Boutique Hotel Sablon

Bruges, if you’ll excuse the left-field analogy, is something like the Kyoto of Belgium — it’s where you go to experience the meticulously preserved past in all its glory. You might expect Hotel Sablon, given its status as the oldest hotel in town, to serve this time-machine function. But as venerable as the structure may be, the Sablon’s interiors are shockingly up-to-date — this is a modern boutique hotel, through and through, and the contrast of its interior design with its 16th-century architecture is as striking as any we’ve ever seen.

Contemporary artworks and furniture adorn the Sablon’s stately spaces, from the central staircase to the rooms and suites; every one is different, though all are decked out in rich colors, luxe textures, and high-end comforts. In the classic European style the floor plans vary widely, from the very compact Single all the way up to the Verlaine Suite or the vast Loft, spanning some 84 square meters.

There’s no restaurant per se, but there is a lovely breakfast, and a bar, the Livingroom, serving cocktails and light bites both indoors and in the garden courtyard. Fear not; Bruges suffers from no shortage of delightful options, as well as plenty to see and do.