11 Best Luxury Hotels in Bruges Belgium

Stepping into Bruges is like stepping into a fairytale. One of the best-preserved cities in Europe, Bruges is all about charming canals, lovely cobblestoned lanes, and vibrant and buzzing market squares dotted with historical churches and towers — and chocolate shops. Did you know that this chocolate-box city is also an excellent luxury destination? Yep, we were thrilled to discover some top-tier luxury hotels in Bruges, Belgium. These luxury stays are sprinkled across the charming warren of medieval squares and cobbled streets. What’s more, they range across traditional hotels and luxurious Grande dames to boutique ones and even sleek B&B conversions. However, they all had a few things in common — luxurious digs and a slew of amenities that were the best of the best. To that end, here are the most luxurious digs in Bruges, one of the few European cities that are hailed as the ‘Venice of the North.’

The Notary

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The now widely-used term “urban oasis” aptly fits The Notary, which was the former home to eminent 19th-century notary Francois and his family. Today, this luxuriously appointed luxury B&B hotel sits on enchanting grounds with a natural pond-like pool, with a lovely canal right at the bottom of its gardens. Even then, the bustling center of Bruges is mere moments away, with the verdant views lulling us into a countryside state of mind.

The former notary and his family certainly had impeccable taste, which is seen throughout the lovely nine-suite luxury B&B. We loved the themed, antique-filled rooms and suites, which transported us to far-flung corners of Morocco and Africa, with classic European influences. What’s more, all suites were entirely different in their décor and themes, while featuring a unified sedate-ornate aesthetic with a boatload of creature comforts.

The rest of the B&B is equally impressive and features a very upscale yet comfy family home vibe. There’s room service from the kitchen, which also serves elaborate breakfasts under the watchful eye of Chef Youssef Zairi. Moreover, the Sunday afternoon tea service is very popular, and the indoor/outdoor cocktail bar was perfect for drinks. Don’t miss enjoying the hidden garden in summer, especially by the idyllic little pond.

Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

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Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce has luxury as its very ethos. In 1429, the Duchy of Burgundy made Bruges their capital, and the ‘Cruyce’ is the cross in their emblem. In fact, it became a byword for opulence, which aptly refers to this luxury boutique hotel in the very heart of the historic part of the city. Interestingly, behind the medieval façade sit modern and sumptuous interiors.

Spread across four medieval structures put together in the 18th century, the common spaces at this luxury hotel are gorgeous. Think an exceptional 20th-century art collection, grand floral arrangements, stained glass, and antiques. They’re perfectly complemented by wooden floors and Ralph Lauren fabrics. Since this was a four-star hotel, we basked in amenities such as laundry service, 24-hour room service, concierge services, elevators, and private paid parking. What’s more, the canal-side breakfast room, doubling as a tearoom and with an outside terrace, served a delicious breakfast buffet. Despite not having a restaurant, it did have half-board arrangements and served drinks in the small lounge 24/7. 

Hotel De Orangerie by CW Hotel Collection

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Hotel De Orangerie by CW Hotel Collection is everything all at once: historic, sumptuous, and romantic. In fact, it’s one of the few places that has elevated Bruges’ repute to that of a destination where one could linger in pampered luxury. Not only does it sit in a quiet street a stone’s throw from all the main sights and squares, but also its large back terrace overlooks a particularly scenic stretch of the Den Dijver canal, making it the envy of every single tourist boat that passes by.

The elegant and bright glass-canopied entrance lobby makes an immediate impression, enveloping us in historic charm. We’d begin our days with grand buffet breakfasts in the wood-paneled breakfast/tearoom, dripping with old-world grandeur. That and the adjacent salon feature open wood-effect fires, making them perfect to unwind on cold days. The full afternoon tea is a highlight here, drawing inspiration from London hotel afternoon teas, which we could enjoy on the terrace outside. Moreover, drinks were available in the lobby, dining room, and salon. Besides limited private parking, we loved the friendly, welcoming, and warm attention to detail.

