Hofke van Bazel

Chef Kris de Roy worked in multiple Michelin-starred kitchens along the way to opening his own establishment, and in 2013 his own Restaurant Hofke van Bazel, tucked away in the picturesque East Flanders village of Bazel, was awarded a Michelin star of its own. As you will have gathered from the context, though, Hofke van Bazel is more than a restaurant — following the European tradition of chef-driven destinations, it’s a luxury boutique hotel as well.

And a fine one, we might add. Two suites are contained in the original restaurant building, while three more are housed in the neighboring Relais de Bazel, a newer building that’s a worthy complement to the original structure. The suites in the old building are a touch more traditional, while the new ones display a more modern aspect, but they’re all clearly cut from the same artistic cloth. And they’re all more than a little bit luxurious — especially the loft in the new building, which offers impressive views from its wraparound terrace. Perfect for a culinary pilgrimage to the restaurant of the same name, and ideally located for visitors to Antwerp, which is less than half an hour’s drive away.