Beer, chocolate, gastronomy, museums, unique architecture, and of course the EU, Brussels has a lot to offer. However, great hotels are in very short supply.
That said, this week we give you an extensive and brief look at the Belgian capital’s top hotels and their best suites.
1. Hotel Amigo
2. Steigenberger Wiltcher’s
3. Le Metropole
4. Sofitel Brussels Europe
1. Hotel Amigo
The top-rated hotel in the city by U.S. News, the magazine says, “Guests praise the Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte Hotel for its impeccable service and central Brussels location near shops, restaurants, museums and must-see sights like Manneken Pis and the Grand-Place. The historic property – which once served as a prison in the 1500s and was later converted into a hotel for the 1958 Brussels World Exposition – still features original details like a lobby floor made of cobblestones from 620. What’s more, the property’s two specialty suites are each named and modeled after noteworthy Belgians, including René Magritte (one of the country’s most well-known artists) and Armand Blaton (the hotel’s founder). No matter which space you choose, you’ll enjoy amenities like minibars, free Wi-Fi, and Carrara marble bathrooms. Outside of your accommodations, you’ll find a fitness center, a bar, and an Italian restaurant.”
Forbes Travel Guide writes, “Inside the beautiful Brussels hotel, you will find fine dining at Ristorante BoCConi, a lounge, and bar that’s great for light bites and craft cocktails, a modern fitness center, and amenities for kids of all ages. Hotel Amigo features 154 rooms and 19 suites, each with clean lines and splashes of abstract art and color. And, because Hotel Amigo boasts an excellent location right in the historic city center, it’s close to shops, cafés, museums, and cultural sites.”
Grand-Place Suite
The 2,000-sq.ft. Grand-Place Suite features its own 750-sq.ft. private, stylishly furnished outdoor terrace with sun loungers, a dining area, and panoramic views over the city’s rooftops and the City Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the ideal family residence with its well-appointed kitchen and dining room. It can also accommodate an extra bed and be connected with a Deluxe Room to create a two-bedroom suite. The wooden floors, open fireplace, and paintings from the Blaton family’s private collection in the sitting room add to the suite’s warm, welcoming ambiance.
More suites at Hotel Amigo.
2. Steigenberger Wiltcher’s
The Telegraph writes, “After a colossal makeover, this must rank as Brussels’ grandest hotel – palatial in style and scale. It has everything a grand hotel should have, including a long history. Lying close to the upmarket shopping streets of Avenue Louise, it is a short journey from Brussels’ historic center.”
Forbes Travel Guide says, “Steigenberger Wiltcher’s stately white Beaux Arts exterior has been an architectural gem in Brussels since the hotel debuted in 1913, attracting guests through the years, including artist René Magritte, Lady Gaga and, most recently, Mick Jagger. Wander the lobby’s marble flooring and take in the dark, rich wood accents and floor-to-ceiling windows and you will still find historic accents, like ornate Beaux Arts wrought-iron banisters and a bright Art Nouveau glass roof in nearby Café Wiltcher’s. But the spacious 267 rooms and suites take on a more contemporary yet still refined feel. Afterward, dine alfresco on La Terrasse or at chef Kevin Lejeune’s excellent French-inspired restaurant, La Canne En Ville. Enjoy a casual meal in a comfortable lounge chair at Loui Bar & Restaurant. The wine and cocktails provide a consistent draw, but there’s also an extensive whiskey list and on Monday to Friday, a special chef’s market menu.”
Presidential Suite
The 1,500-sq.ft. Presidential Suite features separate living and meeting areas for up to eight people as well as a small kitchen.
More suites at Steigenberger Wiltcher’s.
3. Le Metropole
The Telegraph says, “After a colossal makeover, this must rank as Brussels’ grandest hotel – palatial in style and scale. It has everything a grand hotel should have, including a long history. Lying close to the upmarket shopping streets of Avenue Louise, it is a short journey from Brussels’ historic center.”
Forbes writes, “We can argue that everything in Brussels begins with fine beer, including the dowager duchess of grand hotels here, Le Metropole. In 1890, the enterprising Wieleman brothers, Prosper and Edouard, opened the Cafe Metropole mainly to push their brew, which was apparently good enough so that they quickly arrived at the next logical step of corralling the flume of drinkers into sleeping over, and waking up with their hangovers, in high style. The luxe Metropole was born, which, despite the two world wars raging around and over it, remains today as Brussels’ only five-star hotel in its original building. The marbled lobby boasts the original Corinthian columns, outrageously ornate brass chandeliers, and much-gilt work. Quirkily, the bar is known not for its beer, but for its invention of the Black Russian, created in saccharine glory in 1949 by Metropole barman Gustav Tops for the American socialite-turned-ambassador Perle Mesta. But don’t bother with that sweet swill. Get a sturdy local Chimay instead.”
Royal Suite
The 2,750-sq.ft. Royal Suite features a large living room, separate dining room, three bedrooms, and four bathrooms
More suites at Le Metropole.
4. Sofitel Brussels Europe
US News reports, “Located within the European Quarter of Brussels, the Sofitel Brussels Europe is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Overlooking a leafy park, the French-styled hotel is within walking distance of top city attractions, museums, restaurants, and shops, as well as public transportation stops. Amenities include a business center, meeting space, dry cleaning services, a fitness center, a massage studio, a hammam, an information desk, and a currency exchange service. The dramatically lit BE Café Marché Jourdan serves Belgian cuisine, craft beers, and artisanal chocolates, along with menu items featuring the hotel’s homemade honey. Guest rooms and suites boast Sofitel’s signature My Beds, flat-screen TVs, espresso machines, Bose radios, Hermes toiletries, free Wi-Fi access and rain showers.”
The Telegraph adds, “The Sofitel Brussels Europe was purpose-built in 2006 as a top-quality business hotel. Design, Gastronomy, and Culture are the three guiding themes of Sofitel, and the lobby atrium expresses two of them, with an attractive postmodern lounge, furniture by Russell Sage, and a botanical wall painting curling up to the glass skylight”.
Opera Suite
The 1,420-sq.ft. Opera Suite features a King bedroom, large living room, dining area, terrace, kitchenette, and panoramic city views.
More suites at Sofitel Brussels.
