Pietermaai 82-84, Willemstad, Curaçao | (888) 616-5829
Beautifully restored 19th-century buildings in a
historic district
Excellent ocean views from the restaurant and some rooms
Charming rooms with rustic beachy details and flat-screen TVs
Walking distance to downtown Willemstad
Young, hip, vibrant atmosphere
Upscale boutique clothing store
Free Wi-Fi
Not located near a beach
Tiny pool
No fitness room or spa
This tiny, charming nine-room boutique hotel offers a warm, personal setting and a hip, stylish atmosphere throughout, and is perched on the edge of the deep blue sea. An excellent outdoor restaurant, an upscale boutique, and a tiny pool are the extent of the features at this upper-middle-range property, but the convenient location is just a 10-minute walk from the myriad sights and sounds of popular downtown Willemstad. There's no beach, though; if that's a priority, consider the often similarly priced Kura Hulanda Lodge & Beach Club.
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Scene
A true boutique hotel featuring charm, a hip, urban style, and only nine rooms
Many hotels today throw out the designation “boutique” to
indicate a cozy, intimate setting with a unique personality, but the BijBlauw
really deserves this label. With just nine rooms, and a lot of character and
style, a more intimate setting would be hard to find. The name “Bij Blauw”
means “By Blue” in Dutch, referring to the vibrant aqua and sky-blue hues
of the Caribbean ocean and sky, both easily appreciated from the hotel's waterfront perch.Opened December 2013, this upper-middle-range
property is at once urban, hip, and charming – like something you might expect
in a trendy neighborhood of a European city. The buildings of the hotel are
made of old, renovated Dutch mansions from the late 1800s. The buildings were beautifully restored in the colonial
style, consistent with the historic areas of Willemstad. Because this area is a
historical district, the hotel owners were not permitted to knock down walls or
change certain aspects of the building, meaning that some of the rooms are
small and hallways seem cramped -- but this adds to the overall charm.Two buildings of BijBlauw that face out onto Pietermaai
Street are painted in vivid shades of green and yellow. The small, warm lobby
has colorful art and a large, interesting unfinished wood table. The decor of
the hotel includes some industrial touches, like the recycled wood pallet
tables and the stark lighting fixtures. The guests are largely international,
with a big Dutch contingent, and tend to be young and hip. The hotel has live
entertainment a few nights a week.
Location
In the up-and-coming Pietermaai District, an artsy area just a 10-minute walk from town
BijBlauw is located in a part of Willemstad, the colorful
capital of Curacao, known as the Pietermaai District. The Pietermaai area used
to be run-down and vacant, but in recent years many of the old historic buildings
have been restored. The neighborhood is now known for chic boutiques and an
artsy vibe -- some locals even liken it to the Soho of Willemstad. It feels at
once authentic, rustic, and hip. The hotel is situated on the south edge of town, a 10-minute
walk from the popular Queen Emma bridge that marks the center of Punda, a
UNESCO World Heritage-designated historic area. The property is not located
near a beach, though guests could walk to the nearby Avila Hotel and access the
beach there (day passes and towels are offered for a small fee) or take a bus or taxi to
another beach in the area. The hotel offers a free shuttle service for guests
at the Avila Hotel to get to and from the BijBlauw restaurant, as even though
it is less than a 10-minute walk away, parts of the neighborhood can be dodgy
late at night. It’s about a 20-minute drive to the airport.
Rooms
The posh rooms range from the tiny Cozy Small category to an airy two-bedroom apartment
Each of the nine rooms at BijBlauw is decorated with a unique
look, but all of them share a posh, urban style and rustic, beachy details. For example, one room features elegant
dark red walls while another includes a heart made of driftwood branches and
natural woven fabrics in neutral tones. The hotel is rather forthcoming about
the size of the rooms, the smallest of which they title the Cozy Small Rooms.There is one apartment, featuring two bedrooms, a
spacious, open kitchen-living room area, and a private deck with ocean views. The
Seaside Rendevous is the largest of the individual rooms, and includes an
excellent outdoor dining area on a large terrace perched over the sea. All of the nine rooms have Nespresso coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and flat-screen TVs. The bathrooms are tiny, but all are
updated with modern fixtures and rainfall showerheads.
Features
An oceanfront restaurant with fresh, modern cuisine, a trendy shop, and a tiny pool
The BijBlauw Restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serves fresh, modern dishes that they describe as “urban fusion” cuisine. The open-air restaurant has tables that line up down to the edge of the sea. Reservations are recommended for dinner, while breakfast is a more casual affair.The tiny pool that runs along one side of the restaurant that seems like it’s more there for show, akin to a fountain or water feature, than for actual swimming -- though on a hot day one could go for a quick dip. One special feature of the hotel is the boutique store next to the lobby filled with trendy items imported from Holland. The designer clothes, accessories, and home decor items match the very earthy, natural style of the hotel itself. There is free Wi-Fi throughout.
