Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature the luxury side of an awesome city. Guest bloggers will share about either their hometown or a town they are expat in and know very deeply so that you get a guide straight from a local.  E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Leuven

Tell us a little about  yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Leuven, Belgium

Hi there! I’m Sofie and I’ve been living in the university city of Leuven for six years now. Before that, I studied here for four years, with a short break after during which I lived in Antwerp for a year. Although I didn’t grow up in Leuven, it’s a city I frequently visited both with friends and family. It’s where we went to the movies, went shopping, attended summer events and more.

Whenever I’m in Belgium, I work from the apartment I share with my boyfriend just outside the city center and so it’s not rare for me to jump on my bike and head into town when I need a break.

What makes Leuven a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Leuven is known as a university city but don’t let that fool you. It has some amazing restaurants, medieval architecture and even some UNESCO sites. Leuven is also home to the international brewing company AB Inbev and with the Belgian beer scene just being honored with the title of UNESCO World Heritage, it’s the perfect place to go for some quality beer tastings.

Luxury in Leuven isn’t screamy or glittery, it’s classy, subtle and you need to know where to find it.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Leuven?

I would definitely recommend the Martin’s Hotel. It’s a four-stars, but perfectly illustrates the luxurious side of the city.

Martin’s Hotel used to be a monastery with a history dating back 500 years. It’s a listed building combining historical charm with modern comforts. The hotel offers guests the option of booking a golf pass with which they can reserve greens at a preferential rate at no less than 19 golf courses in the area.

What about boutique hotels in Leuven, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

I would tell them to check out Guesthouse Begijnhof. This too is a historical building, dating back to the 17th century, and it’s located right outside from the Big Beguinage, Leuven’s top UNESCO site.  The Guesthouse is tastefully renovated, offering guests all modern comforts as well as a homemade breakfast buffet every morning.

In winter, you can socialize with other guests in the communal living with fireplace, while in summer the garden doors are wide open.

Are there any fun luxury activities for the adventurous traveler in Leuven?

Where I live, just outside the city center, Heverlee Woods starts. In this large forest you can go mountain biking or even go on a carriage ride.

Leuven is also the town of the River Dijle, which means you can go kayaking, canoeing, or supping.

True adventurers take part in the “Vaartchallenge” or “Canal Challenge” that takes place once a year in summer and tests teams by letting them do all kinds of tests on the water.

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Leuven?

Leuven is home to many fun cafés but there’s only one real place to be: the Old Market. This square is also known as Europe’s longest bar as all except for one building on this square houses a cafe or eatery. For a trendy establishment, head to the back of the square where you can find bar Louvain Louvain serving great cocktails.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Leuven and what are their best dishes?

Couvert Couvert on the Sint-Jansbersesteenweg 171 in Heverlee, just outside the city center, boasts a Michelin star. It’s refined French cuisine is served by an always- friendly staff.

If you want to stay in the city center, head to Zarza on Bondgenotenlaan 92. The dishes look like artwork and what you get to taste here is true Belgian cuisine.

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

There are lots of places serving a delicious dessert, but if you want to do it “the Leuven way”, you’ll go to ice cream bar ‘t Galetje in the Tiensestraat. This place is iconic and in summer it’s not unusual to find lines so long they block the street here. All the ice cream sold here is homemade.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Leuven who’s carrying the trendy local designers?

The Diestsestraat and the Bondgenotenlaan are Leuven’s two main shopping streets, but that’s not where you need to be to find the trendy independent boutiques. Although… there’s one exception. At P.J. Van Benedenstraat 5, a small street connecting the Diestsestraat and the Bondgenotenlaan, you can find WEAR. They sell casual smart clothes for men and women that are hard to find elsewhere.

Luz de Luxe at Parijsstraat 40 offers selected brand items for women who both want to look good and feel at ease, while Hippo Royale at number 44 is a must-shop for those who want a vintage look without shopping second-hand.

