Pure Hotel – Notarishuys, near Bruges: Modern Minimalism with a Culinary Soul
Where Architecture Whispers and Gastronomy Speaks
A Seamless Dialogue Between Heritage and Modernity
Some hotels impress with their architecture. Others with their cuisine. Pure Hotel – Notarishuys in Diksmuide, Belgium, achieves the rare feat of mastering both, effortlessly blending Nordic-inspired design with Michelin-noted dining. Hidden behind the historic Notarishuys mansion, this serene retreat pairs contemporary minimalism with a deep respect for place. On one side stands the gastronomic restaurant—an elegant relic of 19th-century craftsmanship; on the other, a sleek, glass-and-concrete sanctuary that feels almost weightless among the trees. Together, they form a perfect duet of heritage and harmony.
A Garden Retreat, Designed for Stillness
Approaching Pure Hotel, you might mistake it for an extension of its surroundings—a low-slung, modernist pavilion quietly embedded within a lush garden anchored by a 200-year-old beech tree. Its beauty lies in understatement. Wide glass walls reflect dappled light, while clean architectural lines invite nature inside. Step through its doors and you enter a realm of intentional calm. There’s no unnecessary ornamentation, no visual noise—just soft light, tactile materials, and a design language that celebrates air, silence, and proportion. The effect is instant tranquility: the kind of peace that feels designed, not discovered.
Interiors That Speak in Silences
Inside, less truly becomes more. Each room distills comfort to its essence—pale woods, natural fabrics, polished concrete, and linen tones that encourage deep rest. The absence of art feels deliberate; instead, nature takes on the role of the ever-changing masterpiece framed by vast windows. Lighting, furniture, and finishes—all chosen with exacting restraint—encourage reflection over distraction. Here, minimalism isn’t austerity; it’s a philosophy of clarity, expressed through space, texture, and the rhythm of daylight.
A Culinary Landmark, Steps Away
If the hotel is meditation, the Notarishuys restaurant is its crescendo. A beloved name in Belgian gastronomy, it offers Michelin Bib Gourmand cuisine in a setting that balances stateliness with warmth. Within the restored notary’s mansion, chef Bart Destoop and his team craft seasonally driven dishes that celebrate local ingredients with refined technique. Each plate is an edible portrait of Flemish terroir—from line-caught North Sea fish to game sourced from nearby fields. Expect unexpected pairings—foie gras with rhubarb, wild mushrooms with citrus, desserts that flirt between rustic and avant-garde. The dining room itself radiates comfort: high ceilings, parquet floors, soft candlelight, and service that feels polished yet personal.
A Stay That Balances Art and Appetite
Together, Pure Hotel and Notarishuys create more than a stay—they craft an experience that flows effortlessly between architecture and appetite. A morning of sunlight and stillness in your suite leads naturally into an evening of flavor and conversation beneath chandeliers. It’s a dialogue between discipline and delight, where one nourishes the mind, the other the senses.
The DNA Hotels Verdict
Pure Hotel – Notarishuys is where minimalism gains warmth and fine dining gains depth. It’s not luxury that shouts—it’s luxury that listens, attentive to detail, emotion, and place. For travelers who crave space, serenity, and substance, this Belgian hideaway delivers a rare balance: modern design with soul, and gastronomy with grace.
