Historic Centre Antwerp, Belgium
Opened
2004
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LuxeOutside the door
Minimalist merchant house
The merchant house runs like an informal private home, where a fireplace warms the lounge and guests come and go at will.
What it’s good at
Notable
Peter Deelen paired sixteenth-century timber beams with raw concrete and Artemide lighting fixtures.
Notable
A converted sixteenth-century brick merchant house with original wood beams and spiral staircases.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
This hotel has pulled off the feat of a perfect marriage between stately 16C architecture and a modern, designer - inspired interior.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
The Grote Markt's guildhouses sit just down the lane, and the Cathedral of Our Lady is two minutes away on foot.
The rooms
Bedrooms keep an earthy palette under tall ceilings, finished with contemporary Belgian art and spacious bathrooms.
At the table
Breakfast is served beside floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the leafy, cobblestone courtyard, with eggs boiled to order.
Occupying a renovated sixteenth-century brick house on a tiny lane steps from the medieval Grote Markt, the intimate Matelote is a refreshing take on the traditional Flemish talent for cozy interiors.
How it began
Two sixteenth-century structures, an office and an adjacent residence, were joined in 2004 around a central courtyard.
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.