City castle hotel with contemporary design in central Ghent
Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof / Ghent / Belgium
We lived in the Netherlands for six years and this has given us the opportunity to visit places we most likely would never have gone to otherwise. One of these places is Ghent in Belgium which according to some (us) is one of the best-kept secrets of Europe. Many who come to this small country head straight 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 but it is about time people hear about this amazing little town.
And if you come here, maybe Grand Hotel Reylof is the place to stay for you? This hotel is part of local chain Pillows, with 3 hotels in Belgium and 5 in the Netherlands. After having stayed at four of their hotels I would say that their signature is well-designed spaces with a sense of discreet luxury. And this is also the case for this city castle hotel.
The hotel has one foot firmly planted in the past and the other in the here and now. The historic connection is mostly visible on the outside while the interior is modern but with a homage to Baron Reylof who has given the hotel its name. There are a total of 156 rooms at this fairly large hotel. Ours was a very warm and subtle affair with fitted carpet and muted tones. Perfect place to relax in after having explored this exciting town.
Talk about a grand entrance. Welcome to Grand Hotel Reylof in central Ghent.
The first thing that hits you when you enter the hotel is that they did not hold back when they designed this place. It is big, bold and powerful. I like it! A lot!
Our room was (like in all Pillow’s hotels) designed with muted colors. It creates a soothing, relaxing feel. And I must admit that I am a huge fan of a fitted carpet.
In the common areas there is a lot of marble used which gives the hotel the castle-like look and feel it deserves.
Lamps and light play a crucial part in the design. In most of the spaces, lamps play centre stage and it feels like the design has been created around them.
Like here in one of the meeting rooms (that was opened so I popped in to take a photo). It is fascinating to see how all the modern lamps compliment the heritage of the building in an excellent way.
The bar area opens up to the lush garden at the back of the hotel. Perfect to sit (like we did) and have a drink in the warm Summer night. Don’t miss the gin menu. It is rich.
The garden is like on of those classic British gardens. Beautiful and so well looked after.
A quiet corner to rest your legs.
Love the city scape of towns in this part of the world. The facades of these old buildings are simply stunning.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…have done the classic three cities in Belgium and you are curious to discover something new. If you are looking for a hotel with a heritage, a sense of luxury and great food and drinks, this is most likely your kind of place.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the generous garden at the back. Such a lovely area to hang out in after you are done with your sightseeing. And you know what, they have the most extensive gin selection I have ever seen so I recommend to opt for a classic (but not so classic) G&T.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…to book a table at the hotel restaurant, LOF. It is very popular and we didn’t so we ended up having to eat at a restaurant downtown (which wasn’t bad either).
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Anna van den Vondel Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands
August, Antwerp, Belgium
Dylan, Amsterdam, Netherlands
