Parking near your stay

About the hotel

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Gillis Eight by Romy & Travis is a small-scale stay in a characterful building at Sint Gilliskerkhof 8, in the historic center of Bruges. The house is located in a quiet street around the Saint Gilles Church, with the atmosphere of an old residential neighborhood where time seems to run slower. Inside, you'll find eight rooms with a total of sixteen sleeping places, each with a queen-size bed, private bathroom with shower and toilet, and basic modern amenities such as WiFi and television. The style is simple and contemporary, but embedded in a historic setting: tall windows, old facades and narrow staircases recall the building's past, while the interior remains light, comfortable and functional.

The service concept combines a lot of freedom with sufficient support. Guests can easily check in themselves with a clear digital system, which makes late arrivals or flexible travel easier. At the same time, support is available every day of the week if there are any questions or needs to be resolved. Coffee and tea facilities are available in the rooms, often supplemented with small gifts such as chocolate, so that you can immediately get in the right mood for a weekend in the city upon arrival.

The rooms are divided into different categories, but share the same basis: a good bed, fresh bathroom, soft towels and practical storage space. The whole thing feels more like a stylish city home than a classic hotel with lobby and reception. On the ground floor, there is a common area where the breakfast you ordered can be served, or you can opt for breakfast in the room for a quiet start to the day, making Gillis Eight ideal for couples, small groups of friends or business travelers who want to avoid the anonymity of large hotels and prefer to stay in a compact, personal setting.

The surroundings

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The neighborhood around Sint Gilliskerkhof is one of the quieter, authentic corners of the center of Bruges. You'll stay in the shadow of Saint Gilles Church, a brick church with centuries of history, surrounded by narrow streets, cobbled roads and stepped gabled houses. Although you're officially staying in the historic heart of Bruges, this neighborhood feels more rural and small-scale than touristy and busy. You hear the bells, see residents with daily groceries and quickly notice that this is a part of Bruges where people still live.

From the hotel, you can walk to the Grote Markt and the Belfry in less than ten minutes. Along the way, you'll pass Jan van Eyck Square, the canals and several small squares, so that the route to the center is in itself an introduction to the city. In the streets around Sint Gilliskerkhof itself, you will find simple local shops, a few places to eat and quiet corners where there is hardly any traffic. To the east are the green city walls with their windmills; to the south, you can walk towards Burg, Dijver and the museums.

The area is ideal for those who mainly want to experience Bruges on foot. From Gillis Eight, you can easily explore the city in stages: a first loop towards Jan van Eyckplein and the canals, a second around the Grote Markt and Burg, and a third along the vests to the windmills. Due to the compact scale of the city center, you hardly have to use public transport once you have checked in. At the same time, after each walk, you return to a quiet residential street where it is noticeably quieter in the evenings than in the busy squares.

Things to do in the area

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• Visit Saint Gilles Church and the Adornes Domain with the Jerusalem Chapel in the nearby streets. There, you'll discover stained glass windows, chapels and stories that show a lesser-known but very exciting side of Bruges.

• Walk via the eastern edge of the city center to the vests and the Sint Janshuis mill. The wooden mill on the city wall is a beautiful viewpoint over the canals and the green belt around the city and lets you see old Bruges from a different angle.

• Plan a cultural tour of the Groeninge Museum, the Sint Janshospitaal Museum or another institution in the Bruges museum landscape and combine it with a tour of De Halve Maan brewery. This way, you can combine art and history with a tasting of locally brewed beer.

Restaurants & cafes

Restaurants
• Tom's Dinner
Located on the edge of the historic center, within walking distance of Gillis Eight, Tom s Diner is known for its creative cuisine with seasonal dishes in a warm, contemporary interior. The chef works with a changing menu that alternates between international influences and classic flavors, making it a popular place for a longer, relaxing evening.

• Bistro Pro Deo
Bistro Pro Deo, in the Langestraat on the east side of the city center, is a friendly bistro with a clear Belgian character. Here you will find dishes such as beef stew, croquettes and other classics, but always prepared with care in a casual living room atmosphere, so that both local residents and visitors like to come back.

• The Lost Corner
Restaurant De Verloren Hoek is located near the windmills on the vests, a pleasant walk from Gillis Eight. Inside, there is an atmospheric bistro atmosphere and the menu includes aged meat, fish dishes and global tapas, while the terrace offers a view of the green city walls.

Cafes & bars
• Cafune Espresso Bar
Cafuné Espresso Bar is located in a quiet street in downtown Bruges and is a small, specialized coffee bar where a lot of attention is paid to the origin and preparation of coffee. During the day, you can go there for espresso, filter coffee and other coffee preparations combined with something small to eat, in an intimate, relaxed setting.

