Martin's Patershof

The breakfast was excellent, and the hotel looks fantastic. The room itself was fairly small and basic, with a low ceiling. At night, the circuit breakers made noise and the heater was extremely loud. Maybe that’s because it’s a listed building, but it still kept me unhappy at night. Worth trying overall.

Some rooms only have a bath, with no shower. That seems like something they could fix easily, but the staff didn’t really take our complaints on board. We also pointed out that the radiator noise could probably be sorted by letting the air out, and that got more or less shrugged off.

The restaurant being right in the middle of the old cathedral hall could feel odd if you’re sensitive about religious spaces. Still, the stay was memorable. I was here on a recent business trip, and the restored church gives the hotel a dramatic, distinctive feel. The rooms are modern, clean, and well equipped, and the staff were warm and professional. Food choices were limited, but what was served was fresh and satisfying. A good choice if you want comfort with some character.

We were celebrating our wedding anniversary, and I’d booked a particular room months ahead through Booking because its photos showed huge stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings, church ornaments, and other details. I wanted to surprise my wife. At check-in, the receptionist said we were lucky to get an upgrade. The room was larger, but it had no stained-glass windows and none of the high ceilings we’d booked for. I went straight back to ask for the room I’d reserved. The receptionist, sounding annoyed, said the other rooms were taken. When I asked why nobody had told us, he said they expected me to be happy with the larger room. I didn’t care about a few extra square meters if the room had no charm and didn’t match the photos. Their idea of an upgrade was much worse for me, and didn’t justify the trip to the city. He then snapped that specific decorations like stained glass weren’t guaranteed, only some kind of “church elements,” and said the hotel was full so he couldn’t help. He offered to let me speak to the manager the next morning, which was our departure day. Later, before dinner, my wife and I went upstairs to see the floor where our reserved room should have been. Several rooms like the one we’d booked were open and available. So the claim that the hotel was full seemed untrue, and like an excuse to hide another problem. The whole thing was dreadful: a room with no character, a hostile receptionist, lies from the front desk, and no one making an effort to resolve it. This might suit business events, but individual travelers shouldn’t expect much charm from rooms focused on efficiency. Don’t be taken in by the Booking photos. As the receptionist was quick to point out, they aren’t contractual.