Hotel FRANQ Review: Staying in a Former Bank in the Heart of Antwerp
Last Updated on 9th March 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
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Steps away from the historic city centre, Hotel FRANQ is a little slice of luxury in the heart of Antwerp, a city which is known as ‘Anvers’ in French. Located in Northern Belgium, the port city has long been hailed as a must-see Belgian destination and highlights of Antwerp include a fantastic printing museum, as well as the chance to enjoy Belgium life at a leisurely pace.
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A little luxury in the heart of Antwerp
FRANQ takes its name from the former occupation of No. 10 Kipdorp, a place which was once used for banking. As such, the name of the luxury accommodation actually derives from Belgium’s former currency, the franc.
Throughout the building, small glimpses of the building’s unique history can be found in the most unusual of places. For example, the bank’s former vault has since been restored and transformed into a wine cellar!
Today, the accommodation now houses some thirty-nine rooms, while the decor of the Neo-Classical building is predominantly urban-chic.
Think: vibrant colours, wide open spaces, and comfortable seating around almost every corner. Truth be told, stepping into the hotel is like an oasis of calm in the centre of the often bustling Antwerp.
The Room at Hotel FRANQ
There are five types of rooms at Hotel FRANQ, each at varying price points: there’s the Small Classic, Classic, Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Luxury Suite. Amenities in each of the rooms include a coffee maker, Marshall speaker, speedy free WiFi, and a flat-screen TV.
During our stay in one of the Delux rooms, we were happy to discover that we were even able to watch the BBC! Other room essentials included fluffy robes, a safe, minibar, Elemental Herbology bathroom products, and slippers.
Our French windows overlooked an equally beautiful building along Rue Kidorp and provided views of the candy coloured skies at sunrise and sunset.
Breakfast at Hotel FRANQ
The formal dining area doubles up as the location where breakfast is served. A table-clothed seating area spills out into the lounge/ bar section of the hotel and the atmosphere is warm and friendly throughout. While we dined elsewhere in the city, we enjoyed the breakfast tremendously.
The standard continental ‘FRANQ’ breakfast, is anything but! Pastries, various bread, a boiled egg (cooked how you like), coffee, homemade granola, cold cuts & cheeses are all served within the ‘traditional’ breakfast. While the coffee blend served changes seasonally, the Acacia super honing (honey) is the lightest honey that exists.
Elsewhere on the menu, the young trappist cheese comes from Westmalle Abbey, while each of the artisanal types of bread are baked in the Bakery de Klerck. For an extra fee, it’s possible to purchase additional extras such as avocado on toast or goat cheese with raspberry crumble.
Facilities at Hotel FRANQ
Asides from the impressive reception area, which doubles up as a lovely lounge, there’s a formal dining area, outdoor private terrace, and glittering bar. As in the library, in nearly every public area, there’s an impresive selection of books, newspapers, and magazines to browse through.
For fitness enthusiasts, FRANQ is even home to a fitness suite in the basement which comprises of a cross-trainer, treadmill, etc. If you’re looking to explore the city by bicycle (though the best of Antwerp can easily be seen via foot over the course of two days), then you can rent bikes from the friendly reception for a fee.
Things to see near Hotel FRANQ
Just a five-minute walk from the hotel entrance, you’ll find many of the city’s iconic sites; including the Cathedral of Our Lady, as well as Antwerp’s imposing city hall. For more inspiration, check out our suggestions for how to spend one day in Antwerp and how to spend 4 days in Belgium.
As an aside, be sure to at least arrive or depart Antwerp via its glittering station: the impressive building is often touted as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world! Here are some of the best things to do in Anvers near Hotel FRANQ:
Sint-Carolus Borromeuskerk
One of the true hidden gems of Antwerp can be found just around the corner from the hotel. Home to Rubens paintings and plenty of Baroque architecture, be sure to step inside this free-to-visit church at least once during your stay in the city!
Rockoxhuis
This former mansion housed turned museum was once home to the Rockox family. Today, the cultural hub and museum is home to several permanent exhibits, as well as numerous ever-changing displays.
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A big thanks to the team at Hotel FRANQ for making our stay so memorable, as well as for hosting us. As usual, all opinions, photos, and words remain my own!
