Boulevard Leopold Rooms & Suites
Some hotels are made for socialising, their lobbies as vast as belle époque-ballrooms, and their verandas designed for people-watching. Checking into one of these places is almost a social event in itself, dinner plans being made with acquaintances randomly passing by at the same moment that you’re handed your room key. For breakfast it’s more or less mandatory to dress up, as even having your cup of morning coffee and some scrambled eggs is an important social moment.
Boulevard Leopold Rooms & Suites is not one of these places.
A three-storey 19th-century townhouse, the bed-and-breakfast used to be the personal home of the owner. It’s situated in Antwerp’s orthodox Jewish district, close to many nice restaurants and pleasant wine bars.
There are only five rooms, or more accurately described, three rooms and two suites, of which one is on the first floor and the other on the top floor. This means that staying here is a rather intimate affair, suitable for those who prefer spending their time relaxing on their own rather than socialising in a crowded hotel bar.
Beginning in the 1980s, a certain type of style has successively developed, closely associated with Belgian fashion and interiors, or more accurately, specifically linked to the city of Antwerp. Difficult to describe in words, the style is instantly recognisable. In fashion, it’s often monochromatic and dark, and the garments are deconstructed along the lines of an investigative design discourse, where dress traditions are questioned and unpacked. Initially associated with the group of fashion designers known as Antwerp Six – which included Ann Demeulemeester, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, and Dirk Bikkembergs – and who graduated from Antwerp’s Academy of Fine Arts in the early 1980s.
The style has also heavily impacted Antwerp interior design, which often incorporates large mirrors, glass domes placed over shimmering butterflies or dark insects, as well as corals, exotic stones, and antiques in its mise-en-scène.
Breakfast is served in the breakfast room just behind the salon, where every morning a simple but rewarding Belgian breakfast is served, including fresh orange juice, fresh fruit salad, bread and eggs.
Most people find their way here simply by word of mouth. Perhaps a friend or a coworker once stayed here while in Antwerp, and recommended it. Because of this, many guests belong to the same kind of creative field – fashion, music, art, and architecture – even though they might speak different languages and travel from different countries to stay here.
Many guests also return repeatedly, sometimes for a weekend in Antwerp but sometimes also specifically to enjoy a relaxing stay in the townhouse. As it’s a B&B, there’s no cleaning service, and no one will disturb you once you’ve settled in.
Boulevard Leopold Rooms & Suites
