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At Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, a 15th-Century Monastery Is Reimagined as a Luxury Escape, with Michelin-Starred Dining & a Hidden Garden | Hotel Review
- Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
ANTWERP
Along the pavements of Theaterbuurt, Antwerp’s Latin Quarter, a cacophony unravels. Assistants fiddle with displays in the storefronts of avant-garde designers, pedestrians click their shoes across busy crossings, and outside independent cafes, baristas unstack chairs in preparation for the day ahead. Then the car diverts left. The urban scenery disappears, leaving a hedge-lined driveway, flanked by the 15th-century frame of a former monastery in its stead. Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp is an oasis in plain sight.
All images are courtesy of Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp.
Opened in December 2021, this 5-star property has quickly evolved into a magnet for fashionable travellers. Its proximity to Antwerp’s concert venue, AFAS Dome, renders Botanic a popular base for famous musicians, who value the privacy that the hotel's discretion — and network of subterranean tunnels — provide.
For the mere mortals amongst us, this property serves as a welcome reprieve from the tussles of day-to-day life. Scenically bordering the Antwerp Botanic Gardens, the hotel encompasses a manicured cluster of renovated buildings, with peaceful courtyards and two Michelin-starred restaurants on-site. Its thriving reputation amongst discerning travellers is far from mysterious.
First Impressions & Arrival – Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
Despite the onslaught of a European heatwave, the pick-up from Brussels Central was seamless — an attentive driver, air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and cloud-soft leather headrests.
Within 60 minutes, the roadside atmosphere has shifted from top-buttoned formalities in Brussels to cool elegance in Antwerp. A courteous doorman assisted with luggage, a security desk checked passports, and check-in was completed inside an airy atrium, with plush seating and complimentary fruit-infused water.
Design
Few properties sustain architectural heritage in the visionary manner that Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp has achieved. In plant-strewn corridors, beneath stepped gable rooftops, there is no mistaking that the property is, first and foremost, a historic Antwerp landmark.
As a listed building, the former monastery is a trove of original features, from apothecary shelves and gnarled beams to ceramic tiles retained from a head nun’s private kitchen. These storied details are stoically restored and retained — forming a cohesive narrative across the property’s five buildings: Sint-Joris, Monasterium, Sint-Elisabeth, Alnetum, and Filips Van Marnix Huis.
Despite the monastic grandeur, Botanic Sanctuary’s array of guestrooms and suites evokes a mellow earthiness, drawing on the serenity of natural materials and the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi (the beauty of imperfection). Rooms start with an 18-25 m² Classic, featuring a minimalist bathroom and rain shower, and extend to elaborate upgrades, such as The Botanic Suite, complete with a 68 m² private terrace.
Where renovations are tastefully restrained by listed heritage, Botanic Sanctuary channels creative liberation through artwork. The hotel is a joint venture of husband-wife duo, Eric De Vocht and Maryse Odeurs. Odeurs has an eye for aesthetics, shaping design, and leading collaborations with local artists, including Tom Van der Borght.
Facilities
Botanic Health Spa is the crowning jewel of this property. Straddling three floors, its gabled conservatory is a striking architectural feature, housing an 18m swimming pool with panoramic views into Antwerp’s adjoining Botanic Garden.
On the same floor, the conservatory retreats into a serene spa complex.
Guests wander between botanical showers, a Nordic sauna, a steam room, an ice fountain, hydrotherapy treatments, and the comforting warmth of a Himalayan salt room. There are cups for self-serving still or sparkling water from a large refreshment counter, complete with Botanic magazines for lounger reading.
Overlooking the turquoise shimmer of the pool below, the third floor is home to a compact yet well-equipped fitness centre. There is a generous row of treadmills and ellipticals, backed by resistance machines, two squat racks, and small matted areas with a selection of free weights.