Choose from 24 rooms across 5 categories, with all of them being decorated individually but with special emphasis on fine English wallpapers and fabrics, and antique furnishings. We loved the marbled bathrooms with Hermès bath products, the plush beds, and the Nespresso machines in the rooms.

B&B Maison le Dragon

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B&B Maison le Dragon is an exceptional guesthouse sitting in a stylish, updated 16th-century mansion close to the city center of Bruges. We were blown away by the stunning step-gabled, red-brick façade, atop which sat a gold-plated dragon. It was a protection symbol for a merchant guild who were trading with the Far East. On the inside, we could still see original 18th-century touches, like original painted canvas panels, stripped-pine, curios and antiques, and country-style pastel hues.

Owner and host Emmanuel Vanhaecke is the cherry on top of the cake, showering us with hospitality, attention, and care. In terms of amenities, the B&B offered private paid parking, an elevator, and even a small courtyard garden. Not only did the B&B have its own brand of locally brewed beer, but it also served a delicious breakfast in the lovely garden or the Louis XVI-style breakfast room. A nice touch is the umbrellas kept in the hall, which we could borrow.

With just four bedrooms, all of which were suites/junior suites, you can see why staying here is such an intimate experience. While some had four-poster beds, they all featured an eclectic range of antique furnishings, paintings, and prints, along with four-star-style creature comforts. Moreover, the antique-style bathrooms even had Hermès bathroom products and whirlpool bathtubs, with the Master Suite boasting its own outdoor terrace.

Hotel De Tuilerieën

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Tucked in a gorgeous ochre-hued 15th-century structure along the gorgeous Dijver canal, Hotel De Tuilerieën is celebrity glamour central. In fact, its eminent guest roster includes the likes of the King and Queen of Belgium, Hollywood stars, musicians, painters, artists, and more. On the inside, the place is equally pretty, whether it’s the pretty rear garden or the chandeliered, marble-columned breakfast room. Did you know that it was an important setting in the darkly delightful 2008 movie “In Bruges”? Yes!

Besides the excellent, efficient service, the highlight at this hotel is the breakfast buffet, which features the most delightfully bewildering range of foods, complete with a chocolate fountain! We’d enjoy drinks in the paneled reading room and the cozy, dimly lit bar, but the swimming pool was our favorite place to unwind. In fact, there was even a steam room. Despite there being no restaurant, they did have a menu that they could deliver to our rooms.

The digs are the mainstay here, especially our top-floor room, which offered the most stunning views around. Since it differed across rooms, the decor ranged from contemporary minimalism to traditional, which had fireplaces, four-poster beds, exposed brickwork, and tons of chandeliers. Nevertheless, all rooms had TVs, minibars, and free Wi-fi.

Hotel Heritage – Relais & Châteaux

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Luxury hotels lists are incomplete without the French-based Relais & Châteaux properties, aren’t they? Behold Hotel Heritage – Relais & Châteaux, a four-star stay in Bruges with the rare distinction of featuring its own restaurant! With a fantastic location on a relatively quiet boulevard just north of the city’s main historic square, the hotel impresses, and how.

This grand townhouse-turned-bank-turned-luxury hotel preserves the 18th/19th-century aura of the common areas on the ground floor. Think antique furnishings, lavish fabrics, ceiling paintings, oak panels, lots of mirrors, and chandeliers. The service went above and beyond our expectations, with impressive amenities and activities. These included free two-hour guided city walking tours, a 14th-century cellar-turned-spa with a steam room and a sauna, and a fitness center. We especially loved the small rooftop sundeck, and the private parking, albeit paid, was an absolute luxury. The on-site restaurant serves lunches and dinners during the weekend, but they do excellent breakfasts every day of the week. Meanwhile, the bar Le Magnum also serves tea, coffee, cakes, and other snacks.

There are just 22 rooms, but across 3 categories, all of which are sized and decorated differently but in broadly 18th/19th-century styles. Think antique-modern furnishings, elegant fabrics and wallpapers, and chandeliers. Not only were they all air-conditioned, but they also had the standard four-star features as well as an iPad. If you’re looking for something special, the Junior Suites boast whirlpool baths.

