Former Antwerp monastery turned flawless design hotel
Hotel August / Antwerp / Belgium
Antwerpen is constantly re-establishing its position as a design destination. Not only when it comes to fashion but also the hotel scene. Considering this is a town of just over 500,000 inhabitants it is fascinating how many interesting hotels this place has to offer. And one of the most interesting ones is this one, Hotel August.
Hotel August is situated in an old Augustinian cloister (hence the name) that has been transformed into this beautiful design hotel under the hands of legendary Belgian architect, Vincent van Duysen. This is van Duysen’s first ever hotel project and I dare to say he hit a home-run with his first try,
The design to me feels very discreet. It is not there to provoke or to disrupt. It more feels like it has naturally evolved from the building and its heritage. In a way it is like a modern take of a cloister for the 21st Century with patterned floor tiles, wooden panels and discreet muted colors. And the whole look feels totally cohesive.
The location of Hotel August is in the Haringrode district which is a short bike rid from the city center. I have always liked hotels that are located in residential areas since that is a great way to get closer to the everyday of the people who live there and get a sense of what life is like for the locals.
The discreet entrance to Hotel August.
The entrance, flooded in light.
The bar/lobby area that used to be the cloister chapel.
The side entrance (that isn’t being used).
I love these original tiles.
I love this squeaky staircase where the original wood has been taken care of. And paired with the floor tiles it makes for a perfect combo.
The public spaces are sparsely decorated with muted colors and very few accessories.
Our room. A very appealing design where no little detail has been missed. From the pencil to the wall sockets.
M refusing to get out of bed. I remembered he said it was too comfy to leave.
Contemporary bathroom with marble vanity and French bistro tiles.
The view from our room of the old chapel.
The courtyard is a perfect place to escape to in Summer. We found a spot in the shade for an afternoon reading session.
The library
The shop and café belonging to the hotel but that is situated the in the opposing building.
The pizzas at nearby Standard restaurant are just as good as the look. Or actually better.
Mango has got himself a bike and is ready to explore the streets of Antwerp.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…just like me appreciate a hotel off the beaten track, also when going on a city break. And if you like your city hotel to provide a refuge, where you can retreat for some calm after a full day of exploration.
My favorite thing about this place…
…I would say the you have everything you might need within the walls of the hotel, a great restaurant, spa, library, bar, shop, café… You name it!
What not to miss when staying here…
…around the corner from the hotel there is an old factory turned restaurant, café and shop area. We went for pizzas at xx and they are amazing. Also I recommend to get one of the ”A bikes” and explore Antwerp from the saddle. The bike saddle, that is.
If you like this place you might also like…
The Dylan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Julien, Antwerp, Belgium
Miss Clara, Stockholm, Sweden