Personal training is available, but for most travellers, it is instantly negated by the gym’s latest Technogym equipment. After downloading the Technogym app, guests operate the equipment through HD touchscreen consoles, automatically syncing their data, adjusting weights for optimal hypertrophy, and directing their session. For anyone battling motivation, this technology injects a welcome dose of gamification.
Dining & Drinking
Botanic Sanctuary has a myriad of award-winning restaurants, accoladed to serve guests from dawn to dusk. Mornings start at Catalpa, where the Botanic Breakfast Experience spans signature cooked-to-order dishes and buffet — complete with artisanal charcuterie, champagne, and spoonfuls of caviar. Served between 7am - 10:30am on weekdays, and 7am - 11:30am on weekends, it’s deservedly touted as an outstanding start to a morning.
Afterward, organisation takes the lead: reservations rule the remainder of the day.
Hertog Jan holds two Michelin stars and, fittingly for its nature-inspired tasting menus, commands exclusive use of the property’s on-site herb garden. Drawing on the Japanese concept of Omakase — translated as “I leave it to the chef” — Hertog Jan invites indulgence through unbridled artistry.
Fine Fleur serves modern French cuisine inspired by wanderlust and global flavours. Awarded a Michelin star in 2025, inspectors specifically noted its “exceptional ingredients flanked by gutsy sauces.”
Bar Bulot is unmistakable with its blue-and-white interior; a thematic design in perfect keeping with its reputation for delectable seafood, including distinctly Belgian shrimp croquettes. The breezy flexibility of à la carte is coupled with stylish ambiance.
Het Gebaar sits inside the enchanting Gingerbread House, situated near the hotel’s entrance, in lieu of a traditional gatehouse. High tea includes whimsical tiers of pastries and immaculate savory bites, accompanied by premium teas and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut.
Henry’s Bar is a manifestation of Botanic Sanctuary’s stormier character, encompassing an elegant bar with glinting bottles against dark-brown walls and burgundy seating.
As of June 2026, the latest additions are Hidden Garden, an airy lunch-and-dinner concept, and Sanctus, an intimate 11-course tasting menu, both headed by Michelin-starred chef Yves Mattagne.
Hidden Garden marries international flavours with Belgian produce, drawing on classical training and inspiration from Mattagne’s 45 years of precious travel and cross-cultural encounters. Eclectism drives conversation-sparking dishes, from Balfegó blue-fin tuna, theatrically carved tableside, to wasabi-topped salmon maki.
Sanctus is committed to a single service per evening, inviting private groups on a chef-led journey through an evolving menu of Belgian seafood. Each course is prepared in full view of guests, with tableside guidance and theatrical touches — from seared hamachi to gentle toppings of caviar.
The Verdict
The sprawling heritage and fervour of culinary opportunity are enough temptation to remain on property; a strong statement given the calibre of dining and attractions on its doorstep.
The sheer scale of the property is an Achilles heel at times. Check-in desks are spread throughout an airy atrium, curating an efficient, if slightly scattered, experience. In a similar vein, ground-floor Monasterium suites are positioned overlooking courtyard gardens — leaving a risk of locking eyes with the rare passerby.
Overwhelmingly, however, Botanic Sanctuary leaves a lingering appreciation of its unwavering dedication to craft. The cluster of ambitious talent across its restaurants could easily lend itself to chaos and competition. Instead, the property is underpinned by a coherent desire to achieve more and explore further. For travellers in pursuit of excellence, Botanic Sanctuary serves as an inspiring and rejuvenative stay.
Address: Lange Gasthuisstraat 45GPS: Leopoldstraat 26 2000 Antwerp, Belgium Website: https://www.botanicantwerp.be | Phone: +32 3 2690000 | Instagram: @botanicsanctuaryantwerp | Facebook: @BotanicSanctuaryAntwerp | Email: info@botanicantwerp.com
Disclaimer: The writer was invited by Botanic Gardens Antwerp, to experience the property. All observations, assessments, and opinions expressed are based on the writer’s independent experience and professional judgement.
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