The Notary

The Notary is undoubtedly a beautiful property, but at 760euros a night, we felt it did not offer a 5-star experience. The staff is small and seemed inexperienced. The concierge Patrick was grumpy and everytime we asked him for anything, he behaved like he was doing us a favor, making us feel uncomfortable. Upon arrival, our fireplace was not working, nor was the iPad that controls mostly everything in the room. The decor throughout the hotel is beautiful, but also very abundant - in our room we had to move decorative items to make space for our belongings and there was not enough space to hang our clothes. No waste bin in the bathroom, which was not provided until the next day and a shower that leaked onto the floor. Extremely small toilet room. Service at the bar/restaurant goes from slow to non existent. One evening, we were the only ones, but had to go to the kitchen to ask if we could see the menu ! Breakfast is average, expensive and slow. Would not return - The Notary offers absolutely no value for money.

Visited on way to Amsterdam and on the way back so two different but equally fabulous rooms with warm welcome from Els on arrival and delightful dinner using super-fresh ingredients cooked with skill and deceptive simplicity by Patrick. Lovely views over the snow covered garden and easy private parking made it a truly relaxing experience in this thoughtfully restored town house within walking distance of the amazing museums and galleries of gorgeous Bruges.

The Notary is simply the most original hotel I have stayed at… Ever. My fiancée and I took a 3 night stay here in late January and I can honestly say, this is a true gem in the beautiful city of Bruges. The decor of this quiet boutique hotel is elegant, classy, extremely quirky and a pure delight to experience. We received a guided tour on arrival from the lovely girl on reception (apologies for not getting your name), who was obviously proud of the hotel. Through the reception room, the drawing room and the exquisite gardens then into the palm room. This hotel is stunning. It is a feast for the senses as the fragrances, soft classical background music and various textiles used, just make for a sensory feast throughout every single part of the hotel. But at the same time it remains a cosy haven of tranquility. Our room was fabulous with a view of the street. A big emperor sized canopy bed welcomed us and as we put the keycard in, romantic lighting, soft music and a log fire all came to life. This is the Wow Factor you want on a special stay and it delivered in a big way!!! The room was full of antique furniture but it had a contemporary and modern feel to it which oozed luxury out of every angle. A beautiful velvet sofa at the foot of the bed in front of the fire made for a lovely place to relax whilst getting ready at night. The seperate bathroom guarded by a full size statue of a cheetah (whom we named Charlie!) and the toiletries provided were so nice and the rainfall shower provided a gorgeous hot luxurious shower experience. We ate at the hotel on one of the three nights and met Kurt the chef, who talked to us about the fresh produce he had got that day and as the hotel was slightly quieter, gave us some bespoke choices. It was like having a private chef! The kitchen is open to all and maintains the stunning decor of the hotel. He cooked pig cheek stew for me and Albondigas for my better half and it was fantastic. Authentic cooked food and it really made for a special arrival night. All the staff at this hotel are exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and professional and can’t do enough for you. They really exemplify the overall class and quality of the hotel. I could not dream of a better place to stay and we will look to return later this year when the weather is a little more gracious to us. See you soon. Aaron & Stella.

The accommodations exceeded our expectations. It is so incredibly comfortable and quiet, yet so close to the center of everything. The staff was accommodating and the food was outstanding. It has a gorgeous backyard with a separate facility that has a sauna and a lounge area. Everything was perfectly decorated, and there is quality in every touch. Loved every minute!

We had 5 nights in this wonderful hotel and were made to feel like royalty, nothing was too much to ask for! The room was incredible, every detail thought about and no expense spared. The two front of house ladies were exceptional and made us feel very welcome, particularly Els Pylyse, our stay would not have been the same without her! All the food was fantastic, although the bar and evening menu could have been slightly more diverse. The drinks menu was equally as good especially the cocktails but being in Bruges I would expect to see a few more beers on the menu. We will be returning

We are currently staying and thoroughly enjoying the luxury of the Notary in the enchanting city of Brugge. From arrival we were welcomed like regulars (our first time) and treated like royalty. The front of house team is on point with every little detail, the in house chef is at hand to serve superb dinners and delightful healthy breakfasts, housekeeping is there for any requests and all that’s before I mention the decor and beauty of the hotel. The owners have spared no expense in making this residence one of the most stunning I have ever stayed in, and I’m fortunate to have stayed in some fantastic hotels. The dining room, cozy and warm with the fire place roaring, is the ideal setting to enjoy one of chef Kurt’s signature menus. Afterwards relax in the lounge with a glass of wine in front of another fire place before retiring to a beautiful chamber with is own fireplace. The bedrooms are out of this world!!! Need I say anymore, if you want the best in Brugge, it’s simple….stay at the Notary!