A Foodie’s Tour of Belgium

Where to Stay While on Your Foodie Tour of Belgium

NE5T Hotel and Spa is nestled in the hills of the small city of Namur. It’s a very private, very boutique luxury hotel and spa run by a Michelin star chef. Never in my life have I experienced such incredible cuisine at a hotel — let alone in the privacy of our own suite, with multiple course meals and wine pairings being served as if we were in a 5-star restaurant. It felt more like staying in a private villa, but with the amenities of a luxury resort — and a private chef.

A reimagined farmhouse, NE5T marries old and new, beautifully

With six suites that feel more like country homes than hotel suites, NE5T was our luxurious home away from home for almost a week (although we would have loved to stay much, much longer). This uber-boutique hotel was carefully constructed from a renovated stone farmhouse and barn, which took a decade to renovate and managed to perfectly retain 100% of that charm.

The walk to breakfast smelled like fresh, dewy flowers

We loved hanging out in the gorgeous gardens

Taking a dip in the pool on a hot summer day is simply heaven. Chilly outside? Opt for the heated indoor pool, with its wave-making technology (so you can swim ‘laps’, in place) and automatic back massaging jets.

Eat and drink around the outside pool

Lounge by the pool

Ridiculously comfortable luxury pillows by Tribu

Drinking champagne and testing the (warm) water in NE5T’s incredible spa

The food at NE5T was beyond what we’ve ever experienced from a hotel. The owner is a Michelin-star chef, and he taught the hotel’s chef, Nicolas Renard, very very well. So well, in fact, that NE5T deserves their own Michelin star. Not only that, but you can eat in your suite’s private dining room, at the pool, or in the restaurant area.

Seating in the modern, elegant and simple restaurant area

Note: Since writing this article I’ve changed my views about eating meat, seafood and dairy (even if it’s local and organic). I no longer waver from my plant-based diet and vegan lifestyle — here’s why.

We were floored by the delicious selections of squeezed-a-second-ago juices, just-baked pastries and breads, local yogurts and butter (the best butter I’ve ever had), and organic teas. And that’s just what gets placed on your table before you even tell them what you’d like to order for breakfast!

Breakfast by the pool, with fresh squeezed juices and local, organic goodies

Dinner at NE5T is a memorable experience. Not only can you tell them whatever you’re in the mood for (the morning of), but the chef (Nicolas Renard) will also be happy to check the local markets for what’s the most fresh that day, and whip up something simply spectacular using only those fresh organic ingredients. Wine pairings, of course, can be had with each course, and are extremely well chosen. The white we had, for example, was ranked the best white wine this year.

The room service at NE5T is Michelin-star quality

Dining in our private dining room was an incredibly luxurious experience

We cheated on our usually vegan diet …the food was all local and organic

A delicious work of art…

The dining table in the Duplex Madeline suite

We were able to visit the outdoor farm where these grass-fed cows came from

We were served unique dishes that were absolutely delicious

I apologize if I sound overly excitable, but the suites are sheer perfection. Every detail was carefully thought out to be either flawless — or perfectly imperfect…

The fridge housed a delicious collection of wines, champagne and fruit nectars

Four of the suites come with a full kitchen, and some have multiple bedrooms. We stayed in two separate hotel suites: Suite Blanche (the white suite) and the Duplex Madeline. Each and every bed at NE5T is outfitted completely by Hastens, including the pillowtop, duvet, pillows — and $35,000 mattress.

The most comfortable bed you’ve ever slept on – Hastens EVERYTHING!

The Madeline suite had two floors, two bedrooms plus an office, a media room, a dining room, a kitchen and a living room. The decor was rustic-chic:

Hanging out in the Duplex Madeline suite at NE5T

The study in the Duplex Madeline suite

The media room in the Duplex Madeline suite

The upstairs bathroom has double sinks, a huge soaker tub and a large shower

Themae – high-end French organic(ish) toiletries

Suite Blanche had a private garden and a modern-castle vibe:

The bedroom in Blanche

Every detail was carefully curated

The Blanche bathtub

The spa melted our stress away. Only four people are allowed in the spa at once, and usually it was just us. We loved the surprisingly effective DreamWater Jet water-powered massage bed, the heated back-massaging pool, the workout area and the lounge.

Enjoying champagne and chocolates from Namur by the pool in the spa was a highlight of our trip

We got a couples massage, which took place in a room with a curved stone ceiling, connected to another room with a private hot tub in the corner.

The couples massage room, with a hot tub in the adjoining area

Staying at NE5T is an incredible experience, guaranteed to satisfy any foodie, and the perfect launching place for your Belgian foodie tour. Yes, there’s more!