Stayed at the Poortackere as part of a business group for one night. Found that the elevator reaches only till a certain level, after that you have to haul your luggage over wooden steps! Room was farly large but not very clean. Bathroom is old and needs renovation. Though they want to offer the austerity of a monastery, it needs to have some standards of cleanliness! Location was ok.

Previous reviewers have given this hotel sometimes a rather negative evaluation. We booked rooms there with some trepidations, but since the building had been a monastery many years ago, I wanted to stay there because I led a group of students researching the Middle Ages. It was not quite easy to find the entrance to the reception, but from then on it was an incredible and charming experience. Everyone just loved it and was full of praise. Mind you, we had nine rooms in various wings, and we looked at each room inspecting it carefully. Most were very large, some were gigantic in size (up to 6 beds with just two guys staying in one). Ours was in the attic (easy access through the elevator), and it was so charming, well renovated, bed was great, nice bathroom (right above the chapel!), and we also had free wireless most of the time (sometimes a bit difficult). Heating worked quickly (not quite, so it seems, in all rooms, but we stayed there in June!). Then we had breakfast, and it was astounding, so much, such a variety, so fresh and appetizing. I am afraid I might have gained some weight, could not resist the temptations. The hotel is centrally located, with easy access to the old part of the city. We also could quickly reach the stop for the tram to take us to the train. Just two streets away we found great and relatively cheap restaurants, and everyone in our group of 19 agreed wholeheartedly: this was one of the best hotel on our whole trip across Europe, the one with the most charm combined with all the modern luxury.

This place is out of the ordinary, not standard. It may not suit everyone as it is quirky and quaint.

It needs work to upgrade some of the décor, but all the essentials were there. except an iron? There was a separate ironing room which seemed a bit weird, but I did say it was quirky.

Ideal as a conference venue. We stayed there for 3 nights as part of a conference booking, and the price still did seem a bit high. The use of the chapel for dinner was wonderful and so too was the meal.

All room facilities worked well, excellent room heaters.
The room had real high ceilings that enhanced that feeling of space.

The drain in the shower was slow, I sense that plumbing generally needs some work!

Fantastic breakfast! Plenty of selection.

Hospitable and helpful staff

Plenty of parking, good wireless internet

Poortackere has the potential to be a fantastic venue, but sadly not a lot of effort has gone into upkeeping and bringing the building up to today's standards.
Perhaps we should have been warned by the hotel's name: a monastery houses those who renounce wordly pursuits.
The room (Maagdenvleugel) we had definitely reflected that idea. Very basic comfort, dirty and in dire need of a paint job. Simple bedding, elementary bathroom with again need for a fresh lick of paint. Not so long ago parts of the building were used as student dorm, I had the impression not much work was done since when changing from dorm to hotel.

For monastics seeking an undercome relic without comfort Poortackere may be the thing. All others, looking for a decent, tidy, upkept place to stay should steer away from it.