• Adriaan Coffee Bar
Coffeebar Adriaan, in a former bank building next to the theater, combines a stately space with a warm, contemporary coffee bar atmosphere. It's a great place for breakfast, brunch or a piece of cake with coffee or tea, and thanks to its spacious interior, you can both read and take a break during a day of walking around the city.

• Cambrinus beer brasserie
Bierbrasserie Cambrinus is located a short walk from the Grote Markt and is a household name for Belgian beer lovers. The menu has hundreds of references and is complemented by classic brasserie dishes, served in a brown pub atmosphere with wood panelling and hustle and bustle at the bar.

Lunch shops
• Blackbird
Blackbird on Jan van Eyck Square is a brunch boutique with a distinctly plant-based approach. Here you can eat colorful breakfast and lunch dishes, from pancakes to bowls, in a cozy interior with a view of the canals, ideal for a longer break in the middle of the day.

• That's Toast
That's Toast near't Zand Square specializes in breakfast and lunch around creative toast dishes. The menu offers a wide range, from savory combinations with vegetables or salmon to sweet varieties with fruit, complemented by good coffee and juices in a lively, informal atmosphere.

• Willa Brunch
Willa Brunch on St. Jansplein, not far from Gillis Eight, is a modern brunch shop with a lot of attention to healthy, often vegetarian and vegan options. The menu includes salads, toast, pancakes and smoothie bowls, served in a fresh room with a terrace in a quiet city square.

Accessibility

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• You can travel by train to Bruges station, which is frequently served from various Belgian cities. From the station, you can walk through the park to the city center or take a city bus to a stop near Sint Gilliskerkhof, after which it is a few more minutes' walk to the hotel.

• By car, follow the motorways to Bruges and then the signs to the center. Due to the car-free and fee-paying zones in the historic core, it is practical to first choose a public car park and walk from there to Gillis Eight, instead of driving to the door by car.

• Within Bruges, the easiest way to get around is by foot, especially from a centrally located address such as Sint Gilliskerkhof. For longer distances or trips outside the city center, you can use the city buses or take a rental bike to drive past the vests, to the windmills or to surrounding villages, for example.

Parking

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According to available information, Gillis Eight does not have its own private car park. This means that guests who come by car have to rely on public car parks in and around the center or at peripheral car parks on the outskirts of the city. The historic center is mostly paid and car-free, with limited options for long-term street parking, so it's wise to decide in advance where to leave the car.

There are several underground car parks in the city center within walking distance of the hotel. Parking Zilverpand, under the shopping district of the same name, is a central option if you want to shop as well as visit the historic heart of Bruges. The car park is a few minutes' walk from the Grote Markt and offers a good balance between accessibility and proximity to the main attractions.

Another large underground car park is Centrum t Zand, under and around't Zand Square and the Concertgebouw. This car park has a large capacity, is accessible day and night and usually has charging points for electric cars. From here, you can walk via the city center to Sint Gilliskerkhof in fifteen minutes, along routes that immediately give you a good first impression of Bruges.

If you prefer to avoid the hustle and bustle of the center by car, you can use a peripheral car park or P plus R site, such as P plus R Boogschutterslaan on the side of Sint Kruis. There you park above ground and then take a city bus to the center, or you step partly on foot. The rates at these locations are often more favourable than in the core, which can be particularly interesting for longer stays.

In all cases, the rules concerning paid parking, maximum parking time and any free bus formulas in Bruges are regularly updated. It is therefore advisable to check the current parking plan and conditions shortly before arrival, so that you can park your car without surprises and walk to Gillis Eight with peace of mind.

Summary

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Gillis Eight by Romy & Travis is an intimate, contemporary stay in a historic building at Sint Gilliskerkhof, in a quiet but central area of Bruges. With eight rooms, queen size beds, private bathrooms, free WiFi, coffee and tea facilities and a flexible self-check-in system, it offers the comfort elements of a modern hotel without the bulk. The neighborhood around St. Gilles Church feels authentic and local, while the Grote Markt, the Belfry, the canals and the ramparts with their windmills are all within easy walking distance.

In the immediate and wider area, you will find a wide range of restaurants, cafes, beer brasseries and brunch shops, ranging from creative bistro cuisine to simple lunch spots with a view of the canals. There are several underground car parks in the city center and affordable peripheral car parks available for drivers, although the car-free nature of Bruges does require some preparation. Those who are willing to experience the city primarily on foot and value a personal, small-scale atmosphere will find Gillis Eight a discreet but very practical base for exploring Bruges in its full breadth.

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