Guesthouse Bonifacius

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Best B&B. Imagine staying in a medieval, 16th-century house decorated as an exquisite luxury stay, and that too overlooking a canal. The labels “guesthouse” and “B&B” don’t do Bonifacius justice at all! Drawing its name from the nearby Bonifacius Bridge, the canal and the cobbled road in front of the B&B’s wonderful wooden façade are charmingly busy during the day and quiet at night.

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The place radiated authentic antique charm, with owner and hostess Lyne Vanhaecke feeding us every little piece of information about Bruges. We loved the roof terrace, which offered panoramic views of Bruges and was an excellent place to unwind. Aside from the paid car park, the guesthouse also served a delicious breakfast in the ‘Gothic Room,’ which had views of the canal and even an open-log-effect fire when it got cold. Dishes came out from the splendidly antique kitchen; think coffee/tea (available all day), specially commissioned Bonifacius beer, tomatoes, mushrooms, bacon, eggs, cake-stands with cheese and cold meats, baskets of homemade bread and patisserie, fruit, and OJ.

With just three individual rooms/suites, staying here was as intimate and exclusive as it could get. Decked out in antique-modern style, the rooms featured interesting objets d’art and antiques, elegant pastel schemes, Toile de Jouy/Ralph Lauren wallpaper, and fabrics. Moreover, the granite bathrooms came with Hermès bath products and whirlpool baths. Did we mention that the minibars offered free drinks? Yep.

Crowne Plaza Brugge

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Business travelers looking for typically modern hotel touches should consider the four-star Crowne Plaza Brugge. It sat in the very heart of Bruges, overlooking one of its most ornate and baroque historic squares. It’s primarily a business hotel, but the red-brick, round-arched Romanesque exterior and spacious, sleek, and international interiors (with a historical section) surely place it a notch above the other business stays in the city.

Since it’s part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, you can expect the usual amenities. Think ice machines on every floor, an eighth-floor fitness center, a sauna, and – a rarity in Bruges – an indoor swimming pool. Private underground parking and two lifts made accessibility a breeze. A restaurant and bar, which served all meals, and a ground-floor cafe with a seasonal outdoor terrace and park views wrap up the amenities here.

We were impressed by the nearly 100 refurbished rooms, all of which featured angled beds, pleasing-to-the-eye color schemes, a slew of mod-cons, and sleek ensuite bathrooms. If you want views, choose some of the specific deluxe rooms and junior suites, which boast exceptional views over the Burg. 

The Pand

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Best boutique luxury. Boutique luxury comes to Bruges in the form of The Pand, which sits in a grand, former 18th-century townhouse mansion. The location couldn’t be more perfect: the tree-lined cobblestoned street next to the canal side Rozenhoedkaai was gorgeous and close to everywhere we wanted to be in Bruges. Stepping across the high-arched entrance brought us to classically elegant, intimate interiors, complete with old wooden floors, curios and antiques everywhere, and even a pine-paneled lounge/library with an open fire.

Personal service is at the forefront of the Pand, which was evident from the moment we entered. The staff is excellent, finding and booking everything from airport transfers and babysitting services to pointing out the best things to do around town. We loved the small courtyard garden with a fountain at the back, while the paid private garage allowed us to park our rental cars securely. Not only did the hotel have an elevator, but the place even had a cozy bar where we could enjoy drinks at the end of the day. Breakfast was a linen-table/table-service affair in the country house-style breakfast room, with a choice of cooked and continental delights, and the best of all, champagne!

We had the choice of 26 rooms and suites across four categories, all of which were decorated luxuriously and individually. Think Ralph Lauren fabrics and wallpapers, and granite/marble bathrooms with bathtubs (whirlpool baths in the Junior Suites), with the best rooms even featuring views of the Bruges skyline. You’ll be delighted to know that all rooms are air-conditioned and come with Bvlgari and Perfumer’s Garden bath products!