LIV at Mechelsestraat 16 sells stylish, no-frills Scandinavian and French brands while Belva back at Parijsstraat 16 is the place to be for fashion by Belgian female designers.

And if interior design is more your thing, head to Design District (Justus Lipsiusstraat 18), where you can find a nice selection of Scandinavian furniture and decorative elements.

Where should art lovers go in Leuven?
The M Museum always has some nice exhibitions on and often combines historical with modern art. The Schouwburg or City Theater puts on the bigger plays, while art center STuK is known for its experiential performances. The latter is also a great place to catch international (non-Hollywood) movies.

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

I’d take the bus out of the center to Kessel-Lo, a borough of Leuven, where I’d go to the Kesselberg. From that hill you can see all over Leuven. It’s the perfect spot to catch a sunset!

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

De Professor and Bar Entreprise (Naamsestraat 20 and 18) are two icons in Leuven’s cocktail scene, offering great drinks in a cozy ambiance. De Professor’s interior is rather basic, while the mood at Entreprise is warm, with comfortable couches, high chairs and wooden tables.

For a more trendy place, head to Mattiz (Naamsestraat 53) where you can also get tapas or Bar Nine (Oude Markt 9), where you can enjoy your cocktail in a vintage interior and dance the night away on the weekends.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Leuven which one do you head towards?

Being a rather small city, Leuven doesn’t really have a club scene. People will be more likely to head to a dance café on the Oude Markt for some cocktails and shaking or attend a live show at a place like At The Bebop (Tiensestraat 82).

In 2012, Sofie launched her travel blog WonderfulWanderings.com as a passion project. Since then, she’s turned it into her full-time job and has successfully collaborated with over 80 brands and destinations worldwide. All while wearing sneakers, of course. She writes practical travel stories with a personal touch, helps travelers plan their itineraries and is a regular contributor for Expedia and Discover Benelux. Traveling the world, crafting articles or taking a dance class when she’s home, Sofie loves it all… as long as she can have a cup of tea first. Want to get in touch? You can find Sofie on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

The post Luxury Guide to Leuven first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Luxury Guide to Leuven appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Ghent

little about  yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Ghent.

Hi! My name is Sarah, I’ve visited over 70 countries which I blog about on Travel Cake. Though I’ve traveled and lived abroad throughout my entire life, Ghent is the place I call home. I’ve recently moved back to Belgium’s most charming city after two years of living in Asia and South America. Not only has Ghent been seriously spruced up since then, I’ve also learned to appreciate the city in a completely different way. I know the city like the back of my hand yet it still has its little secrets and surprises, which make living in this city ever so enjoyable.

What makes Ghent a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

To answer this question, I have to tell you something about the Ghent mentality. Ghent despises pretentiousness. We do luxury in a different way. Forget about the glimmer and glamour and be ready to engage in a more down to earth kind of luxury. The kind without the bells and whistles, but featuring high product quality, authenticity and respect for history and nature.

Ghent is one of the most romantic cities in Europe. It’s small enough that you can visit the entire old city in just a few hours on foot without feeling stressed about ticking off must-sees. To do so, leave your heels at home as you’ll only end up ruining them (and your ankles) as you wander in the cobbled streets. The city boasts plenty of cutting edge boutiques, fabulous restaurants, hip coffee bars and has a vibrant night life. Romance, food, shopping, and people watching in hip cafés, doesn’t that sound like pure European glamour?

What 5 star hotel is the best in your town?

I would certainly not recommend staying in a 5 star hotel during your visit to Ghent as you’d be missing out on what gives the city its character. Instead, stay at a bed and breakfast or a picturesque boutique hotel.

Try “Snooz Inn” for comfort and luxury in the heart of town or “Ganda”, an 18^th century townhouse turned charm hotel with unique deluxe rooms. If you’d like to stay somewhere with a sauna and a gym, I’d suggest “Hotel Verhaege”, another redesigned 18 century townhouse with ornate high ceilings and attention to detail in its design.

