New Mediterranean restaurant BARBOUNIA: at Conservatorium Hotel Amsterdam led by chef Schilo van Coevorden

This week, the Mediterranean restaurant opens BARBOUNIA at the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam. Until 30 January counts as soft opening. Guests staying at BARBOUNIA dining do so at discounted rates. The restaurant takes its inspiration from three renowned culinary cultures: Italy, the French Riviera and Greece. And to complete the regional feel, surrounding cultures are also subtly featured. Located in the Conservatorium Hotel, in the middle of the Museum Quarter - the luxurious and cultural heart of the city - it offers BARBOUNIA a unique setting. With its glass ceiling and adjacent terrace, it is an asset to Amsterdam. 

BARBOUNIA brings sunshine to the Conservatorium Hotel

Chef Schilo van Coevorden surrounds himself in the kitchen with a team of chefs from the Mediterranean region - chefs from Italy and Greece. They pay homage to the summery Mediterranean holiday feeling in the atmosphere of la dolce vita. BARBOUNIA is not just another addition to the Conservatorium Hotel. It is a concept in its own right: an embrace of the rich diversity of multiple Mediterranean cuisines. For Amsterdam, this is a novelty that will undoubtedly receive a warm welcome. The Greek name BARBOUNIA is a tribute to a delicate fish from the Mediterranean region: the red mullet. With BARBOUNIA Chef Schilo van Coevoerden brings the Mediterranean sun to the Conservatorium Hotel. "BARBOUNIA is my ode to sun-drenched Mediterranean holidays. After 13 years at the helm of the Conservatorium Brasserie, I wanted to create something new, something that brings the Mediterranean sun directly to Amsterdam. We can all use some Mediterranean sunshine in our lives." The result of Schilo's dream is a unique dining experience that appeals to locals and international guests alike. "We want BARBOUNIA to be a place where guests can taste, see and feel the sun," he said. Says Schilo van Coevorden. 

Atmosphere and menu

The interior of BARBOUNIA is true to its original design, but has a customised Mediterranean decoration. There is live music daily. There is a stage for ive musicians and DJs. The overall experience is inspired by the Mediterranean. The menu includes a varied selection of dishes, starting with dips such as taramosalata, tzatziki, baba ganoush, served with tasty crystal bread. Alongside these are pastas such as lobster linguine and ravioli with ricotta and courgette flowers. Most of the fresh fish and meat dishes receive preparation on the charcoal grill. Schilo's signature dish is the deep-fried Barbounia. For dessert, there are the homemade gelati.

The wine list

The wine list offers a selection of wines from the Mediterranean region, with an emphasis on Italian wines. Most of these come from Sicily and Sardinia. There are also exquisite wines on the menu from the French Riviera, including vineyards in Provence, as well as some beautiful Spanish wines. "We strive to make prices more affordable and accessible. The diversity of our menu offers multiple options. Some choose a casual experience with delicious drinks and dips, others prefer a complete culinary experience." says Schilo van Coevorden, the chef and driving force behind the concept.

About Schilo van Coevorden

Schilo was born around the corner from the Conservatorium hotel. He attended the Culinary School in Rotterdam and soon after completing his internship, started travelling around Europe and Asia, taking on managerial roles and opening restaurants such as Focaccia and Sphinx in Dubai. In March 2011, Schilo was appointed Executive Chef of the Conservatorium Hotel in his native Amsterdam. Here he developed his own style, consisting of classic and often simple preparations as a tribute to the purity of fresh local and seasonal ingredients. In September 2014, Schilo founded Taiko Cuisine & Bar. Both are hugely popular among locals and hotel guests. Schilo combines his love of Asian cuisine with local and seasonal produce. Due to the success of his Amsterdam Taiko, Schilo was asked to establish a Taiko in Dubai as well in 2020. He was also appointed Executive Chef for The Set Collection, which includes the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam, Hotel Café Royal in London, Hotel Lutetia in Paris and Mamilla in Jerusalem. Schilo has a solid culinary and creative foundation, an impressive background in opening culinary hotspots that have all become highly successful and real 'places to be' for local clientele and international visitors.

About the Conservatorium Hotel

The Conservatorium Hotel is located in the Museum Quarter, the luxurious and cultural heart of the city. This architectural masterpiece that combines a monumental historical character with contemporary design houses several restaurants, a bar, a lounge and the 1,000-square-metre Akasha Holistic Wellbeing. Literally around the corner from this vibrant and elegant setting are the city's crown jewels: the Van Gogh Museum, the Concertgebouw, the Rijksmuseum, the Vondelpark and the P.C. Hooftstraat with Amsterdam's most luxurious shops. All in all, a unique location, whether for leisure, cultural or business purposes. Conservatoryhotel.com.

About The Set Collection

At the most extraordinary addresses, in the world's most vibrant cities, The Set Collection creates the modern grand hotels of our time. At each of these hotels, guests have a choice of carefully curated events. The Set Collection includes hotels in Amsterdam, London, Paris, Jerusalem, Beijing, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Shanghai Mayan Riviera, Gstaad, Crans-Montana, Geneva, Megève, Courchevel, Corfu, and Cannes. They derive their allure from the artistic and imaginative heritage of their buildings and their iconic cultural and vibrant locations.

Thesetcollection.com