Hotel De Stokerij

The mid-range Hotel De Stokerij offers a scenic rural location on a small village lane, surrounded by fields with sheep and cows grazing. The atmosphere of the area is that of a typical Belgian village: quiet and peaceful. The hotel is set back on the grounds through a leafy tunnel, to offer seclusion. The hotel has a homey, traditional Belgian style and warm feel. Guests are welcomed with a cold drink by the friendly multilingual proprietors, a couple who call the hotel their home. The lobby features vintage signs and an antique mirror, marionettes, and telephone. Guests gather in the breakfast room, set in a light and airy conservatory overlooking the surrounding fields. 

The lounge bar is decked out with wood-beamed ceiling, dark-wood antique credenza, hand-carved cabinets, antique art objects, a flat-screen TV, and leather chairs. The restaurant is adorned with a blue Delft-style wall hanging, colorful red-and-gold floral print tablecloths, and a fireplace. The De Stokerij is well suited to small families, who like to explore the surroundings and let their children play in the garden. Couples appreciate the intimacy of the hotel, and often book the gypsy caravan suite with its jetted tub and private terrace.

The Hotel De Stokerij offers a scenic and peaceful rural location on a small village lane on the outskirts of Oudenburg. There are only a few neighboring houses, and the hotel is mostly surrounded by fields full of grazing sheep and cows. There is little public transport in the area, so guests should come by car. Several good cheese shops and restaurants are a short drive from the hotel. The E40/A18 highway is a five-minute drive northwest. Located a six-minute drive northwest, Oudenburg features a historic city hall and the Roman Archaeology Museum. The Oostmolen Windmill is a nine-minute drive west. Located a 15-minute drive northwest, Ostend features the North Sea, beach, and promenade, plus attractions such as the Royal Galleries, Mu.ZEE Museum, and St. Petrus and St. Paulus Church. Located a 25-minute drive northeast, Bruges offers attractions such as Market Square, the Belfort, Basilica of the Holy Blood, and Groeninge Museum. Ostend-Bruges International Airport is a 25-minute drive northwest of the Hotel De Stokerij. 

The De Stokerij has nine rooms in a main building, plus one gypsy caravan-style suite on the grounds. All rooms are non-smoking, clean, and given the hotel's rural location, quiet. Some rooms are a little small, at only 160 square feet. The individually decorated rooms come in Romantic, Family, Luxury, Superior, Cosy, Classic, Budget, Standard, and Single types. The well-constructed rooms have a gracious, homey feel. The color palette varies by room but includes colors of gold, beige, brown, red, mauve, and royal blue. Decorative elements include colorful vintage signs and posters. Some rooms have romantic elements such as candlelight and mood lighting, lace curtains, and four-poster beds. Further details in the rooms include wood ceiling beams, hardwood floors, and dark-wood paneling. 

The suite in the garden has a terrace with seating. All rooms come with air-conditioning, clock radios, desks, luggage stands, in-room safes, minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Some TVs are mounted in the closet, so that it's not at the best angle to view from the bed. Rooms do not have coffee/tea makers. The good-sized bathrooms are clean and well lit, and have ample counter space. Some bathrooms have some combination of make-up mirrors, bathrobes, and jetted tubs. Some rooms have separate tubs and showers and some rooms are shower only. Small dogs are allowed in rooms upon request.

For a small hotel, the Hotel De Stokerij has some great property facilities. Unusual for a mid-range hotel, this property offers a wood sauna and Turkish hammam steam bath set in an inviting space with music and a scenic outdoor terrace. The hotel lays out an excellent breakfast buffet (for a fee), with home-baked (in a wood oven) bread, home-smoked ham and salmon, homemade pate, locally sourced cheese, bread pudding, cake, cooked-to-order eggs, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and orange juice. The buffet is served until noon to suit late risers. The hotel's top-notch restaurant is open for dinner on Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights only. It features an open kitchen, a chef's table, a fireplace, and innovative cuisine prepared with fresh local fish, meat, and produce. Menu highlights include lamb stew, vegetable soup, fresh crab, and Dover sole. The hotel also has a laundry room, meeting rooms, cooking classes, a public computer, free parking, and free bicycle rental for excursions around the countryside and into Bruges. The front desk is closed overnight, so guests checking in late should notify the hotel in advance. Wi-Fi throughout is free.