Do check out the Mariott hotel in the centre of town, it’s the most unique one I’ve seen so far. The hotel is set in a renewed historical house which used to serve as a brothel in the Middle Ages. Even if you’re not staying there, pop in for a quick look or have a drink in the lobby bar.

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous ?

For the culinary adventurous, Ghent will not disappoint. Go on a beer tasting adventure and discover some of Belgium’s finest or strangest beers, which are always served in their matching glass. Watch out though, Belgian beers are very heavy! Have a meal at “Bugs&Lunch” where, you can sample the latest urban culinary trend: insect based delights. If you’re looking for something more active, you can rent a kayak, a SUP board or a motorboat to cruise down the city’s waterways, it’s a great way to marvel at the city’s architecture or to visit the beautiful suburbs.

Where are the best hang outs during the day?

During the summer months there are lots of outdoor hang out places in the city. Head to “Park Café” for a drink in a fairy-like park or get a shot of contemporary art and music at “DOK Gent”. The city is full of parks, squares and terraces where locals love to catch some rays as soon as the sun is out. Just sit back, relax and do some people watching.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Ghent and what are their best dishes?

With 653 restaurant in this tiny city of 100 000 inhabitants, you can imagine choosing a few favorites is not an easy task.  Try the refined 7 course meal at “Volta”, a foodie’s favourite. For some modern Flemish cooking by a Michelin starred chef, head to “JEF”.  If you’re looking to be more spontaneous, go to the charming medieval neighbourhood of “Patershol”, its winey cobbled streets are full of fantastic restaurants.

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

Belgium is internationally known for its exquisite chocolate but did you know it also boast an insane amount of fine pastries? A true desert-lover’s paradise! An all time favourite for old-fashioned Ghent delicacies is “Temmerman”, a sweetshop that has been around since the 19^th century. Real chocoholics should try to find “Yuzu”, an off-the –beaten track chocolate boutique showcasing the unusual and sophisticated chocolate creations of a talented local chocolatier.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers?

If you’re looking for trendy local designers and unique pieces, you should definitely steer clear of the two main shopping streets: Veldstraat and Langemunt, which is where you will find the big commercial, international brands. For great boutique shopping head to “Brabantdam”, “Sint-pieters Nieuwstraat” and “Vlaanderenstraat” where you will find lots of great shops featuring brands by local as well as international designers.

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

The best place to end the afternoon and start an evening in Ghent is at the “Graslei”.  This is the main hang out spot on sunny days. The riverbanks fill up with all sorts of people, drinking an “apéro”, eating, singing and having a good time with friends. Most young people sit on the ground by the river, but if you prefer to do it the luxurious way, there are plenty of higher end terraces along the water where you can enjoy the view and atmosphere with a drink in your hand. Relax as the sun sets and watch the city lights turn the old city into a magical place.

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

As many bars and restaurant as there are in Ghent, the clubbing scene is quite low key. Don’t get me wrong the nightlife is absolutely popping but fancy clubs are just not what the people of Ghent care for. Start with an exclusive cocktail at “Jiggers” (best to reserve in advance) or have a drink at “Bar des Amis”. Once you’re ready to bust a move, see if anything is going on the “Culture Club” or the “White Cat”. There is live music in several bars every day of the week. The best way of knowing where to go is by asking a “cool-looking” local what is going on that night and take it from there.

(click to book a room or book a flight)

Sarah is the writer and photographer behind Travel Cake.  As a digital nomad, she changes home base every so often and travels whenever she can. Driven by her love for exploration, food and photography, she has visited over 70 countries a chunk of which are under the radar destinations. She is currently getting ready for a big new adventure, which you can read about on her blog. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The post Luxury Guide to Ghent first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Luxury Guide to Ghent appeared first on Hippie In Heels.