FINE DINING REDEFINED AT THE ROSEWOOD AMSTERDAM
words FLYNN LANZ
Step inside Amsterdam’s historic former Palace of Justice, and you will find yourself in the ROSEWOOD AMSTERDAM, seamlessly blending Dutch heritage and contemporary luxury. Since opening on 1 May 2025, the hotel has already become a hallmark within Amsterdam’s vibrant canal landscape. Through an extensive restoration, Rosewood have combined their staple modern sophistication with the building’s historic grandeur, offering guests a truly unique stay. This unforgettable experience extends to dining, where the culinary concept, EEUWEN, and the contemporary bar, ADVOCATUUR, place a spotlight on local culture and cuisine.
Nestled in the heart of Rosewood Amsterdam is the refined dining experience known as Eeuwen. Honouring seasonal ingredients through gastronomic techniques, Eeuwen celebrates the passage of time, drawing on the Dutch meaning of its name, “centuries.” The menu is guided by the seasons of Amsterdam, allowing guests to immerse their senses in the natural cycles of planting, harvesting, fishing and feasting. Thoughtfully planned by the renowned Chef de Cuisine, DAVID ORDÓÑEZ, each dish draws us into a specific moment through nuanced techniques like open-flame cooking, slow roasting and fermenting.
With experience that spans years across Europe — including mentoring by renowned chef SERGIO HERMAN — Ordóñez places those who dine at the Eeuwen in the present, allowing us to pause and savour the subtle pairing of flavours. This culinary expression is rooted in provenance and the restaurant’s unique design, and each dish carries a distinct essence and purpose. By working closely with purveyors from the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and France, Ordóñez draws a connection to the land through organic vegetables and responsibly sourced dairy, meat and fresh seafood. The timeless menu is a true expression of Ordóñez’s ever-evolving approach. As he explains, “Attention to detail is embedded in my work. It gives both personality to the venue and meaning to each meal through its organic ingredients.” And it is through his attention to the quality of fresh produce that Ordóñez’s pride in his craft shines.
The sensory experience at Eeuwen is not only about taste and smell but also about the visual aesthetic of the space. Developed in collaboration with iconic design firm SAGRADA, the restaurant is inviting with its warm tones and botanical accents, enhanced by the use of natural materials, such as oak and linen, to reflect the architecture’s light elegance. The result is a material representation of the Dutch concept of “gezelligheid” — a sense of warmth and togetherness — offering guests a new exploration of taste and atmosphere that will rewrite Amsterdam’s culinary landscape.
The classic luxury bar is also reinvented and brought into a new light at Rosewood Amsterdam. Advocatuur, referring to the “legal profession” in Dutch, plays on the building’s rich judicial heritage, while adding a twist to Amsterdam’s lively bar culture. Drawing a connection between history and Amsterdam’s progressive counterculture, Advocatuur is characterised by its classy speakeasy-style distillery and curation of dynamic soundscapes, ranging from neo-soul to future funk. Much like Eeuwen, Advocatuur offers a place to retreat in elegance, with a timeless, opulent design and eclectic furnishings.
Led by the Director of Bars, YANN BOUVIGNIES, Advocatuur’s focus is on elevating guests’ experience by integrating elements of local Dutch culture. Bouvignies works closely with Ordóñez to craft a flow between the dining and bar experiences, enhancing the overall feeling of “gezelligheid.” Previously Head of Mixology at SCARFES BAR (ranked number 37 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list) at ROSEWOOD LONDON, and mentored by the eminent MARTIN SISKA, Bouvignies draws on his personal creativity to distinguish Advocatuur: “My creativity is based on a balance of personal flexibility to the guests’ wishes and designing menus that bring you back to the basics. I have found that it is best not to think too much but still remain passionate and push the boundaries.”
Advocatuur’s intimate distillery room even crafts an in-house jenever named PRØVO, inspired by the countercultural spirit of the Provo movement during the 1960s. Crafted by award-winning distiller ALEX DAVIES, the jenever uses three staple distillation methods to blend juxtaposing ingredients, from botanicals to bitter citrus. The signature cocktail menu at Advocatuur, titled “The Will of the People,” also offers a nod to the counterculture and legal history, reinterpreted with a playful edge. A highlight from the menu of 15 cocktails is the “Order and Disorder,” a combination of Bacardi Carta Blanca, matcha orgeat, aloe vera and clarified guanabana. This audacious blend of flavours is just one of many Advocatuur cocktails exploring pure mixology, with a notably rebellious spirit.
Rosewood Amsterdam stands as a true masterpiece, effortlessly combining the traditional charm of the city and its distinctive progressive character. Bringing a fresh take on Dutch culture in a contemporary setting, the Rosewood Amsterdam is a place that will prove hard to forget, whether it be by taste, smell or sight.
