BijBlauw Boutique Hotel
Eat. Sleep. Shop…Repeat!
The colourful and lively Pietermaai District of Willemstad, Curaçao, hosts a number of small shops, restaurants and hotels. It is also home to BijBlauw, a small and stylish boutique hotel bordering the Caribbean sea. Turns out, this hotel isn’t just a really nice place to get some shut-eye, but also boasts high-end dining and shopping.
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The Hotel.
The hotel (including its lobby!) is chic, intimate and full of boutique charm. Its buildings are former Dutch houses that have been restored (on the outside) in parallel with the colonial style of historic Willemstad. They boast vibrantly coloured pink, yellow and green walls with clean white accents complementing the airy décor of the sea-front terrace (yes, it both sounds like and is Instagram heaven).
“BijBlauw” means “By Blue” in Dutch, referring to the blues of the Caribbean Sea and sky.
The Rooms
There are nine rooms and one apartment. Each room is named, has its own theme and has been carefully decorated to an aesthetic T. Take a quick peak at some of the rooms below!
The Apartment
We stayed in the (super spacious!) Yellow Brick Suite, which is accessible by a private staircase that leads to its own patio. Walking into the apartment brings you directly into the living room, followed by the kitchen and a hallway along which are two large bedrooms (each with its own ensuite bathroom) and a half-bathroom (you can check out the story highlights on my Instagram for a walk through). It is also very nicely decorated throughout. Now, I know when some people travel, they like staying in hotels and getting the hotel feel. And that’s cool – it’s nice to feel like you’re on vacation when…you’re on vacation! However, I loved the at-home vibe that staying in the apartment gave me. If you want the home-away-from-home feel, then this is the place for you! I also loved the views that we had. From my room, the balcony overlooked the street and the colourful houses/buildings characteristic of the Pietermaai District. Furthermore, the main patio faces the sea. So, not only were we overlooking the terrace, but we had sea views all. day. long! Lastly, I’m a huge fan of value (who isn’t, right?). It may seem pricey to book the apartment, but in my opinion staying at a chain would cost just as much, but underdeliver in terms of space, personal comfort, amenities and staff support.
Planning to visit Curaçao and like what you see? Choose/book a room at BijBlauw by clicking here. (Tip: Enjoy a discount on your booking by clicking here for current deals!)
The Restaurant.
The hotel’s terrace is perched just above the waterfront and forms its open-air restaurant. There are two levels – one that occupies the terrace and one adjacent to the sea just a step down from the terrace itself. Rustic wooden tables and white chairs furnish the restaurant and bar and are accented with candles and lighting (which make for quite the ambiance in the evening). A small pool that lights up at night decorates the terrace, making for a really pretty display. Sure, no one swims in it, but its a very nice touch and it just…fits.
While staying at BijBlauw, we only ate out of the hotel once…and that was only because dinner reservations were full. Yes, there are plenty of really good restaurants in the area offering a variety of cuisines. But, I’m sharing this to reflect just how much we enjoyed the food and the ambiance at BijBlauw. The vibe on the terrace changes from breakfast to dinner, making the dining experience that much richer.
Fun Fact: BijBlauw does not get any of the ingredients used to prepare its dishes from supermarkets. This explains why its menus are short, sweet and subject to the availability of the ingredients on the island.
Looking for great food and sea-front dining in Curaçao? BijBlauw’s restaurant is open to everyone! Browse the various menus and/or reserve a table by clicking here.
The Concept Store.
Located just below the apartment is BijBlauw’s concept store, which offers high-quality imported clothing, accessories and even furniture and home decor items! I walked away with a cute bracelet for my mom and I now deeply regret not buying the really pretty white dress that I saw. You can also check out the story highlights on my Instagram page for a walk-through of the store.
Ready to get your shop on? Visit the hotel’s online store here.
The Staff.
What a great team of people! Leading up to, during and since our trip, we had and have had nothing but great experiences and interactions with the staff at BijBlauw, especially Britt, who was our main contact. The team really does make sure that all of the hotel’s guests are taken care of and is focused on providing a memorable guest experience. Their easygoing attitude and positive energy made our stay special. We even had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with the hotel’s owners, who are the embodiment of cool.
The Takeaway.
I really enjoyed Curaçao, but I can honestly say that I think my experience would have been different had I stayed elsewhere. BijBlauw puts its best foot forward in terms of its accommodations, dining, shopping, service and personability.
Not to mention, its location is key. If you’re looking for a relaxed stay away from the busyness of Willemstad, you don’t even have to leave the hotel to eat, shop or just hangout. If you prefer to be out and about, that’s cool too, because BijBlauw is located in the heart of Pietermaai and is a 5-minute drive away from downtown Curaçao. The only downside regarding its location is that it’s not very close to a beach.
