On this trip to Bruges we are staying with family. It’s not our own family though; we’re staying at the family-run Raphaëlle’s B&B, located mere steps from the main market square of Bruges.
Raphaëlle’s is a super boutique hotel with just five rooms and sits within a traditional Bruges townhouse and former doctor’s surgery. A newcomer to the market, it just opened in spring 2022 – a pandemic project and the realisation of a long-term dream for its owners.
We leave the rainy streets of Bruges and enter a softly-lit haven of dark colours, florals, and sumptuous textures. As you enter, the first thing you see is the hotel’s miniature lobby bar: marble-topped and adorned with bottles of champagne – very inviting. It may not be the most obvious place to sit down but it sets the tone for what is sure to be a stay filled with little luxuries.
We are greeted by Ann, one of the owners and grandmother to Raphaëlle, the four year old after whom the hotel is named. She leads us to the Signature Camelia room on the first floor, where we’ll be staying. In keeping with the floral theme each room bears the name of a flower, delicately hand painted in gold on each of the doors. The first floor hall features a huge hand-painted floral mural, which Ann explains is the handiwork of a local artist.
Camelia is the antithesis of a stale hotel room. Everything is coloured biscuit and cream, and covered in fabrics that emanate cosiness: cloud-like bedding, original wooden floorboards, a bouclé chaise longue (the latter the sort of statement piece that instantly has you Googling one for yourself).
It’s daylight outside but somehow Raphaëlle’s is permanently bathed in a sort of low-lit eternal bedtime. We’re also right in the centre of Bruges but the room is completely silent. It’s clear that the objective here is to relax and be comfortable, with little expectation of much else.
The original features from the hotel’s past have been retained as focal points in each of the rooms, blending in seamlessly with a mix of mid-century and Scandinavian-style design. A grey and black marble fireplace stands in bold contrast against the oatmeal hues.
A raised platform creates a subtle separation for the bathroom area, made up of a large sink/vanity area with Molton Brown toiletries and tucked-away spaces for the toilet and shower room. Each room is different: Camelia features a spacious rain shower while the attic suite has a shower and standalone bath.
As Ann offers us a tour of the property, it’s clear that Bruges itself plays a strong part in the story of Raphaëlle’s. The family has endeavoured to support local businesses wherever possible, from mattresses made in Belgium to hand-crafted and monogrammed bedding from Bruges company Mirabel Slabbinck, which specialises in creating religious robes for churches.
Raphaëlle’s is not the family’s first foray into the world of hospitality. In fact, this is a project that benefits from a lifetime of experience. Raphaëlle’s grandfather, Rik, has worked in events catering for most of his life, and one of their two sons owns Quatre Vins, a renowned restaurant and wine bar in Bruge’s Philipstockstraat. Daughter-in-law Lieselot – Raphaëlle’s mother – is the creative force behind the hotel, bringing years of experience in the tailoring industry. She worked with interior designers to get the aesthetic of Raphaëlle’s just right, with a strong focus on good quality materials and bedding. It is this meticulous attention to quality that secures Raphaëlle’s as a true luxury option in Bruges.
Each of the five rooms at Raphaëlle’s offers something slightly different, but all promise the same restful experience. The mini bar is actually maxi bar (this seems to be a trend in Belgian boutique hotels, and one that we’re very much on board with) with carefully selected bottles of champagne, wines and local beers. The two attic suites, which feature beautiful original wooden beams, can be interconnected for families travelling with children or groups of friends.
Breakfast is served in a maximalist drawing room, painted in the house’s signature malachite green with burst of florals and marble. A huge original fireplace and mirror is flanked by two open display cabinets, adorned with a perfectly curated collection of antique crockery, glassware and coffee table books.
The most important meal of the day is given deserving attention at Raphaëlle’s: to begin we’re served a generous selection of pastries and freshly-baked breads from the local bakery, along with fresh orange and apple juice, made using apples from the hotel’s garden.
Next, yogurt topped with lashings of fruit and granola. An afternoon tea-style platter follows, filled with layers of sweet and savoury delights: a miniature cheeseboard of compté, camembert and Brugge Kaas (a variety from Bruges sourced from a local cheese shop); different cuts of smoked ham; and homemade violet and orange blossom jams.
We also opt for a perfectly light omelette from the to-order eggs menu.
Ann and Rick lead us past the part of the house where they live and out into the garden. It’s still winter and a rather dreary day but they show us pictures of the house in the full bloom of summer, trees covered in blossom and flowers everywhere. The photos capture moments from the family’s life: Raphaëlle’s birthday, family lunches in the garden – and it really resonates that the true charm of this hotel is the dual experience of a luxury boutique stay and being welcomed into a family’s home.
Raphaëlle’s is a perfect example of a hotel where the owners have focussed on the things that matter most to guests: high quality materials, maximum comfort, and the chance to fully experience the true essence of a city before you’ve even stepped foot outside.
We stayed
in the Signature Camelia room, priced from €195 per night including an excellent breakfast.
For best rates, book directly through the hotel’s website.
This was a media stay – all opinions are our own.
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