Antwerp, BelgiumHistoric Centre
Hotel Julien
Restored Flemish townhouse
Historic Centre Antwerp, Belgium
Renovated
2024
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
Restored Flemish townhouse
Two sixteenth-century merchant houses run like the private home of an artful friend, unhurried and discreet.
“Occupying two adjoining 16th-century townhouses, the property carries a natural sense of charm, pairing original features…with a more restrained, contemporary sensibility.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Restored oak floorboards and custom low-slung furnishings surround the open-air central courtyard.
Notable
Two sixteenth-century merchant townhouses that once served as an auction house for stamps.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Wallpaper* and AFAR.
Behind the historic facade, surrounding a peaceful inner courtyard, is the very picture of modern minimal hotel design as it should be done — nothing cold or stark, just clean lines.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Cathedral of Our Lady rises steps away, and Groenplaats sits just down the street.
The rooms
Attic bedrooms sit beneath original timber eaves, while Experience Terrace rooms open onto private decks over the rooftops.
The spa
Historic brick vaults shelter a dry sauna and heated stone loungers. Treatments use botanical Maiwe skincare.
The hammam
The steam hammam sits behind arched frosted-glass doors, beside a multi-sensory shower with a waterfall setting.
Restaurant
Breakfast Room and Bistro
A working hearth warms the dining room, where mornings bring home-baked breads and local cheeses.
Located in a pair of centuries-old Flemish townhouses in the center of town, Hotel Julien epitomizes Antwerp today: traditional on the outside, cutting-edge modern on the inside.
The Bar and Fireplace Lounges
A moody marble bar leads into fireside lounges, where guests gather for classic cocktails and local De Koninck beer.
At the table
Steel casement windows open into the inner courtyard, where tables catch the breeze over coffee and drinks.
How it began
The sixteenth-century property once operated as an auction house for stamps before opening as a hotel in 2004.
Antwerp
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.