exquisite taste
Antwerp , the second largest city in Belgium, a benchmark in the diamond trade and cradle of transgressive fashion designers, it's perfect for a European getaway, and Boulevard Leopold , a discreet and stylish place to stay.
The decoration of this charming bed & breakfast, located in the heart of the Orthodox Jewish quarter of Antwerp, a quarter of an hour's walk from the central train station, transports you to another era. And it is that its style, very careful and elegant, with unique details, gives it a halo of very contemporary nostalgia that is a delight.
Like at home
The building, a mansion from the end of the 19th century, at first glance might appear to be residential, which from the first moment it makes you feel at home, or at least, more traveler than tourist. This boutique hotel owes its name to the boulevard on which it is located – although the boulevard is now called Belgiëlei -. The entrance door gives way to a corridor, followed by some stairs, in which religious motifs coexist with photographs and old postcards.
This establishment has three spacious rooms and two suites, all with kingsize beds. Although the decoration is different in each of the rooms, they all follow a similar line that combines class and elegance with minimalism and details that make you wish that room or suite were your home.
The top-floor suite, for example, is divided into two heights, with a somewhat vertiginous white wooden staircase that leads to the loft where the bed is. The decoration is two-tone, in black and white tones. Screens and white curtains divide the spaces and give an ethereal air to the apartment.
It is made up of a huge living room and a small terrace with a bench and table, ideal for those summer nights when want to take the last collected. Special mention deserves the antique bathtub with legs, located under a skylight that invites you to relax. The black and comfortable sofas, as well as the white antique-style furniture, create a cozy atmosphere.
The hotel's owner, Martin Willems, speaks Spanish. He is in charge of serving the delicious breakfast and it is worth ask for recommendations on what to do in the city . The plants that dominate the room where breakfast is taken give it a lot of life, and the red Formica tables add a touch of color to this space flooded with natural light in which you feel that the day cannot start badly.
Breakfast includes fresh orange juice, a fruit bowl, croissants and white and seed bread, jam and butter, charcuterie and cheese. In addition, it also includes eggs, which are made at the moment. The room through which the dining room is accessed is charming. Spherical glass urns with candles and other curious figures rest on a rustic wooden table. The dark and sober furniture and the velvety sofas invite you to spend time in that corner.
Attention to detail