1898 The Post

Though completed at the turn of the last century, thanks to its neo-Gothic style Ghent’s old Central Post Office looks hundreds of years older than that. You don’t come to this part of Belgium in search of hyper-modern architectural experiments — you come in search of history, and 1898 The Post, a contemporary renovation of this beautifully preserved structure, has got a bit more than its fair share.

That’s not to say 1898 The Post is a precise historical reconstruction. Inside you’ll find echoes of varying periods, from the medieval atmosphere of the winding stairways and stone-walled public spaces to a sort of early modernist vibe in the richly colored and textured guest rooms and suites. The look is dark and moody, almost more like a film set than a typical hotel room, and that’s no bad thing. And in a delightful bit of whimsy, the categories are named for their relative size — from Stamp and Postcard up through Envelope, Letter, and Carriage (not quite to scale, presumably).

The Kitchen is the unassumingly named space where breakfast and afternoon tea are served. And the Cobbler isn’t a shoe repair shop, but a cocktail bar in a particularly atmospheric space. All in all it’s an impressive building that was perhaps wasted as a post office, but is eminently suited to its new life as a boutique hotel.