August Antwerp

Style

Calming mod convent

Setting

Earth-kind quarter

Among this Belgian city’s bustling bars and independent eateries you’ll find August Antwerp – a cloistered hideaway elegantly converted from a former Augustinian convent. Thoughtfully modernised interiors retain the understated spirit of the nuns' old sleeping quarters, with further serenity to be found across three additional buildings, housing a spa, ensconcing bar-lounge and lauded restaurant. And if you decide to dip in the swimming pond, we’d like to think it’s with the sisters’ blessing…

Facilities

Rooms

44, including two suites.

Checkout

Noon; but flexible for €25 an hour. Check-in is at 3pm, also flexible, on request and subject to availability.

More Details

Rates usually include breakfast, but if not, there’s à la carte options available each morning for €32 (if booked in advance).

Also

Two of the hotel’s Signature rooms have been adapted for wheelchair users, and all floors and rooms (except the August Suite) are accessible by a lift.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Garden pavilion, library, choir room, charged laundry service, boutique and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV, wireless speaker, minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, tea-making kit, free glass-bottled water and Le Labo bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

Architecturally, every room impresses and nods to the buildings’ past: some are set under the centuries-old eaves while others glow with natural light and lofty ceilings. If you’re looking for some sought-after outdoor space, check in to the Authentic Plus, or splurge for the sprawling August Suite.

Poolside

There isn’t a pool as such, but the freshwater pond is fitted with a natural reed filtration bed that keeps its water fresh and swimmable.

Spa

The hotel’s restorative private-use spa is lined with all-natural Maiwe products, fragranced with aromatic essential oils and expertly applied by masseurs across the two treatment rooms. You’ll also find a sauna, steam room, outdoor shower and hammam with ice scrub that’ll have you feeling refreshed and raring to go in no time.

Packing Tips

A bottle opener for cracking craft beers along the Scheldt River’s banks come summer.

Also

August Antwerp is the sister to Hotel Julien, an equally striking townhouse stay set 15 minutes closer to the Scheldt River.

Children

Little Smiths are welcome, though there aren’t any special facilities to keep them entertained onsite.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Secure one of the coveted spots up in the chapel’s altar that watches over the bar.

Dress Code

Decadent and dashing to do this grand setting justice.

Hotel Restaurant

The kitchen here is helmed by head chef Pieter Starmans, whose devotion to fresh, seasonal fare is delivered in polished plates, with a dining space in the chapel’s converted corridors that’s equally awe-prompting.

Hotel Bar

The main bar, open to 11pm, is set in the old chapel, now an atmospheric space primed for convivial, cosy evenings with a cocktail (or three) and on Sunday and Monday there are plenty of small plates to pick from. The adjoining alfresco area is open year-round, warmed with heaters during winter and (hopefully) sun, come summer. The bar pours from until midnight Tuesday to Saturday (11pm Sunday and Monday).

Last Orders

Breakfast is served 7am to 11am during the week, from 7.30am on weekends and until 12pm on Sunday. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday and guests are seated from 12pm to 1.30pm and 6pm to 8.30pm for dinner.

Room Service

There’s a separate menu available round-the-clock.

Planes

Antwerp’s international airport is a 15-minute drive away, and has direct routes between Europe’s biggest cities. If you’re hoping to make a stop in the capital, Brussels Airport is 45 minutes away by car (an hour, if the traffic’s bad). Private transfers can be arranged from both airports, for an additional charge.

Trains

Antwerp Berchem is less than 10 minutes from the hotel by car (or a 15-minute walk) and has frequent daily links to Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Paris.

Automobiles

You won’t need a car in Antwerp, as the city is very walkable and has good public transport links. If you do decide to pick up a set of wheels, just make sure it’s low emissions-compliment and be aware that the Green Quarter is a car-free zone, so once you’ve arrived at the hotel (there’s free onsite parking for €30 a night), you’ll need to explore this eight-hectare zone on foot or by bike.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Antwerp is wonderfully walkable, meaning you can enjoy the city’s highlights without being more than an amble (or cycle) away from the hotel. Start local, and pop into Pakt – a once derelict industrial space that’s been converted into the creative hub that stands today. Forward-thinking businesses occupy the middle floors, but downstairs you’ll find plenty of indie dining spots and craft breweries, and up on the rooftop there’s a meditative garden where local farmers Bram and Sjarel grow ingredients for neighbourhood restaurants. The adjacent Zurenborg district is worth a pass through for its stately mansions, art nouveau architecture and central Dageraadplaats square.

Shoppers should head to five-floor concept store Graanmarkt 13, storied for its impressive stature and boutique brands. The Meir is your go-to for big names, but if you’re after second-hand steals, the quieter Gierstraat and Nationalestraat are lined with vintage spots. When the weather warms, grab a bike and cycle over to the south bank of the Scheldt River, where the city’s locals congregate on summer evenings.

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. .