Hotel Ame: A Minimalist Mom-and-Pop Boutique Hotel and Cafe in Rotterdam

"It was the faceted pink counter tiles that first caught our attention. We also loved the cloud of flowers hovering over the café. And the lime-washed tranquility of the guest rooms crowned by century-old moldings. That was before we learned that Rotterdam's 14-room Hotel âme is beyond boutique: it's a mom-and-pop establishment owned and created by Angel Cheung-Kwok and Manfung Cheung. The couple purchased the 1867 building pre-pandemic and devoted years to shaping its new guise."

"prior to becoming hoteliers Angel says she "worked in the telecom industry and Manfung spent more than 15 years as an online consultant." They both, she adds, grew up in the Netherlands "but our roots lie in Hong Kong. That heritage has always been an important part of who we are: we feel deeply connected to Asian culture, not only in family traditions but also in the way we live, think, and do things.""

"They designed the hotel and café themselves. "Of course we worked with skilled craftsmen, builders, and specialists," Angel tells us, "but we were very involved throughout. The building itself guided us in many ways. We wanted to preserve its soul-the high ceilings, original ornaments, and generous flow of light-while creating a contemporary space that feels calm and timeless." Photography by Manfung Cheung (@mnfng.studio), courtesy of Hotel âme (@hotelame)."

Hotel âme is a 14-room, family-owned hotel in a five-story 1867 neoclassical townhouse in central Rotterdam, restored with attention to original layout and authentic details. The owners, Angel Cheung-Kwok and Manfung Cheung, purchased the building pre-pandemic and spent years shaping its calm, timeless interiors. Design influences include Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics alongside the owners' Hong Kong heritage. The couple led the design while collaborating with skilled craftsmen to preserve high ceilings, original ornaments, and a generous flow of light. The ground-floor café functions as a public gathering spot and centerpiece of the project.

Read at Remodelista