august

You don't need to be staying at the hotel to eat at the restaurant. Dinner at August was a wonderful experience: the food was expertly prepared and the staff were friendly and accommodating. The wine list is extensive, with a large choice of excellent wines, especially whites, which is quite exceptional.

The building and its restoration are beautiful, which makes the poor service here all the more disappointing. We paid for a short break to mark personal and work milestones, but it turned into a frustrating stay. After travelling widely over the past two years, August ranks among our worst accommodation experiences. Friends asked where we were staying in Antwerp, and I advised them against it. I no longer feel comfortable recommending even a coffee visit, despite the property's history and architecture. We arrived to rubbish left in the room's bins and a stained face towel. Nobody acknowledged either problem or apologized. There was also no room phone, though we had been told the front desk was available around the clock by phone. Staff said a previous guest had stolen it, and told us to come to reception in person for any help. The facial treatment was uncomfortable too. We were repeatedly refused a changing room, robe, and slippers that were included. My girlfriend was told to remove “the top of the dress” because it was “just a facial.” At dinner, two dishes we had not ordered appeared on the bill. We caught the mistake, but again there was no apology. Staff seemed unaware of what others had told us, so each time someone asked about our stay we had to start from the beginning. At checkout, we were essentially told the problems had already happened and could not be undone. That may be true, but it did not show any care or willingness to take responsibility. I'm disappointed, not angry. Public reviews make these service problems seem less than isolated, which is concerning for such a distinctive, well-restored property.

The restaurant being set right in the hallway made getting to our room awkward, since we had to walk through the tables. We also asked for local dining suggestions and were told there weren't any, that places close on Wednesday nights, and that we should eat at the hotel. There were actually around a dozen restaurants open within walking distance. Our room was uncomfortably warm, and the fan did not seem to move air. Staff first called it a quiet fan, then said it needed repair, then said the temperature setting was too low, and finally said the whole system needed 24 hours to restart. Everyone gave us a different explanation, and the heating and cooling were ultimately switched off for our entire stay. The staff came across as clueless and quite rude. For such a nice hotel, it was a disappointing visit. We won't be back.

We had a phenomenal stay in Antwerp's quieter neighborhood. The staff were attentive, and both the facial and massage were great. Loved the minimal, authentic design. I'd definitely come back 🤍