Hotels
De Witte Lelie
One of Flanders' finest hotels, this exquisite 17th century building offers a handful of ultra-luxurious duplex rooms and suites right in the centre of Antwerp. It also boasts a garden and a beautiful salon with an open fire.
From €245 per room per night. Keizerstraat 16–18, Antwerp; dewittelelie.be
Martin's Klooster Hotel
A four-star hotel that manages to be super-friendly too, the Klooster is a collection of ultra-modern rooms, all housed in a beautiful 16th century building that is handily located a few minutes from central Leuven. The lounge bar has just the right armchairs for relaxing with a book and a drink (and an open fire when it's chilly), and the outdoor terrace is perfect to enjoy the peace of the grounds on spring mornings. Finally, if you've built up an appetite from shopping, you won't be let down by the extensive breakfast menu.
From €155 per room per night, including breakfast.
22 Predikherenstraat, Leuven; martins-hotels.com
Hotel de Flandre
In a winding, narrow street two minutes from Ghent's riverside centre, Hotel de Flandre is a luxurious, tranquil boutique hotel. The grand, airy and light 19th-century building has 47 rooms, yet feels intimate and quiet. For views over Ghent's spires, choose one of the four loft rooms, which have their own staircases and handsome exposed beams. Downstairs the hotel has an elegant lounge bar, breakfast room and terrace. As part of your package you can opt for a personal tour of Ghent and even a champagne-fuelled boat trip if you so desire.
Rooms from €164 pp for a two-night package.
1-2 Poel, Ghent; hoteldeflandre.be
Thermae Palace
Built in the 30s at the request of King Leopold II, this landmark, luxury hotel dominates the coast to the west of Ostend in splendid art deco style and offers sea views from most of its spacious 149 rooms. Work up an appetite with a bracing beach walk before enjoying a special six-course dinner dance in the hotel's Périgod restaurant.
From €170 per room per night.
Koningin 7 Astridaan, Ostend; thermaepalace.be
Hotel Patritius
Old-world charm oozes from this affordable, family-run hotel housed in an 1830 mansion house. Rooms are spacious, there's a lovely garden and the location – just minutes from Burg square – can't be beaten.
From €70 per room per night, including breakfast.
11 Riddersstraat, Bruges; hotelpatritius.be
Martin's Patershof Hotel
The newest addition to the Martin's hotel group, the Patershof is a perfect example of what this family-run hotel group does so well – combining super-chic standards of comfort and service with a careful respect for tradition. Built in a historic convent, the Patershof's interior has retained much of its former glory, with stunning arched ceilings and magnificent stained-glass windows, giving the rooms a truly unique feel. All the hotel's 79 rooms retain the character of the building, yet offer guests the highest standards of luxury.
From €125 per room per night, including breakfast.
4 Karmelietenstraat, Mechelen; martins-hotels.com
Mondo Hotel
Housed in a stylish 1928 art deco building just one street back from the promenade in Ostend, this central hotel has recently undergone a sympathetic revamp. It's now a cool, thoroughly contemporary affair, offering seaside chic without the cliches. Rooms are arranged across six floors and are simply decorated in pale blue and white. Everything has an air of fresh modernity. A buffet breakfast is served in the bright, high-ceilinged front room from 7am until late morning.
From €90 per room per night.
1 Leon Spillaertstraat, Ostend; mondohotel.be
Oud Huis Amsterdam
This four-star hotel, situated a short stroll north of the Markt square on the Langerei canal, is made up of five traditional canal houses knocked together, lending it a unique warren-like character. The rooms are spacious and modern, with wood-panelled walls, marble fireplaces and large, well-equipped bathrooms and are decorated in an effortlessly sophisticated manner. Many rooms also have beautiful views of the canal,
as does the light and airy breakfast room.
From €135 per room per night.
3 Spiegelrei, Bruges; oha.be/index.htm
B&Bs
The Patio Houses
Born out of the combined architecture and lighting talents of its two welcoming hosts, Patrick and Ariane, the Patio Houses offers futuristic accommodation in a converted townhouse, and is the ideal place to relax and spoil yourself. If you can tear yourself away from the apartment-sized accommodation (replete with Japanese bath, sound system and kitchen), the wellness centre in the basement allows you to while away a few hours floating happily from jacuzzi to sauna to steamroom, before indulging in an aromatherapy massage. If you've been painting Mechelen red the night before, make sure to rehydrate with one of Ariane's special smoothies.
From €145 per room per night, including breakfast.
54 Hendrik Speecqvest, Mechelen; thepatiohouses.be
Asinello
This small but beautifully sophisticated B&B has a relaxed atmosphere akin to staying with friends – an impression enhanced by the friendly service offered by hosts Monique and Peter.
From €100 per room per night.
Ezelstraat 59a, Bruges; asinello.be
Lobby
This ultra-chic abode is as far from the traditional idea of a B&B as you can get. It's basically a boutique hotel in the trendy south side of Antwerp, but without the room service. There are three huge suites (which make it ideal for groups who want to take over a whole hotel), each with their own distinctive wow-factor. Open-plan, with a circular layout, suites have their own sitting room – with free Wi-Fi in the study – kitchen, bathing areas and plush bedrooms. Run by two modern design-loving young dudes, each suite is named after a different designer, and the attention to detail is scrupulous; with innovative lighting, entertainment centres, waterfall taps and Clarins products in the bathroom. Downstairs, a similarly well-conceived restaurant and bar – where the fashion pack chill out – offers popular Sunday breakfasts and Belgian-French cuisine.
Suites €150 per room per night.
51 Jan van Beersstraat, Antwerp; lobbyantwerp.com
Chambres d'O d'Eau
In this centrally located art-deco house, there are three unique rooms, and also a heated indoor pool and sauna. It's acknowledged as one of Ghent's best value B&Bs.
From €105 per room per night, including breakfast.
16 Bernard Spaelaan, Ghent; chambresdodeau.be
M0851 Guestrooms
Slap-bang opposite the ModeNatie fashion institute in the heart of Antwerp's fashion district, M0851 is ideally located for shopping, eating and drinking. It's an old house, but inside, rooms are glamorous and modern with cool furniture, huge mirrors and DVDs.
€140 per room per night, including breakfast.
Nationalestraat 19, Antwerp; m0851.be
Sweet Brussels
Sweet is just the right word to describe this charming "super guesthouse" located on the top floors of an elegant, 19th century house in the city centre. Hosts Sofie and Stefan, who serve the best breakfast in Brussels, are incredibly lovely. If you fancy a fabulous free-standing bath, a balcony, and a gigantic king-sized bed, all you have to do is ask.
Rooms from €85 per room per night, including breakfast.
78 Avenue Stalingrad; sweetbrussels.be
Simon Says
A modern retro-style B&B with its own coffee bar-cafe, Simon Says has two en-suite rooms that are minimalist in style but luxurious in feel. The house is on the riverside and you even get the use of a free bicycle for your stay.
Suites €150 per room per night.
Sluizeken 8, Ghent; simon-says.be
