This small hotel (about 20 rooms) is ideally situated at the edge of the city centre less than 10 min. walk from the ‘Grote Markt’. As long as you stay in the city centre there is no need to make use of the buses. The hotel has Its own free parking. It is part of Brewery ‘Het Anker’ and is called after the name of their beer ‘Carolus’. After my check in a drink was offered and I chose Carolus beer and I got the Classic one which is really marvelous. During my check in room number 5 was assigned to me, but when I told the clerk that I was a light sleeper, he offered me room 9 which is really a large and soundproofed double room (although I travelled alone). It has a large twin bed with rather good, not too soft mattresses. There are tea/coffee facilities (not common in continental Europe), a writing table, al large linen cupboard and a rather small TV with analog and digital channels. There is no fridgidaire nor airconditioning. The room looks into a quiet street. Bathroom has a rather large shower cubicle, a wash stand and toilet. There is only liquid soap. Room and bathroom are impeccable clean.
You enter your room through a terrace, where in summer you can have your breakfast, I guess. Breakfast is good and sufficient. Brown and white rolls, eggs boiled by yourself, meat products, cheese, youghurt, cereals, fruit-juices (not fresh), sweeties, etc. As far as I could see no English breakfast.
Staff is very kind and helpful. Check in and check out went very smoothly.
In the lounge there is free internet but because of the many viruses it is hardly possible to use the computer in a proper way.
All in all, the hotel is very recommendabel.

This hotel is situated on the Het Anker Brewery site and a 100 metres from their very popular restaurant. If you sample the brewery's products, and I recommend them, you will need to stay at their hotel as they are powerful ales and you will not be able to drive or even walk far after drinking them. They advise that one should not taste the whole range in one night else you will not make breakfast!. The hotel is an old building with spacious rooms. More utility than luxurious but always clean. Breakfast is a continental buffet. Reception staff friendly and full of useful advice. I advise ringing the hotel direct to get a reservation as various Hotel booking web sites will invariably say that no rooms are available or your email is not answered. A phone call usually overcomes this. Their restaurant is pricey . Our food experience is one of highs and lows. Their famous 'cuckoo' dish is in fact chicken - a speciality of Mechelen.

We stayed here for 4 days in March 2007 and I can highly recommend it. Having visited major cities in Flanders in the past we chose Mechelen for a few days holiday and it is a very pretty, old town, a little quiet maybe, but very restful and lovely to walk around. The Hotel Carolus is welcoming, friendly, spacious and very clean. The brasserie and bar are excellent. The beer is wonderful (Gouden Carolus - we brought some of their bottles and newly brewed Easter beer back to the UK with us) and the food in the brasserie and bar is very good indeed. I would heartily recommend the Hotel Carolus and also recommend Mechelen for those looking for a short Belgium break somewhere a little different.

I visit Mechelen regularly and I always stay in the Hotel Carolus. Its not a fancy hotel but it is always clean, friendly and welcoming, especially after a long day at work.

They have now installed free WiFi for all the rooms which makes it even more convenient and I recommend this hotel very highly.

It doesn't have a restaurant in the hotel, but the brasserie at the Brewery next door is great and gives you a good chance to sample local beers.