TL;DR

Historic mansion – a luxurious 19th-century retreat with ornate architecture, extravagant suites & beautiful gardens.
Only 8 suites – with fireplaces, huge beds, parquet floors, bold fabrics, and plenty of personality.
Garden oasis – surprisingly large gardens, blooming flowers, fig trees, and outdoor fireplaces create a secluded escape.
Serious indulgence – a six-course breakfast, five-course dinners, garden bar, sauna, hot tub, and natural swimming pool.
Central Bruges – the Belfry, Church of Our Lady, parks, canals, and historic streets are all within easy walking distance.
Check prices here

The Notary Hotel is a 19th-century mansion in central Bruges with beautiful, surprisingly large gardens, and an oasis-like quality.

It was the former home of a family of… notaries, which may not be the most romantic backstory, but it did leave behind some very pretty architecture.

The decor leans a little more modern — or at least classic — but there’s still beautifully ornate throughout.

There’s an on-site wellness programme too, which, along with the gardens and the calming atmosphere, makes The Notary a thoroughly relaxing place to be.

What are the rooms like?

8 suites – every suite is individually designed, with its own distinctive colours, furnishings, and atmosphere.
Bold interiors – expect velvet, fringe, damask, rich colours, parquet floors, fireplaces, and plenty of decorative flair.
Different styles – from the colourful 30-square-metre Eclectic Suite to the more traditionally elegant Classical Suite.
Luxury comforts – all suites have huge beds, fireplaces, music systems, gorgeous parquetry, and climate control.
Extras – some also have romantic soaking tubs and peaceful garden views.
See each room in detail here

Suites at The Notary are one-of-a-kind, each and every one.

They all have their own flair, from the rusty crimson of the Morian Suite, with its fringed settees and bronze bathtub to the Hermitage Suite’s royally plush crystal and damask.

The simplest option is the colourful Eclectic Suite, 30 square metres and well-stocked with lampshades.

You’ll sleep with fringe and velvet and all the colours of the rainbow.

If that’s a bit too twee, opt for the 35 square metre Classical.

It’s a similar size, with similar amenities, yet these are done up in the style of a historic hotel, all antique charm and bathtub nook.

If you’re especially attached to soaking tubs, views, or large amounts of space, make sure whatever you book satisfies your needs.

If you’re more than happy with a fantastically decorated space full of creature comforts, just pick your vibe. All suites have fireplaces, huge beds, gorgeous parquetry, music systems, and climate control.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Six-course breakfast – start the day with warm dishes, pastries, coffees, and even champagne.
Five-course dinner – the restaurant serves Parisian-inspired bistro fare for a more elaborate evening meal.
Garden bar – drinks, snacks, and small plates can be enjoyed outside among flowers, fig trees, and outdoor fireplaces.
Spa facilities – a sauna, hot tub, and natural swimming pool are available by reservation.
Relaxing gardens – the large backyard is one of the hotel’s best features

The luxury doesn’t end when you leave your room.

Stay in the hotel for a six-course breakfast, welcoming the day with a selection of warm dishes, pastries, coffees and even champagne.

Food service is fine dining, assuredly. There are various snacks at the hotel bar, which serves glasses, pints, and small plates in the lush outdoors of the hotel garden, weather permitting.

For dinner, you’ll want to reserve and get dolled up. It’s 5-course, Parisian-inspired, bistro fare. We’d recommend indulging at least one night there to fully enjoy The Notary’s charm.

When you’d rather relax, there are soft breezes, blooming flowers, and fig trees in the backyard.

The hotel garden is beautiful; outdoor fireplaces allow you to stay sipping on drinks from the bar well into the evening.

Or, just head straight to the spa. We’re talking sauna, hot tub, and natural swimming pool, all available on reservation.

How is the neighbourhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Super central – The Notary sits on the edge of the Steenstraat Quarter, just minutes from Bruges’ famous Belfry.
Historic Bruges – the Belfry and Church of Our Lady are both within around 10 minutes on foot.
Nearby greenery – Sebrechtspark is only five minutes away, with larger canalside green spaces around 10 minutes from the hotel.
Walk everywhere – the surrounding historic centre is packed with architecture and sights, making this an easy base for exploring on foot.
Quieter escape – upscale Sint-Gillis offers a calmer place to eat, drink, and shop around 15 minutes away.

The Notary sits minutes from Bruges’s famous Belfry, on the edge of the Steenstraat Quarter.

It’s super central, guaranteed to make your visit walkable, but definitely sits near the chaos of the tourist centre.

Of course, you’ve got a spa in your backyard, so there’s not actually much to worry about.

It’s also definitely the posher side of things. The street is crisp and clean, lined by stately buildings filling the historic centre with a relaxing sort of charm.

Walk only 5 minutes to nearby Sebrechtspark, a central green area with walking and biking paths. 10 minutes will get you to the canalside parks where you can wander for hours.

And once you’re ready for the centre of it all, head towards the Belfry, or the Church of Our Lady, both within 10 minutes on foot.

All around this area, guests find almost endless historic tourism, even if it’s just wandering the streets.

Sint-Gillis Quarter offers a quiet upscale spot to eat, drink, and shop, 15 minutes away.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“It’s a wonderful venue, a 5-star boutique hotel in a perfect location for exploring Bruges and other cities in the region. The interior design is beautiful, staff service outstanding, and the various menus for food are delightful and stunningly presented….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”I just wish they had an option for coffee and a croissant or a yogurt for breakfast because we had big dinners everywhere we went in Belgium and didn’t want the whole breakfast. We ended up going out to a bakery and then came back with what we bought to enjoy in the garden. Otherwise, everything was wonderful!! We would highly recommend this hotel to anyone going to Brugge….”

Read all guest reviews at Booking.com