24 hours at the Hotel De Tuilerieën in Bruges, Belgium
We are set to experience a Small Luxury Hotels of The World, the Hotel De Tuilerieën in Bruges, Belgium. Bruges makes a perfect weekend getaway or stopover on a Europe trip. The city is medieval, and its quality and beauty have almost no equivalent in Europe.
We have decided to arrive by car. The ride through the medieval alleys of the historic city centre sets the mood. It's a sunny and bright day at the beginning of September. People sit in the many cafes and bars outside, ancient houses and tall gothic churches. The streets are exceptionally well maintained. The city charms from the first second, and we have not even arrived. We were advised that a parking space is just at the back of the hotel. After two tries to find the little alley that leads to the parking space in the courtyard, the friendly receptionist at the end of the door phone opened the gate to a generous parking space. There, we left the car for the next 24 hours.
We were greeted warmly, and our Royal Executive Room was ready even though we arrived well before check-in time. The receptionist helped to bring the luggage from the car to the room. The overall first impression was excellent. Oh gosh, how did we like the view! Overlooking a canal lined with red brick stone buildings and the Belfort tower in the back. Unmistakably, you are in one of Europe's prettiest cities, and that view from the room does justice to the city's beauty.
What first stroked us about the room was the height of the ceiling. It gives the room a grand feeling and lots of room to breathe. The bathroom is fitted with white marble and has a shower and bathtub. The furniture of the main room has been carefully selected, primarily antique furniture. Everything is understated in its presence; nothing screams for attention or divides opinion. This is all very good compared to the overloaded hotel rooms one finds this day more often than one can hope for. A giant chandelier hangs in the middle of the room. It gives the room an aristocratic feel, probably a reminiscence of the former patrician house from the 15th century that has so carefully and tastefully been remodelled as today's luxury hotel. You can feel and see the patina and age of the hotel at some spot, but this only adds to the relaxed elegance that the hotel conveys. The air conditioning could have been calmer, if more contemporary, but this is only a remark on the side.
A special mention goes to bath products and amenities in the bath. The hotel has recently switched to RainPharma. The products are made in Belgium. They make honest, no-nonsense products that smell incredible and are high-quality. The choice for a national brand can be good and authentic. In this case, the right choice. We liked it very much!
The hotel has no restaurant but a small, fine bar that serves classic drinks well. The size of the bar implies that it's mainly for hotel guests, and for this reason, it's perfect for a bit of a pick-me-up before hitting the alleys of Bruges. This being Belgium, we had specific plans for the night. We asked the accommodating receptionist for a recommendation for a good beer. He recommended De Koetse, Bistro Chuistoph and Brasserie Cambrinus for beer and some accompanying food. It is approximately 10 minutes by foot, and it is well advised to book a table in advance. We landed at the Café Cambrinus, a few steps down the road from the original and suitable if you just want to sit on the street and indulge in a superb Belgian beer. Prosit!
The following day, breakfast was served in a tastefully decorated breakfast room on the ground floor. The scene's backdrop is wallpaper depicting a Roman landscape and velvet green sofas with plenty of contrasting cushions. Tables are covered with white tablecloth and gorgeous plat and cups from the esteemed Villeroy & Boch porcelain manufacturer from Germany. The breakfast buffet is tightly structured and high-quality, with an excellent local product selection. A unique mark goes to one of the best Granola we have experienced on a hotel breakfast buffet. Hot options and charcuterie range from Belgian Coppa to cooked ham. Fresh fruits and a delicious banana bread complement the buffet. Two types of Belgian Chocolate were a personal highlight and especially a sweet addition to the breakfast buffet. The Chocolate was perfect to round up the breakfast.
The hotel also has a small Spa area that we have yet to test but checked out. On the city's hot late summer days, the pool area was way too heated by the sun. The site might be perfect for relaxing in wintertime after a sightseeing tour. This part of the hotel needs some reflection and an upgrade, which, according to the SLH website, will take place in winter 2023/2024.
The verdict: At the hotel's entrance are signed pictures of celebrities visiting the hotel. Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell stayed here for the filming of "In Bruges", and even the Queen and the King of Belgium stayed here. It is a perfect choice for a weekend trip to Bruges for many reasons, not least because of the building and location. What stood out, however, was the helpful, humble, and professional staff that was so dedicated to making a stay unforgettable. We have stayed in the main building, which probably has the grandest rooms, but there are other smaller and not less beautiful rooms in the adjoining house for a fair and accessible price rate, which we can also recommend. If you want to experience the fairytale feeling, book a Royal Executive Room that we have enjoyed much during our stay.
Inspected by our author David Minoretti
Disclaimer: We were guests of the hotel for editorial purposes. However the above written has not been influenced and represents the author’s own opinion.
