Arrival/Check-In: The Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace in Bruges, Belgium, was once, as its name implies, the palace of the dukes. Duke Philip III built it in 1429, and in 2008 it became the first 5-star deluxe hotel in Bruges. Entering it today, one senses this is probably the closest a hotel can feel like entering a private home, albeit a particularly grand and spacious home. From a private courtyard, I came into a fine reception room where, unlike most hotels, there was no high counter, no crowd, no bustle, no piles of luggage. Instead, a friendly woman seated behind a desk greeted me and quickly checked me in.
Guest Quarters: The hotel has 93 guestrooms, including 22 suites. My room, while not large, was adequate, comfortable and finely decorated. From the window, I looked down to a beautifully manicured garden with modern art sculptures. The bathroom was excellent both in size and amenities. The closet was large. And what I very much appreciated — and rarely find in hotels — was good bedside lighting.
Services/Amenities: The Dukes’ Palace has an enviable position — quiet, removed from the bustle of the town yet only a few minutes’ walk to Market Square, the town’s center, and from there a short walk in any direction to Bruges’ other attractions.
Within the hotel, nearly every guest can look out the window to see part of the 300-square-yard garden of modern art. See a piece you don’t want to leave behind? Buy it; the hotel will ship it for you. Inside, the hotel displays older art, much of it from the palace’s past.
Art is very much part of the hotel’s experience. Even in its Bar Atelier, for instance, gigantic paint brushes form its centerpiece. Breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, Manuscript, was plentiful and delicious. The hotel’s spa features three therapy rooms as well as a 60-foot indoor swimming pool, a well-equipped fitness studio and a sauna.
The main public room again feels more like a large, wellfurnished salon in a grand home, with comfortable chairs and sofas and a fireplace, rather than a sleek hotel lounge.
The Experience: Most inviting about the Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace is that its history is simply and quietly part of the pleasure. It is understood and understated, and that, along with impeccable service, is what makes it the epitome of elegance.
Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace
Prinsenhof 8
8000 Bruges, Belgium
tel 32 50 447 888
kempinski.com
Read This Next
All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedHotels
Nov 14, 2024Six Senses Hotel to Debut in London Next Year
Next year, Six Senses, the luxury hotel and spa brand from IHG Hotels & Resorts, makes its entrance into several popular destinations, including London. In fact, the debut of Six Senses London in the first half of 2025 will be the brand’s first hotel in the United Kingdom.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Relaunches Direct Casablanca–Beijing Route, Debuts Toronto Flight
As part of its international network expansion, Royal Air Maroc will reinstate the direct Casablanca–Beijing route initially launched in January 2020 and suspended just a few weeks later due to the health crisis.
Daily
Nov 13, 2024Discover the Birthplace of Cacao in Ecuador
Chocolate is made from cacao beans and Ecuador, the birthplace of cacao, has long been a significant player in the world of chocolate. Although historians once believed cacao was first used by Mesoamerican cultures, more recent studies from scientists around the world confirmed the cacao bean was first cultivated by indigenous tribes in what is now Ecuador.
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024Drink It All in During a Stay at Hotel Manapany on Swanky St.-Barth
Vacationers travel to the posh island of St.-Barth for its ritzy shops, tucked-away local beaches and elevated cuisine melding classic French technique with flavorful Caribbean ingredients. Guests staying at Hôtel Manapany, an eco-focused boutique property on picturesque Anse des Cayes beach, can also sip their way through beverages that showcase these two distinct yet remarkably harmonious cultures.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024İstanbul Magically Integrates Past and Present, East and West
The breathtaking Bosporus Strait divides Europe and Asia in İstanbul, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires, a city where trade has been intrinsic to the global bridge since the advent of the Silk Road and the Spice Route.
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella Review
eFlyer Reviews
Nov 13, 2024Why You Should Visit Grindelwald Christmas Market
Daily
Nov 13, 2024eFlyer Deals
Nov 13, 2024Limited-Time Offer from Chase IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
This season, Chase IHG One Rewards credit cards introduce a new welcome offer on the brand’s Traveler Credit Card. With this new offer, new cardmembers can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases on the card in the first three months from account opening.
Sponsored Content
Pick Your Paradise: Experience Bali at 3 Incredible Hotels
Bali is a name synonymous with island bliss. But there is more than just one side to this incredible place. Get a sense for the variety of experiences Bali offers by learning about three hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with distinctive opportunities for adventure and relaxation. With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card, earn points for free nights at each of these properties.
eFlyer Deals
Nov 13, 2024Snag Black Friday Deals at 2 San Diego Hotels
San Diego embraces Black Friday with exclusive deals at two popular upscale hotels. At Kona Kai San Diego, on the tip of the city’s Shelter Island, guests who book between Nov. 28 and Dec. 3 can receive either a refundable up to 25 percent off or up to a 30 percent non-refundable discount on the best available room rate.
ShareThis