Why book Botanic Sanctuary?
Antwerp has often been overlooked for foodie city breaks. Perhaps because, despite its excellent restaurants and cafes, it lacked a standout luxury hotel where you could relax between meals. The Botanic Sanctuary fills that gap brilliantly. Carefully built from the remains of a medieval monastery and hospital, it’s a place full of surprises, stories – and excellent food. There are already five restaurants (three Michelin-starred) – and more are planned. A further 17 Michelin-starred restaurants (for a total of 21 stars) are within walking distance.
Create the right atmosphere
Although 80 percent of the buildings are listed, Botanic doesn’t take its history too seriously – it’s playful rather than oppressive. Sunlight slants down a secluded corridor; a 15th-century chapel hosts Sunday brunch; afternoon tea is taken in a fairytale cottage in the woods. New additions feel fresh without being intrusive: the atrium resembles a giant greenhouse, with sofas in planters shaded by arched trees.
The background story
Sit back and enjoy a history lesson. In 1238, the Sint-Elisabeth Hospital and its monastery moved here from outside the city gates. In the 15th century, a chapel was added and a hundred years later, the famous pharmacist Peeter van Coudenberghe planted a garden to supply the hospital with medicinal herbs. The garden was revived in the 19th century and listed as a historical monument in 1950 (it is still next to the hotel and is a must-see). Over the centuries, buildings were demolished, restructured, added and expanded. Fast forward to the present: Maryse Odeurs (a former intensive care nurse) and Eric De Vocht of real estate development IRET wanted to add a luxury hotel to their portfolio. The 20,000 square meter site was owned by the city of Antwerp, but in 2017 the group managed to secure a 99-year lease and in 2019, in close coordination with the city’s heritage authority, began stripping the site down to the old brickwork and structures. The hotel opened in 2021, but is still being expanded, optimized and refined.
The rooms
108 rooms and suites (all different) are spread across five heritage buildings (Sint-Joris, Monasterium, Sint-Elisabeth, Alnetum and Filips Van Marnix Huise). For winter coziness, nothing beats the top-floor suites, where exposed beams and steep ceilings give off the atmosphere of a Flemish artist’s studio (some even have winding wooden staircases and nooks reminiscent of childhood hide-and-seek). In summer, the first-floor rooms offer airy serenity. The structural layout of the buildings provides all the design drama you need, and there’s a deep understanding that humans need quiet spaces and cozy sleeping quarters in which to rest. Colors are soft and warm (sage, putty, spreadable cream, sand) and the choices are surprising enough to pique interest without jarring. It’s the epitome of a sanctuary.
Food and Drink
Michelin stars glitter everywhere at Botanic, but the hotel avoids the fresh, simple and traditional formality of most Antwerp restaurants. The rock’n’roll exuberance of chef Gert De Mangeleer is reflected in the attitude of maître sommelier Joachim Boudens at two-star Hertog Jan. The organic simplicity of the interior (by Benoit Viaene) draws all your attention to the “omakase” tasting menu (trust the chef). It’s a culinary expedition where nothing is as it seems, and you can even relocate to a dome next to the kitchen in the middle of it all.
Fine Fleur is a larger contemporary space full of flowing curves, run by Jacob Jan Boerma and Thomas Diepersloot, while afternoon tea at Het Gebaar has quickly become an Antwerp institution. Located at the entrance to the Botanical Garden (it used to be the hospital’s pharmacy), it has a strong atmosphere like a gingerbread hut in the forest. Michelin-starred chef Roger van Damme is known for his desserts, but the savoury dishes are also works of art.
The elegant brasserie Bar Bulot is an offshoot of De Mangeleer/Boudens and focuses on Flemish cuisine (the vol au vent for two is out of this world).
Henry’s Bar & Bistro is a cosy bar and bright conservatory with terrace (as well as a private dining room with wine-painted walls). The menu is extensive and offers a mix of French and Belgian specialities. Down in the cellar, The Unprecedented hosts the invitation-only Scotch Whisky Investors Club.
Breakfast is served in a cathedral-shaped room with a high ceiling and huge rustic beams. The buffet is huge, the champagne flows freely (or you can make yourself a Bloody Mary at a designated station) and there’s a small but well-designed menu. Sunday brunch is a real event, held in the chapel.
A sixth restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jacob Jan Boerma is set to open next year – an “interactive experience” that is currently still shrouded in mystery. A seventh restaurant is being discussed. At Botanic, no one needs to go hungry or be bored.
The Spa
Currently, the spa is perfectly pleasant, with a top-floor pool (sadly not outdoors – a missed opportunity), a decent steam/sauna facility, an airy and well-equipped gym, ten fresh treatment rooms and a slightly precarious relaxation area. For a solid old-school facial (physioderma), Karin Leppens is the aesthetician to go to. Functional medicine trainer Kim Smolders is inspiring and pragmatic – the best combination.
The original vision of combining TCM and European monastic medicine has not yet been fully realized, but there are plans to expand into an adjacent building and offer a more focused integrated wellness clinic alongside the soft spa offering. Xavier Le Clef, osteopath, TCM and holistic doctor, has big plans. It’s worth keeping an eye on it.
The neighborhood
This formerly forgotten (and, some would say, disreputable) corner of the city is undergoing a complete personality change. IRET has invested in the area, buying up land around the hotel and renting it out to like-minded businesses (florists, interior design companies, restaurants, cafes, tapas and wine bars). A public road runs through the hotel grounds, connecting it to the new quarter. Nothing is far away – a ten-minute walk takes you to the historic centre with its beautiful cathedral and Rubens House. A 20-minute walk in the opposite direction and you are at the newly renovated KMSKA (Royal Museum of Fine Arts).
The service
Finding the right staff has been a challenge, which has resulted in some minor inconsistencies in service. However, all the staff are warm and welcoming, and new GM Christian Hirt (formerly of Raffles and Fairmont in Doha) is ready to put everything right.
Eco-effort
Combining luxury and sustainability is not easy in a heritage site that limits initiatives. However, Botanic is working on Green Key certification and is optimistic about obtaining it next year. The company places great importance on working locally and the shuttle service uses hybrid cars that run mainly on electric power.
accessibility
All public areas are accessible for people with reduced mobility (some require advance notice so the hotel can install ramps). There are five fully accessible rooms with lower mirrors, wider doors and accessible showers. Three suites (with stairs) have interior elevators. The spa and all restaurants are wheelchair accessible, except for Het Gabaar, which has four steps).
