The Notary
Ornate Victorian manor with globe-trotting themed suites. Heavy on antiques, chandeliers, working fireplaces, and atmosphere. The 'do as you please' energy of a lived-in family home, not a hotel.
The six-course breakfast (€54pp) is not optional if you want the full experience — book it in advance
Why It Matters
Michelin Key 2025 selection and Tablet Hotels member. One of Bruges' smallest and most individualistic luxury properties — nine suites all designed by House of Porters (Antwerp), one of the largest private gardens in the city, a natural swimming pool with actual fish, and a six-course breakfast that guests consistently call the highlight of the stay.
A 19th-century notary's family residence turned nine-suite luxury B&B in the heart of Bruges, three generations of the Van Caillie family practiced law here and their legacy soaks into every room. Each suite is its own theatrical world — Moroccan arches in the eaves, African tribal antiques with a lion's-head bath tap, Hellenistic sculptures against oak parquetry — yet the whole place reads as one coherent collection. And then there's the garden: one of the largest private gardens in Bruges, with a natural swimming pool, canal views, fruit trees you can actually pick from, and ducks.
Where You'll Stay
9 room types available
Belfry Suite
From EUR600 / nightAt 65 sqm, the Belfry Suite is generously proportioned and comes with actual views of the medieval Belfry tower. Medieval-inspired decor with stone carvings, floral accents, colonial antiques, and a working fireplace. A rare case where the room faces outward rather than the garden.
Super-king · 65 sqm
Bohemian Suite
From EUR350 / nightAfrican-inspired with burnt-orange walls, tribal antiques, and potted palms. The standout is the marble bathtub with a lion's-head tap — not subtle, but absolutely memorable. Working fireplace and oak parquetry keep it grounded in the manor's overall aesthetic.
Emperor-size · 35 sqm
Classical Suite
From EUR300 / nightAncient Greece meets Belgian heritage: Hellenistic sculptures and European antiques on aged-oak parquetry, with an oversized marble bathtub and working fireplace. A strong entry point into The Notary experience at its most understated price point.
Emperor-size · 33 sqmCloister Suite
From EUR900 / nightOne of the largest suites, with superlative garden and canal views. A separate living room decorated with classical antiques in a soothing grey and cream palette. The natural clay bathtub and statement chandeliers make the interiors feel like a very good art installation you also sleep in.
Emperor-size · 62 sqmEarl Suite
From EUR700 / nightA royally romantic suite with dramatic drapery, ruffled fabrics, and a baronial working fireplace with an ornate chandelier overhead. Garden and canal views. The oversized bathtub and bronze-detailed bathroom feel genuinely period, without being the least bit uncomfortable.
Emperor-size · 48 sqmEclectic Suite
From EUR300 / nightThe smallest suite and the most deliberately chaotic — clashing patterns, unusual antiques, bold colors, and a gilded mirror in the bathroom. No bathtub here (just a walk-in shower), but the fireplace and parquetry keep it in the family.
Emperor-size · 30 sqmFriends & Family Suite
From EUR950 / nightThe only two-bedroom option in the house, sleeping up to four. Two separate bedrooms and bathrooms share a central dining and living area with views over the garden. Traditional decor with dramatic drapery, ruffled fabrics, and European antiques. One bathroom has a walk-in shower; the other a bathtub.
Two Emperor-size beds · 90 sqmHermitage Suite
From EUR900 / nightThe largest single suite in the hotel — described on the official site as 'the most impressive suite in the whole of Bruges.' Grand European style with classical antiques and artworks, two working fireplaces, aged-oak parquetry reclaimed from the original hallway, and a Carrara marble bathroom big enough to dance in. Garden and canal views.
Emperor-size · 70 sqmMorian Suite
From EUR400 / nightTucked under the eaves with sloping ceilings and dramatic arched doorways, the Morian Suite channels Arabian Nights via a Moroccan palette of clay-pink, terracotta-orange, and opulent purple. Berber antiques, potted palms, and a hand-hammered bronze bathtub make it feel like Marrakech has been transplanted to the Belgian coast.
Emperor-size · 45 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Bicycles available for rent from the hotel or nearby locations. Bruges is compact and extremely flat — cycling is often the fastest way to move around.
Multiple boat tour operators depart from near the hotel's canal-facing garden edge and from central Bruges. Tours last around 30 minutes.
One of the largest private gardens in Bruges, enclosed within 1221 city walls. The natural pool has pond plants, a fountain, and friendly fish. Plush loungers are half-hidden by wild rhubarb; fruit trees overhead offer figs and pears for the picking. The canal runs along the garden's far edge — swans included.
The former notary's office has been converted into a library stocked with leather-bound books by European philosophers, poets, and professors — many of whom inspired the names of the suites.
The Atlas Room seats up to 16 for private dining, with a working fireplace. The property also hosts weddings, anniversaries, and celebrations.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Elevator access to all floors.
500+ Mbps throughout the property.
Available on request at €16/hour plus a €30 service fee.
Outdoor seating areas with fireplaces for cooler evenings in the walled garden.
Onsite valet parking at €65 per day. Nearby private car parks (Biekorf and Zilverpand) available from €38/day.
Well-behaved dogs welcome in all suites at €40/night per pet. Resident Shiba Inu, Faiko, will greet canine visitors.
An organic, pond-like swimming pool in the walled garden, open daily 9am–8pm. Shared with fish and occasionally visited by wild ducks.
Working fireplace in nearly all suites.
Rooms tidied, bed prepared, curtains closed, water placed on nightstand at approximately 8pm.
In-suite tablet for room service, domotics (fireplace, lighting, music) control.
Bookable by private reservation for hotel guests. Includes sauna, outdoor jacuzzi, and a relaxation room in a separate garden building.
BUILD YOUR THE NOTARY PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning