This hotel currently has major construction right out the front door however it did not affect our sleep. The hotel was clean and neat but had some narrow hallways and a very small elevator. The rooms were nice but the bathrooms were not spacious. The dining area for breakfast was comfortable and they had a nice selection of food items. The hotel is about a 10 minute walk from the train station and city center. We found Mechelen to be friendly, even at midnight while looking for a late dinner.

The hotel was not bad.
But that is all there is to write home about.
The Elevator was scary.
A room facing the street is not quiet.
I did not sleep well in this hotel.
BUT, the staff were very helpful.
It is an old hotel and quite clean. The walk to the city center is about 10 minutes, thus centrally located.

The hotel is situated alongside the canal in Mechelen, in easy walking distance to the the town centre.

Rooms are well-appointed and clean with en-suite and tea/coffee making, flat panel tv with English stations, phone and good internet access via wireless Swisscom (requires payment).

The restaurant offers a very good range of quality freshly-cooked food and prices reflect the quality, both of the food and the service, which is good. A set menu is also offered at around €25 (as at January 09).

There is a good bar that serves a variety of beverages. Staff are very helpful and polite and the hotel is overall good value.

I've been meaning to write about this hotel for a while. I stay in Mechelen often for business and of the "decent" hotels the Gulden Anker is my last choice.

The good stuff - reception is fine, the restaurant is EXCELLENT with beautifully prepared and presented food at very reasonable cost. Breakfast is OK, nothing special. Rooms are a decent size, well equipped and have internet access (pay).

The bad - The big problem with the hotel is the all pervading and strong smell of cigarette smoke - it is everywhere in the building (except, interestingly, the restaurant). Even in the non-smoking rooms, so strong is the smell that it seeps in to the room - yeuch!!! Maybe it is something to do with the design that the stairwell acts like a chimney disributing the smoke from the public areas through the building, maybe it is because the bearded guy at reception is a heavy smoker. I'm not sure, but if you don't like cigarette smoke don't stay here unless you have to (Mechelen hotel rooms are often at a premium and booking way in advance of your trip is a good tip).