Hotel Van Cleef

Booked exclusively by hotel guests, Hotel Van Cleef operates less like a public hotel than a private house in Bruges, opened in 2015 by the Vanhaecke family after years running other hotels in the city. It stands close to the Belfry of Bruges and the City Hall, on Molenmeers, though the address gives little away from the street. Inside, the mood is deliberately quiet. There are 17 rooms and suites, furnished in a classic style with fabrics from Missoni and Hermès, and finished with fittings chosen to keep the building's historic character intact. The Suites, at 50 to 65 square metres, are the largest, with king-size beds and a sitting area that converts to sleep two more. Bathrooms are marble, with a whirlpool, separate shower, and separate WC. You can look out over the canal to the rooftops and church towers beyond. Every room has air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a minibar, and a coffee machine; a safe and ironing board are standard. Breakfast is served each morning. The hotel has no public bar or restaurant open to outsiders, which is the point: guests come and go through a house that keeps the city's noise at arm's length. Check-in is personal, handled by the family that runs it.