A night in Brugge was a splurge and the hotel was definitely worth it. Service was immediate, competent, and attentive. Rooms were a very good size and the bathroom was fabulous. The hotel bar is very welcoming and comfortable place to relax and mingle after dinner out. Location was walking distance to the market square.

We stayed just one night here (although we tried to extend our stay, but they were fully booked), and loved it. The hotel is in an historic building, sympathetically upgraded and extended. Our room, a deluxe, number 310, was reasonably sized, with a very comfortable bed, bathroom with underfloor heating and beautifully furnished. There is internet, but it is not cheap and is quite slow. The public areas are also very smart, with a lovely terrace and garden with various pieces of modern art. The restaurant is also lovely, with excellent food and service. There is a small but well-equiped gym, and unusually for Bruges, there is plentiful underground parking. On the day we arrived, most of the centre of Bruges was cordoned off for the Holy Blood procession - the hotel sent us an e-mail a couple of days before our stay containing excellent directions by which to find the back of the hotel despite the road closures which was most appreciated. We were met at the entrance to the car park by a member of the hotel staff, who then checked us in and showed us our room - excellent service.

We had high hopes for this hotel: part of the well-regarded Kempinski chain, the only five-star hotel in Brugge and a promising-sounding reservations operator who offered us a rate of €239 for a Deluxe room (we had expected to book a Superior room for €199, but because none was available in the castle wing, we agreed to the upgrade). The hotel was comfortable and had luxurious moments, but this is not five-star quality. You could spend your money better somewhere that's less preoccupied with touting itself as "the only five-star in Brugge" and more focused on customer service. Biggest complaints: reception was unsophisticated (escorting us to our room, which was a nice personal touch, but then going on pedantically about the merits of the hotel, the room, the beams on the bathroom ceiling; we just wanted to be left alone to settle in); corridors not well maintained (room service trays were abandoned in the hallways); reception said they would return my call to set up a spa appointment though never did; artificial flowers; stained rugs; delayed turndown service; and a general foody odor wafting through the first floor. Some nice words: breakfast buffet had a great variety of quality food (including perfect mini pancakes and fine Belgian cheeses); bathroom amenities were plentiful and worth leaving your own travel-size cosmetics back home for.

Booked for 2 nights over the weekend, we booked the cheapest room available, which was still about 550 Euros for 2 nights ! This is not a cheap place, especially now due to the exchange rate between GBP and EUR.

We travelled to Bruges by car, and I can tell you that getting to the hotel is a nightmare if you don't know Bruges well - there are so many one way streets it is untrue ! We finally arrived after going round and round for ages, and going the wrong way down one-way streets ! Tip: get the hotel to send you driving directions before you arrive ! Or park at the railway station and use the free bus to the centre. Parking at the hotel is an extortionate 30 Euros per day, not justified in my opinion.

The location is perfect - 2 mins walk to the Markt, but down a very quiet street. The hotel building is impressive, and newly refurbished to a high standard inside and out. There are 2 parts to the hotel, the 'castle' side and the new side, which is where our room was.

Check-in was fine, staff were very efficient and gave us a short guide of the places to see on the map. Our room was very new, lovely bathroom, good furnishings, perhaps a few too many chairs and tables. Coffee or tea making facilities would have been nice, you had to order from room service or go to the lounge. View over the garden was lovely, pity the weather was grey and windy. The bed was huge and very comfortable - one of the best I have slept in !

We did not try the restaurant, there are so many other options nearby, and breakfast buffet was overpriced in our opinion. We had a drink in the bar, they certainly mix a good G+T, I must say it was a bit lifeless though, considering we were in there about 10pm on a Friday night. Decor in the bar, and the hotel overall, is what I would call 'sumptuous', a bit old fashioned for my taste. No real complaints though.

We did not ask for much assistance, or request too many concierge services, however we felt sure that anything would have been possible had we asked.

So overall, no complaints, however we felt the parking, food and drinks were overpriced, and the room was a bit small for the price we paid. If you are rich then go for a deluxe room or suite - I doubt there is a better place in Bruges if you can afford it !