Yes, it’s pretty, it serves yummy food, I wish I could buy out the shop and I would go back to Curaçao just to stay there again, but one of my favourite things about BijBlauw is how it came into being. The hotel opened its doors in December 2013, established by a family that left its home in the Netherlands to undertake a new dream project. Just over 4 years later, this dream project has been turned into a successful, beautiful and functional reality (read more on BijBlauw’s establishment here). And what’s more inspiring than that?
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This piece was written in conjunction with BijBlauw Boutique Hotel. A special thank you to all of the staff members from BijBlauw is in order for making my stay in Curaçao one to remember. All opinions are my own.
Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thank you
Hi Nicki!
Yes, you can absolutely share my blog with your group – that’s what it’s here for! =D I have some new content to publish soon, so hopefully that makes it more useful for everyone.
Apologies for the delayed response. If you have any other questions or comments, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or DM me on Instagram (@la_wandereuse). <3
Cheers,
Pippa
What a gorgeous spot, girl. Jelly of your travel expeditions! I can’t wait to start travelling more now that I’m healing up!
Aww, Jen! Can’t wait for you to get back to a 100% so you can get back out there! If you ever need any tips on where to go or stay, let me know! <3
Looks like a beautiful place to stay! I visited Curaçao on a cruise once and it’s been on my list to return ever since!!
Curaçao will do that to you! I hope you get to plan a return vacation one day <3. Definitely check this place out, even just for a meal - it has a great vibe!
What a lovely place to visit. This post has me feeling like I am travel deprived. Need to take a vacay soon! Thanks for sharing!
I hope you get to take a vacay soon! And if you go to Curacao, this is the place to be!
The hotel looks great! I would definitely fancy some time there – so pretty! I think it must be a great place to recharge
It absolutely is! I’m telling you, you don’t even need to leave the hotel to have access to everything you need!
Perfect place to pamper yourself. Your stunning pic says all. You certainly enjoyed in abundance on this panoramic location.
I definitely did! It was a great place to relax. =D
Such a beautiful and I love the simplicity of this Hotel. Eating beside a sea is so romantic and calming. For sure, you really enjoy your stay there.
I absolutely did! And had the best time. Cannot get over the atmosphere there and just how great everyone was to interact with.
I love the modern/contemporary feel of the rooms. It’s a great hotel especially if you’re looking for a relaxing vacation at the beach. I’d love to stay here if I could! It’s truly beautiful.
I hope you get to go one day! It’s not too close to beaches to be honest, but on the island, not much is very far!
What a beautiful place it is. The ambiance and the decor look so amazing. It would be great for a relaxing getaway, would love to visit it.
Hi Preet! It had the best vibe! I hope you get to go one day (to Curacao and BijBlauw =P)!
How amazing is this place!! I would love to go here for a holiday. It looks so cool and calm and a cosy place to be x
It really is Melanie! Note it down! I highly recommend going if you ever find yourself in Curacao. =D
That hotel looks amazing, specially that incredible view and the beds look so comfy!
They were! I honestly would go back to Curacao just to stay here and wander around Pietermaai.
The whole place looks so comfortable, like I’m just at home but with an ultimate upgrade in the atmosphere and design. That resto area is so captivating, I may just forget eating and stare at the waters!
We spent so much time just hanging out on the terrace. The water was so calming! And the hotel definitely has the home-away-from-home vibe, not to mention, the staff help make life really comfortable!
Wow this place looks absolutely gorgeous and relaxing. It would make a lovely honeymoon spot or romantic getaway!
Yes, absolutely! And they do host weddings! I can only imagine how beautiful a wedding there would be!
It looks utterly gorgeous, I love how they’ve styled the rooms. So relaxing and calm looking – everything looks so effortlessly beautiful. I would love to stay here!
I highly recommend staying there if you are ever on the island! And yes, they way they styled the rooms is just amazing. I love that each one has its own character. 🙂
Wow. Very nice. This hotel is absolutely amazing! Looks like a nice place to vacation.
It definitely is. I 1000% recommend it if you ever travel to Curacao. 🙂
Looks like great place to vacation. I love the tidy, yet comfortable feel – creates an ambiance of soothing relaxation. Everything is gorgeous! 🦋
It was such a relaxing place to be!
Omg! This hotel is absolutely amzing! And that sea side dinning looks magical
It was definitely a special experience! I definitely recommend going, even just for a meal or to shop, if you ever find yourself in Curacao. 🙂
This place has so much character! Dining by the water would be so romantic. I had a college friend from Curaçao. She loved her country and the beauty of it.
Dining by the water was romantic! That’s why we spent so much time there. I also find that those from Curacao are very proud of where they are from – as they should be! It’s a beautiful island. <3
omg so nice! if i had a larger budget i’d move my wedding there!
It would definitely make for a beautiful wedding spot! So romantic.