Hotel Dukes’ Palace

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Best five-star hotel. The only five-star hotel in Bruges, Hotel Dukes’ Palace, might feel like it’s a tad too grand for the city, but we found it to be perfectly fitting. Sitting in its own quiet enclave, a stone’s throw from the historic heart of the city, it was close to all the top things to see and do in Bruges. Moreover, this five-star hotel had its feet firmly on the ground, with professional but home-like five-star service.

The amenities certainly do the hotel’s grandeur a lot of justice. For instance, the wellness center not only has a fitness center but also a spa. That, in turn, boasts a slew of massage suites, a salt wall, a steam room, and a sauna. In fact, the hotel has a private underground car park, which is the pinnacle of luxury considering it’s smack dab in the historical heart of a European city! An excellent restaurant serves Belgian French fare with a twist, including breakfast, while the bar is theatrical and relaxed at the same time.

Choose from 110 rooms and suites, all of which are unique but decorated similarly in a comfy historic-modern style. While some rooms are elegantly contemporary, we chose one of the deluxe suites, which are heavy on antiques, lavish fabrics, and original architectural features, like stucco ceilings, stained glass, and fireplaces. Did we mention that most of the marbled bathrooms have bathtubs and L’Occitane bath products? Yep.

Hotel Van Cleef

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Best luxury on the canal. There’s no doubt that Hotel Van Cleef would make it to the top of this list, and there are multiple reasons for that. This Italianate boutique hotel was the home of the Van Cleef dynasty for more than 700 years and now boasts the best luxury staying experience on the canal right in the heart of Bruges.

Not surprisingly, the 16 rooms and suites are all beautifully decked out with marbled bathrooms with whirlpool baths, super-comfy beds, plush designer fabrics, and lovely canal views. The Duplex Suites are exceptional, featuring Hermès fits, upstairs lounge areas, minibars, and coffee- and tea-making facilities.

The overall atmosphere is one of pampered luxury, complete with turndown and concierge services, private parking, and an elevator, which is certainly a luxury in Bruges. Besides free guided tours of the city, the hotel offers a roster of experiences, including private canal boat tours departing directly from the property’s terrace, hands-on chocolate-making classes, and even vintage car tours to castles around. Despite not having a restaurant on-site, the Van Cleef breakfast is famous far and wide for its variety and taste. They also serve a full afternoon tea, but the highlight is the gorgeous St Petersburg Bar right on the canal.

Our Verdict!

As much as it doesn’t give off that energy, Bruges does luxury stays with its own special vibe thrown into the mix. Here are some of the best of the best options with their specialized features.

• Best luxury on the canal: Hotel Van Cleef
• Best boutique luxury: The Pand
• Best five-star hotel: Hotel Dukes’ Palace
• Best B&B: Guesthouse Bonifacius

Where to Stay in Bruges?

Bruges, one of the world’s most beautiful canal cities, has several neighborhoods that are perfect for travelers. Sitting at the top of that list is The Market Square, its center point that everything else in Bruges revolves around. It’s sprinkled with ancient structures and tons of shops and restaurants selling Belgian treats. Secondly, there’s St Anna, which had a quieter ambiance and allowed us to escape the crowds. The serene Minnewaterpark lake, surrounded by lush greenery, is the top attraction here, making it a very romantic base. Art aficionados will love Sint Gillis, which features cultural spaces and galleries, and still has a medieval vibe. Even Ezelstraat is a quieter, more bohemian side of Bruges, with craft stores, art galleries, and boutique shops, making it popular with shoppers and backpackers.

If you’re interested in quirky history, the longest street in the town, Langestraat, has all kinds of boutiques, stores, restaurants, and bars. It’s also home to Bruges’ amazing nightlife with tapas restaurants and small bars.

Which is the best luxury hotel in Bruges on the canal?

That would be the Van Cleef hotel, a five-star boutique gem right on the canal in Bruges’ city center.

Does Bruges have a five-star hotel?

Yes, in fact it’s only five-star hotel is the Hotel Duke’s Palace, which promises polished luxury in the heart of the historic part of the city.