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 fresh crop of distinctive, stylish boutique hotels means there’s no excuse for plumping for a grey and soulless chain. Here are my top hotel picks in Brussels.
Best for quirk: 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 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. Shopped-out guests can linger in the wine bar, stocked by an award-winning sommelier.
Doubles from €65
vintagehotel.be
Best for staying in bed: 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.
Doubles from €180
pillowshotels.com/brussels
Best for location: 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 rooms, spread across four floors of an elegant townhouse, all attractively dressed with Scandinavian flair. A homemade breakfast is served on a thin sliver of a counter downstairs, after which you’re free to explore the neighbourhood. Stroll to the Sablon to sample bites from the nation’s finest chocolatiers, then settle on the terrace of local institution Au Vieux Saint Martin and watch the world go by.
Doubles from €120
happyguesthouse.be
Best for bathroom selfies: Hôtel des Galeries
Neighbourhood: Îlot Sacré
Sure, there’s plenty more going for Hôtel des Galeries, not least a well-loved restaurant and its location in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, a covered walkway dating back to the 19th century. Rooms are refreshingly pared down to make the most of eye-catching features: polished parquet flooring, hand-picked Belgian furniture and a scattering of antique pieces from the Sablon district. Still, the suites’ bathrooms are the real show-stopper, thanks to hashtag-worthy tiles and tubs just made for posing.
Doubles from €130
hoteldesgaleries.be
Best for people watching: Odette en Ville
Neighbourhood: Châtelin
Low-lit and seductive, this urban bolthole is where well-heeled locals come out to play. Dressed in onyx black, plush greys and marble, rooms have a sultry masculine feel, with all the techie frills you’d expect. The real action, though, is downstairs. Book ahead for a taste of the intimate restaurant’s fusion dishes, such as foie gras baos or lobster dumplings, or settle into one of the lounge bar’s leather sofas for classic cocktails and a whiff of neighbourhood scandal.
Doubles from €220
odetteenville.be
Best for self-care: CHYL
Neighbourhood: Ixelles
Ethical concept store CHYL has won local hearts with its inviting terrace, colour-packed brunches and clever selection of wellbeing treats. Hide away from the world in one of its three first-floor bedrooms, dreamily decorated to make you feel right at home. Textured blankets, copper accents and hanging greenery are right out of a Pinterest board, with cosy snugs craftily constructed from reclaimed pallets. Hit the café for cold-press juices and smoothie bowls, and make the most of the soul-soothing vibes.
Doubles from €70
chyl.be
Best for fun: Jam Hotel
Neighbourhood: Châtelin
Former art school Jam Hotel has been given a new lease of life with lashings of exposed concrete, pale wood and abstract splashes of colour. It’s now a hangout for sociable types: challenge friends to a match of ping pong or Ms Pacman in the games room, feast on scrumptious pizzas in the restaurant, or sample cocktails in the rooftop bar. There’s even a slim swimming pool for sunny days. Look out for bi-yearly Pop Up the Jam events, during which creatives, musicians and tattoo artists turn the hotel into a concept store – you won’t get a room, but it’s worth dropping in for a snoop.
Singles from €50
jamhotel.be
Best for unwinding: 9Hotel Sablon
Neighbourhood: Sablon
A hop and a skip from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, this grown-up stay keeps things understated with clean-lined decor, a terrace-toting natural wine bar and hearty buffet breakfasts. Rooms are spacious and helpfully stocked with proper toiletries and Nespresso machines. The ace up its sleeve? A sleek covered swimming pool, Finnish sauna and hot tub – just the thing to ease tired muscles after a long day of pounding Brussels’ cobblestoned streets.
Doubles from €159
9-hotel-sablon-brussels.be
Best for views: The Hotel
Neighbourhood: Louise
Watch Brussels’ strikingly cinematic clouds roll over the city from this high-rise on Boulevard de Waterloo. Rooms are quietly elegant, with strategically placed sofas to make the most of the sweeping views. Plump for a Deluxe Panorama room or a suite for access to the 24th-floor lounge, generously stocked with snacks, drinks and glossy magazines. On the 23rd floor, the sauna has incomparable views guaranteed to please Lost in Translation fans.
Doubles from €120
thehotel-brussels.be
Best for heritage: The Dominican
Neighbourhood: La Monnaie
Classicist painter Jacques-Louis David once wielded his brushes on the site of The Dominican, previously incarnated as a 15th-century abbey. Part of the Carlton chain it may be, but this luxe design hotel is understandably proud of its pedigree. Historical details happily sit alongside modern touches. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame a serene inner courtyard, flooding the public areas with welcome light. Take a seat in the buzzy Grand Lounge, or head out on foot to explore Brussels’ high-spirited nightlife.
Doubles from €150
carlton.nl/en/the-dominican-hotel-brussels
