hoteldeorangerie travel destinations Virgin Media
It wouldn't seem quite right to visit a place like Bruges and stay in a shiny, ultra-modern hotel. Some old-time elegance is called for in keeping with this medieval town's cobbled charm, and on this front the Orangerie scores very highly. This top-end boutique hotel on the banks of a canal provides every modern comfort but its décor is steadfastly traditional.
The foyer walls are lined with signed photos of luminaries who have stopped by in the past; immediate reassurance comes with the knowledge that the small-but-perfectly-formed hotel has proved sufficiently plush for the likes of Cheryl Ladd, David Hasselhoff and - gasp! - Mark Owen. It's little surprise that this is the place VIPs target when they demand the most classy lodging in town, for standards are sky-high in every department.
The charming 15th century building that now houses the hotel was once a convent and has a somewhat rambling, improvised layout that adds to the character. No two of the 20 guest rooms are the same but a consistent theme of elegance is maintained; furnishings are tastefully old-fashioned throughout and feel entirely in keeping both with the structure they're a part of and the old city beyond. Modern staples like phone and TV are all present and correct but carefully unobtrusive - in the case of the latter, you get a modest-sized flat-screen LCD (with all UK channels) attached to a wall. There's also free web access from a laptop on an upstairs landing. Retaining oodles of character whilst delivering mod cons and a high degree of luxury is a mean feat, but the Orangerie plays it just right. Scholars of interior design will also be mightily impressed at the hotel's crafty use of space, with smallish, low-ceilinged and unusually-shaped rooms made to feel anything but cramped.
Beyond the flawless lodgings, what makes the Orangerie truly memorable is the warmth and enthusiasm of the staff - welcoming, cheerful and eternally helpful, they provide a level of service that is notably beyond the norm and adds an extra dimension to your visit.
One thing the hotel does lack is a full restaurant, which deprives it of that five-star status but isn't much of a problem given the broad selection of eateries a few minutes' stroll away in the Markt, Bruges' main square. Indeed, the location simply couldn't be any better; sandwiched between the square and the picturesque Djiver canal (which some rooms look directly on to), the Orangerie has the benefit of a peaceful side-street location but is also right in the midst of the action, with all manner of shops and services on the doorstep. It's also yards from a boat stop and in walking distance of chief tourist attractions like the Belfort and Choco-Story.
Before you retire to your ultra-comfy and enormous bed, a selection of night-caps are available downstairs in a cosy drawing room with the obligatory roaring fire and leathery armchairs. Next door, a wood-pannelled dining room with canal views hosts a champagne buffet each morning, a vast spread of every imaginable breakfast foodstuff that is a steal at 19 Euros a head.
The hotel isn't big enough to house a pool but guests can pop across the canal for a swim at sister hotel the Tulieeren.
