8 Best Hotels in Ghent and the Leie, Belgium

Nestled amid the elegant town houses of Groeningestraat is arguably the most stylish retreat in town. Hotel Messeyne is a slick boutique stay, but one that manages to squeeze in the extras normally found in newer hotels. A gym, sauna, and hammam offer a dash of luxury, while rooms are crisp affairs, with those in the eaves accented by original beams. Restaurant Messeyne is also one of the finer spots in town, not just for its French-Belgian menu but for the pretty terrace garden that offers a rare chance to sit outside in the city in peace.

This 18th-century manor house makes charming use of its setting, with an elegantly finished interior and delightful terrace and garden. Rooms are decked in light-wood floors with a crisp grey-and-white design that gives the overall impression of simple, chic elegance. Brunch, breakfast, high tea, dinner can all be arranged. 

Get a different perspective on Ghent by staying aboard this restored riverboat, which dates from 1953 and has been docked on the Leie since Portus Ganda opened. Cabins are large and bright, with bathtubs available in rooms on the upper floor. The wood-floored, sunny breakfast room also doubles as the evening gathering spot. Free parking is available on the road nearby. Just bring your sea legs: even though it's tightly anchored to the shore, the boat does tend to rock a bit.

This small and friendly hotel is in an attractive old town house just a few minutes' walk from the Grote Markt. High ceilings and light furnishings give the elegantly appointed guest rooms an airy, spacious feel.

Genial owners Annik and Kristof have turned this elegant, 1756-built town house into a delightful stay. A communal lounge comes with lashings of tea, coffee, and cake to devour among newfound friends in front of the fireplace. High-ceilinged walls are decked in mostly Belgian contemporary art, while many of the original fixtures and fittings have been kept, adapted, or sensitively replaced. Those that didn't make it (old doors, etc.) have even been recycled as decoration. In the rafters, suites have been carved from the old attic, where the original beams, built without using metal nails, are still in situ. You don't even have to bother with keys; keypads have replaced locks on the rooms. This is a living relic that has been wonderfully preserved and updated, and the owners even run a home-wares shop on Serpentstraat if you're taken with their design. 

The location of this regal city-center stay, right across from the belfry, takes in some of the more cherished real estate in Kortrijk. The rococo exterior dates from 1769, and its litany of past guests is no less grand, ranging from kings to presidents. The interior is suitably classical, while a well-respected cocktail bar and brasserie (which is accessed via the Grote Markt) complete the boutique picture.

This rather plush stay by the railway station has the air of a luxury business hotel. The Belgian-French bistro doubles as a breakfast room, and you can add the convivial Jules Bar and wellness center to the overall waft of urban elan. Rooms are restrained and largely nondescript, though the larger family-size rooms at the corners of the building are blessed with giant windows and balconies, to take in the cityscape. Parkhotel have also recently opened a newer branch in the city center, called The Market, which sits atop a burger restaurant. This is cheaper but swaps plush extras for convenience.

For those unaware, "Yalo" is a local slang term for "Wow." Ghent's new urban boutique hotel certainly gives off a need to impress. What else could have prompted them to build its "disco toilets"—yes, they're public bathrooms with a big button on the wall that turns off all the lights, strobes flashing colors (epileptics beware!), and blares out deafening dance music. Indeed, there is something sweatily hip about it all, yet YALO is also pretty impressive. There are plans for Ghent's first rooftop bar to open here in 2022; the central bar-restaurant does a fine line in cocktails and makes good use of what was once a vacant mall, and there's just no other hotel quite like it in the city. A humidor, gym, and excellent wine cellar (the owner even has his own Belgian vineyard nearby) tick off the luxuries, while many rooms come with fine balcony views. Just don't hit that damn button!