different art work at the most unexpected places. I love this light installation, like a giant halo.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…like to get a lot of design for your buck. This is a budget design hotel that is perfect for you if you are one of those who only come to your hotel room to sleep and spend the rest of your day out and about.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is that the masterminds behind this hotel didn’t only aim to create a cool, contemporary hotel but also a really interesting bar/restaurant that attracts the locals. The combo of visitors and locals is always a winner in my book.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…actually the same as I would say regardless of what Dutch city you visit. And that is to find a bike and explore the city on two wheels. The infrastructure for bikes is amazing in The Netherlands and you will get to see things you would probably otherwise miss. But be careful! The Dutch are fierce bike riders.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Graace Hotel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Sir Albert, Amsterdam, Netherlands
SP34, Copenhagen, Denmark
