The Notary

Style

Legal drama

Setting

Speelmansrei Canal-side

The now ubiquitous term ‘urban oasis’ should really be reserved for the likes of the Notary. Look out from your luxuriously-appointed suite across the enchanting grounds which once belonged to 19th-century notary Francois and his family, where wild ducks now bathe in the natural pond-like pool, and swans glide along the canal at the bottom of the garden. Though the bustle of Bruges is mere moments away, the verdant views lull visitors into a countryside state of mind – and the themed, antique-stuffed bedrooms transport you to far-flung corners of Africa and Morocco, with classic European-influences in between. Gone is any sense of rule-bound legality, but the ‘do as you please’ atmosphere of a family home very much remains.

Facilities

Rooms

11 suites.

Checkout

11.30am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3.45pm.

More Details

Rates exclude breakfast, but a six-course, experience breakfast is available each morning for €54 per guest. There’s also a healthy or Continental breakfast for €32, or an à la carte menu.

Also

Most suites can be accessed via the hotel’s elevator, but there are no specially adapted rooms for guests with mobility issues.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pet Friendly

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Library, lounges, private dining room, canal access, gardens, sauna, outdoor Jacuzzi, charged laundry service, and free WiFi. In rooms: Sonos sound-system, smart TV, iPad, air-conditioning, gourmet minibar, tea-making kit, Nespresso coffee machine, and Atelier Rebul bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

No two suites are the same, but each has been exquisitely decorated by the owners and interior designer Pieter Porters to feel like lavish living quarters. Several come with show-stopping bath tubs (the clay tub in the Cloister Suite, and the hand-hammered bronze number in the Morian Suite are particularly dreamy). Expect dramatic drapery above emperor-size beds, ornate chandeliers, gilded mirrors, working fireplaces, and an Aladdin’s cave of art, antiques, and curiosities. As the largest residence, the Hermitage Suite should get special mention for its Speelmansrei Canal views and ginormous bathroom – laden with Carrara marble, bronze detailing, and monochromatic tiles which have been reclaimed from the manor’s original hallway.

Poolside

If you’ve ever wanted to play out some period drama fantasies of emerging from a pond, this is the place to do it. The Notary’s natural swimming pool (open daily between 9am and 8pm) sinks into the sweeping lawn, making an elegantly-curved centrepiece which blends into its blossoming background. Pond plants sprout from the water, ducks often come for a dip, and there’s a gently trickling fountain which tricks your eyes and ears into thinking you’re cooling off in a grand country estate, rather than Bruges’ city centre. Pluck fresh figs and pears from the branches above and enjoy on the luxurious loungers, which are cleverly half-concealed by wild rhubarb so you can bask utterly undisturbed.

Spa

In a separate building from the main house, the bijou spa is a restful, refined space with a sauna, unheated pool, and relaxing room. There’s also an outdoor Jacuzzi across the patio, if you’d like to soak up the gardens from a different angle.

Packing Tips

Save room in your suitcase for the chocolate boxes you’ll inevitably be bringing back, and pack a pair of smart flats to navigate the cobblestone streets.

Also

The Notary’s former office has been converted into a library, stocked with leather-bound books by European philosophers, poets, and professors after which the suites are named.

Children

Welcome, but you’ll need to keep a close eye on little ones around all the artworks and antiques. Sofa beds or rollaways can be added to some rooms on request. Babysitting is available on request (from €16 an hour, with an additional €30 service fee).

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Any of the Palm Court tables overlooking the garden, which create the illusion of dining in a glamourous greenhouse.

Dress Code

Something subtly swish – the owners want you to feel at home, after all.

Hotel Restaurant

Not so much a restaurant as a series of elegant salons and snacking spots, the manor’s traditional kitchen (with walk-in and never-want-to-leave pantries, plus butler sinks, a sandstone marble island, and oak cabinetry) hosts cooking classes and caters for all sorts of intimate dining experiences. Breakfast is an extravagant six-course affair in the Palm Court, taking its name from the giant palm tree which rubs leaves with glittering chandeliers. Decadent afternoon tea is served on the weekends (from 11am to 4pm, reservations only) in any of the lounges, in the garden, or even a quiet spot by the canal which runs alongside the hotel. Private dining (choose between the more casual three-course menu or a gastronomic tasting menu) takes place in the Atlas Room, which seats up to 16 guests and boasts a working fireplace.

Hotel Bar

Again, there’s no formal bar area – just take your pick from the sink-into sofas and armchairs, and settle in for a glass of sparkling wine, locally brewed beers, or a zesty G&T.

Last Orders

Light bites are available in any of the salons throughout the day (between 9am and 11pm).

Room Service

There’s a small dining table in every suite if you’d like to order up using your in-suite iPad.

Planes

Ostend-Bruges is the closest airport (around 35 minutes away by car), but you’ll have better luck with direct flights from the UK to Brussels International (a 90-minute drive away).

Trains

Bruges station is 10 minutes’ drive from the hotel, and is well-connected to Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent if you’re taking the Eurostar. If you’re taking the Eurotunnel, Bruges is just a 90-minute drive away.

Automobiles

Bruges is small enough to explore on foot, but if you’re on a road trip, you can use the hotel's valet parking service for €65 per day, or opt for nearby private parking at car parks called Biekorf and Zilverpand for €38 per day. It's best to book in advance if you are arriving in a larger vehicle.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

One of the savviest ways to start a city break is to get your bearings from a vantage point, and the nearby Belfry is the perfect place to do just that. The mediaeval bell tower’s 366 steps might leave you breathless – but so will the panoramic views and melodious chiming. The Notary stands just 600 metres from the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a jewel-studded church which supposedly houses a few drops of Christ’s blood brought back during the 12th-century Crusades. Also within five minutes’ walking distance is Bruges’ Markt, a colourful square lined with food-and-flower stalls (which transforms into a winter wonderland with an ice-rink and festive pop-ups between November and January).

Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Groeninge Museum or Sint-Janshospitaal, an astonishingly well-preserved hospital which now houses works by Flemish artist Hans Memling. For a romantic stroll, meander over to Minnewater Park and share a picnic on the banks of the Lake of Love and its charming bridge. Give your legs a break by boarding one of the many boat tours which glide up and down the city’s canals – the captains are some of the most knowledgeable guides you’ll find, and Bruges is best seen from the water. And of course, you’ll want to peruse the city’s many chocolate shops for sweet treats – Chocolatier Dumon, the Chocolate Line and Neuhaus are must-visits.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .