Hotel Des Indes

My friends organized a scavenger hunt in The Hague for my 23rd birthday. During this nice surprise, we stumbled upon this astonishing place. The doorman kindly let us in to look around. The place is indeed very beautiful. After strolling around the hotel we see a free coffee machine. We naively make a coffee and a hot chocolate. Maybe a controversial action but we didn’t mean any harm. As the drinks are brewing, a staff member came up to us. He asked if we were guests and we say no. He asked if we were going to pay for it. Of course. He charges us 12 euros for a coffee and a hot chocolate from a very simple machine. We were a bit taken aback by the excessive price but did not want any trouble, so we obliged with no discussion. During the whole interaction, his tone was very rude. Even though we complied and stayed respectful, he did not act kindly. It’s a beautiful hotel, we unfortunately did not feel welcome.

I came in late after a flight from London and wanted a quick drink and nibble at the bar, as it was after 22:00. I ordered a glass of champagne — good selection by the glass and very nice — and some gyoza. After about five minutes, a member of staff, who appeared to be a floor manager, came in and started correcting the bartender for taking the food order. This happened within earshot, which I found fairly distasteful. That conversation could easily have been had away from customers. The bartender was very apologetic and explained that the serving hours for food had changed a month ago, which in my opinion was all that needed to be said. The room I stayed in, number 143, was also inconvenient with luggage. Although the first floor itself is accessible by elevator, access to the room required going up a separate, narrow and fairly steep staircase to an intermediate level. With two suitcases, this was very awkward and not what I would expect from a hotel of this standard. When I left the hotel in the morning, there was no doorman present, despite it being a quiet Sunday morning. I had to go back inside and ask the lady at reception to order my taxi. The revolving door at the entrance is also extremely awkward when travelling with multiple pieces of luggage, something which could have been easily handled by a doorman, had one been present. Overall, a beautiful and reputable hotel, but the service and practical guest experience were disappointing. I would not choose to stay again.

The best hotel I have ever had the privilege to stay at and visit. I loved the hotel and enjoyed the wonderful ambiance, architecture and pastries (chocolate cake from pastry bar is quite exceptional) and loved the atmosphere in the hotel and the rooms which were high-class. I recommend staying at this hotel if you want a top notch experience in The Hague!

Restaurant Des Indes is exactly what you'd expect from one of The Hague's most iconic addresses: grand, atmospheric, and undeniably beautiful. The food was excellent, and the wine pairing recommendation was spot-on. Service was polished and attentive overall, though a couple of staff members leaned a little too formal for comfort. Hospitality is also about reading your guest, and one team member did that particularly well. The one thing I'd flag: €11 for a bottle of San Pellegrino. Even in a restaurant at this level, that's a stretch. Overall, a very enjoyable evening with just a few rough edges worth smoothing out.