Unique Antwerp hotel with an arty profile
Hotel Pilar / Antwerp / Belgium
If someone would ask me to list my favorite cities Antwerp in Belgium would end up high on that list. And one of the best things is that this place is still a pretty well kept secret among the many. Antwerp has so much to offer which also applies to hotels. There are amazing places such as Julien and August located here, but this time we decided to try something new and ended up at Hotel Pilar and we weren’t disappointed. Oh, and a disclaimer: this was our first opportunity to leave the country in a looong time so this post might be overly positive.
So, Pilar Hotel is located in ’t Zuid (the South) of Antwerp. A neighborhood that is a great combo of residential and fun bars, restaurants and some really good shopping. This used to be an overlooked area that lately has grown a lot in popularity. In a way it has a kind of Parisian feel to it. Maybe that is why it is so easy to love.
Hotel Pilar is situated in a historic building on the corner of the Leopold de Wael Square, right in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. Sam and Christophe, the two guys behind the creation of this hotel had a dream to create an eclectic house filled with energetic hospitality and I really think they have succeded.
The building is filled with interesting art work (even the stair case is overloaded with fun art) and quirky details. The rooms have tall ceilings and huge windows overlooking the busy square. There are only 17 rooms in total so this is a true boutique hotel. And you know what, I think we have found another favorite in this hip, edgy city.
Welcome to Hotel Pilar in Antwerp!
The facade of the beautiful Hotel Pilar early in the morning. It always pays of to get out of bed early.
I love the simplicity of the reception. Clean lines and great use of materials.
I am a huge fan of hotels that see corridors and stairwells as an opportunity for a design statement.
This is actually the room of our friends who we travelled to Antwerp with. Their room was even more photogenic than ours.
This was our room. Huge and minimalistic.
But our room had the most beautiful bathtub ever. Art and bathtubs obviously is a great combo.
The stairs were really decked out, in fun art work. Paired with worn wooden stairs and painted bricks.
The restaurant
I L O V E this discreet but yet not discreet neon hotel sign. So simple! And dramatic!
Antwerp is full of great architecture. This is the downtown police headquarters. So cool!
M and our friend F walking around in Antwerp taking in all the beauty.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to stay central but not too central. Pilar is within walking distance from downtown and the thing is that you don’t have to go there if you don’t want to. Everything you need is right on your doorstep not the least when talking about great restaurants and bars.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the huge terrace. The weather was great when we stayed here and it was so nice to start the day with a super delicious breakfast “al fresco”. And it was equally great to come back in the afternoon for an aperitif before we went out for dinner. The restaurant at Pilar is popular among both hotel guests and the locals and it is easy to see why.
What not to miss when staying here…
…Antwerp is a great shopping city. But what I would recommend the most is to get your hands on one of the city bikes and just bike around and look at all the interesting architecture. There are so many impressive buildings in this city. Just remember to keep your eyes on the road. The trams are just too silent.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Le Pigalle, Paris, France
SP34, Copenhagen, Denmark
Redchurch Townhouse, London, UK
