Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp

RESTAURANT

Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp offers 4 fine dining restaurants.

The Botanic Restaurant by Wouter Van Tichelen:

Educated by a former three-star-chef in Belgium, Wouter Van Tichelen opens the Botanic’s authentic Belgian restaurant offering an exceptional atmosphere as well as the freshest ingredients, cooked to perfection. Each dish provides a classic taste of Belgian cuisine, but with an interpretation that is entirely his own. The Botanic Restaurant nestles in an unparalleled setting in the conservatory of the Monastery Garden. Its historical wine cellar houses three compartiments and offers an intimate venue for private dinners, tastings, aperitifs and whisky or wine club meetings. Antwerp residents know Wouter van Tichelen from the 1 Michelin star restaurant De Koopvaardij.

Hertog Jan at Botanic and Bar Bulot by Hertog Jan:

Chef Gert De Mangeleer and his business partner Joachim Boudens are opening two new restaurants at

Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, reviving the successful Hertog Jan spirit that took them to three Michelin stars in 2012. Back in 2005, Gert and Joachim, the perfect host, acquired the Hertog Jan brasserie. Building on their experience at Belgium’s top restaurants, they transformed the traditional establishment into a thriving hub of innovative gastronomy. Within two years they were awarded their first Michelin star. A second star came in 2009 and was followed by a third in 2012 – a rarity in Belgium. By then, Gert and Joachim had already spent two years renovating a listed barn purchased in 2010 and working on the extensive herb and vegetable garden that would be supplying their kitchen. 2014 was a busy year: Gert became European Chef of the Year in Madrid and Joachim was awarded Three Star Status by The Sustainable Restaurant Association. They reopened their gourmet restaurant in the restored barn and launched the L.E.S.S. sharing concept – now represented at the L.E.S.S. Eatery in downtown Bruges. Four years later, in the autumn of 2018, they closed their three-star restaurant to give themselves more business freedom. In 2019, they set up the Hertog Jan Restaurant Group. One of their projects, Bar Bulot, started life as a seafood-only pop-up but is now a fullyfledged restaurant in Bruges serving traditional Belgian and French cuisine. With the revival of Hertog Jan

in Antwerp, they will recreate the atmosphere of the West Flemish garden experience in an intimate setting with its own glasshouse, beehives and herb garden. The motto: ‘Simplicity isn’t simple’.

Fine Fleur by Jacob Jan Boerma & Thomas Diepersloot

Two chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants join forces at the Botanic to generate zen-like balance. Jacob Jan Boerma has been in the business for 30 years, and his signature dishes – using citrus, acidity, herbs, spices and vegetables – are famous all over the world. The De Leest in Vaassen earned three Michelin stars thanks to his creative talent and deep love of seasonal and regional products. This is a passion he shares with Thomas Diepersloot who hails from Michelin-starred Restaurant Voltaire, having previously worked with many world-renowned chefs. When they met, they clicked straight away, and at the Fine Fleur they will be creating the ‘wow’ factor that only the finest cuisine can offer.

Relaxing during your stay is possible in our Botanic Health Spa & Health Club: Belgium’s leading destination is a pioneering spa where botanical wellbeing is central. The monastic heritage impacts the holistic spa concept focusing on naturopathy, phytotherapy, traditional European medicine and ancient methods of healing and prevention. The 1,000sqm spa spreads across three floors, and includes an 18m panoramic swimming pool, cocooning spaces, extensive sauna area, Jacuzzi, lounge, vitamin and herbal bars and the Spa Bistro. An exclusive fitness club provides innovative membership programmes. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness classes reenergise body and mind.