Laid-back yet lively, Brussels still happily flies under the radar of many a city breaker. There’s much more to the de facto European capital than head-turning brews, art nouveau gems and medieval marvels – though those have enduring appeal, too. A little scratch behind the institutional façade reveals hip boutiques, restaurants doing exciting things with local produce and a thriving art and music scene. A crop of distinctive, stylish boutique hotels means there’s no excuse for plumping for a grey and soulless chain.
These are the best hotels in Brussels:
Maximalists will love the original design at the Vintage Hotel
(Vintage Hotel)
Neighbourhood: Louise
A stone’s throw from the glitzy shops of Avenue Louise, bright and bold Vintage Hotel confidently embraces a 1970s aesthetic. Ranging from the tiny to the spacious, rooms are arranged around a quiet courtyard and decked out with retro wallpaper, mid-century furniture and fluffy throw pillows. Glamping fans can check into the Airstream, a polished caravan kitted out with a comfy bed, a shower and other high-tech bells and whistles like a plasma screen and air-con. Shopped-out guests can linger in the wine bar, stocked by an award-winning sommelier.
Read: Doubles from €76 (£65)
Relax at the Pillows Grand Hotel Place Rouppe
(Pillows Grand Hotel Place Rouppe)
Neighbourhood: Stalingrad
A study in understated elegance, this neoclassical hotel calms the senses with an earthy palette of creams and greys. Opt for a suite for long soaks in the bath, or nab one of the Grand Luxury Rooms overlooking the square for a spot of people watching. Beds are pleasingly minimalistic – crisp linens, perfectly plump pillows – and irresistibly inviting. Luckily, you needn’t stray far for other creature comforts. The Living Resto & Wine Bar downstairs rustles up pretty plates to nibble on at the marble counter, and there’s a crackling fire for cosy nights in, too.
Price: Doubles from €135 (£116)
Closed from Sundays – Fridays until 19 September 2022
Clean design and a central location mean smiles all round for Happy Guesthouse residents
(Happy Guesthouse)
Neighbourhood: Stalingrad
Halfway between the medieval splendour of the Grand Place and the chi-chi Sablon, Happy Guesthouse is perfectly poised for Brussels first-timers. There are just four light and airy rooms, spread across four floors of an elegant townhouse, all attractively dressed with Scandinavian flair – white sheets, white walls and light…
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