Dark, sombre hotel in Ghent with a British gentleman’s club feel
1898 The Post Hotel / Ghent / Belgium
Living in the Netherlands has given us the opportunity to visit places we most likely would never have gone to otherwise. One of those places is Ghent in Belgium which according to some is one of the best-kept secrets of Europe which is something I agree with. Many who come to this small country head for Bruges, Brussels or Antwerp but Ghent, located at the confluence of River Lys and River Escaut has been flying a little under the radar.
A hotel that really stand out in this Belgian town is 1898 The Post Hotel. This used to be the old main post office, located between the Korenmarkt Square and Graslei in the centre of Ghent. Construction on this Neo Gothic inspired beauty started way back in 1898 but it wasn’t until 1909 that the doors opened. The last service counter closed in 2001 and after that transformation started. The doors once again opened in August 2017 when guests were welcomed to 1898 The Post Hotel.
In total there are 38 rooms with high ceilings and huge windows flooding the rooms with light. One of the design features that really stand out is the signature dark green walls. Paired with antique furniture it creates a Harry Potter-esque feeling (the outside look of the building, especially at night totally adds to this feeling) that really resonate with me. One of the best things is that most of the items you’ll find in your room are for sale so make sure to bring enough space in your suit case. And money…
The old post office of Ghent is an impressive building in all of its Neo Gothical glory. A perfect canvas to start with when creating a hotel concept that resulted in 1898 The Post Hotel.
We entered through the back door and were totally in awe of this beautiful staircase leading us up to the reception.
The corridors have a warm and welcoming feeling. Classy and classic.
Our room had a mezzanine that provided a great birds-eye view of our room with the massive windows and dark green walls.
I am obsessed with this deep, British racing green.
To have a small vase with a yellow rose on the bedside table is such a great way to create a homely feeling in a hotel room.
This is one of the best mini-bars I have ever seen.
You know you are staying at a good hotel when there is bathroom products from Le Labo.
A corner of our room.
In this tower there was a great…
…common room. This was my favorite place to hang out with an excellent view of Ghent.
I do love myself a honesty bar. It is great when hotels trust their guests enough to offer something like this.
The bar/restaurant where the breakfast was served.
Ok. just had to have one more photo of the building.
There are a lot of interesting buildings and forward thinking architecture in Ghent. This is the Stadshal.
Ghent by night.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to explore one of the best-kept secrets of Europe, the city of Ghent, and to stay at a really cosy hotel while doing so. This hotel exudes warmth. Such an including xxxx
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the hang out area situated in one of the towers. A really nice area to kick back an relax. And best of all, there is a honesty bar. Love honesty bars!
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to put on some comfy shoes and explore Ghent on foot. It is a perfect size town for a weekend with great shopping, restaurants, cafés and bars. And the 1898 Post Hotel is located right in the centre of town so you’ll always be close to ”home”.
If you like this place you might also like…
August, Antwerp, Belgium
The Dylan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Miss Clara, Stockholm, Sweden
