I really like the city of Brussels; it is one of the most easily accessible European capitals from Paris, and there is always plenty to see and do there. By the way, I had already taken you on a tour there in June 2016, focusing on urban art and 2.0 culture. This time, I am sharing a selection of 3 Brussels hotels that I tested during my stay in the city in October 2016. As usual, I will also add other hotels I discover during subsequent trips to Brussels.
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Table of Contents
Hôtel Amigo
The Hôtel Amigo is an iconic address in the historic center of Brussels, belonging to the Rocco Forte Hotels group, a collection of 14 individual hotels, resorts, residences, and villas. All the brand’s hotels are landmarks, both old and new, occupying beautiful buildings in exceptional locations. We didn’t get the chance to stay in this 5-star hotel, but during our visit to the city in 2024, we tested the Bocconi restaurant, as well as the Magritte bar, which I talk about in another article featuring great food addresses in Brussels.
Hôtel Amigo
Rue de l’Amigo 1, 1000 Brussels
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Le 9 Hôtel Sablon
This 4-star Boutique Hotel with 34 rooms and contemporary design is ideally located in the Sablon district, a 7-minute walk from Brussels-Central station (Grand Sablon metro). Be careful not to confuse it (as we did) with the 9 Hôtel Central, from the same chain, which is located a 5/10 min walk from its younger brother, the 9 Sablon… Designed by the studio Castel Veciana Arquitectura, the 9 Hôtel Sablon opened its doors on March 21, 2016, in this artistic district, filled with antique shops and art galleries. In the surrounding area, there are also numerous chocolatiers as well as cafes and restaurants (very important point, obviously!).
Our room:
I really liked this room because it was very bright, also very quiet (the street below has very few cars), and the bedding was of very good quality.
Breakfast:
Breakfast is served buffet-style in the basement, and the hotel also provides guests with a 24/7 self-service bar, which can be useful.
A very nice little extra: the hotel also has a swimming pool with a whirlpool and a Finnish sauna in the basement, accessible for free to hotel guests, so remember to bring your swimsuit!
Luggage storage test: a luggage room is available to guests who want to leave their belongings there during the day (a service that is always very practical).
A practical little extra: the hotel lobby offers a business corner and a co-working space for guests or visitors.
The essential extra: the Wi-Fi is free and accessible in all rooms and common areas, and it works very well (which is unfortunately not the case in all hotels).
Things to do nearby: visit the nearby Royal Museums of Belgium, including the Magritte Museum, for example (I will tell you more about it in a future article with cultural outing ideas).
Tested in 2016 - invitation
Le 9 Hôtel Sablon
Rue de la Paille 2, 1000 Brussels
Room prices: between €109 and €360
Link to book a room
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L’Hôtel Bloom Brussels
This trendy, designer hotel, located right next to the Botanical Garden of Brussels, is mostly frequented by a younger crowd and by families. The concept is quite nice, actually: each room is decorated with a unique mural hand-painted by a young European artist.
Our room 734:
In our room, we had a very beautiful mural by an Estonian artist, Veiko Klemmer, entitled “Povera”.
Breakfast:
Another strong point of this hotel is its very nice buffet breakfast, with a wide choice and especially a Brussels waffle truck where you can make your own waffles!!! The best!
I liked: the young and relaxed vibe of the establishment and the presence of works close to street art everywhere in the hotel, not to mention the two super hanging armchairs in the entrance hall where we had fun like children for quite some time… Another nice point, a small “honesty snack” corner to help yourself if you have a little hunger in the middle of the night…
I regretted: the fairly present noise of cars (the hotel faces a very busy street and unfortunately I am very sensitive to that kind of thing) and the average quality of our bedding.
Tested in 2016 - invitation
Hôtel Bloom
Rue Royale 250, 1210 Brussels
Room prices: between €70 and €150
Breakfast price: €19
Link to book a room
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Hotel Barsey Brussels by Warwick
I was already familiar with the Warwick chain via their Parisian hotels, but this was my first time sleeping in one. One of the two Brussels establishments of the brand, the Barsey, which we were invited to test, is located on Avenue Louise, in the Ixelles district, south of the city. It is a neighborhood I didn’t know but was delighted to discover in this way.
Our room:
Obviously, as usual (it’s almost a ritual now), I couldn’t resist the urge to jump into the bed to inaugurate this stay… Very nice bathroom with a bathtub, my great pleasure when I go to a hotel, because obviously I don’t have one in my small Parisian apartment…
Breakfast:
Here again, it is served as a buffet in the room that also serves as the establishment’s restaurant.
The neighborhood:
It is definitely worth discovering! If you stay at this hotel, I highly recommend you take a walk in the area; you will discover magnificent Art Deco facades and a lovely park around a pond nearby.
What I liked: the slightly old-school charm of the rooms and the excellent bedding.
What I regretted: the very poor soundproofing between rooms… Our neighbors in the next room had apparently decided to play some music, and I really felt like I was in their room, if you know what I mean… Well, then again, maybe they just played the music very, very, very loud, I don’t know…
Tested in 2016 - invitation
Hotel Barsey by Warwick
381-383 Avenue Louise Brussels
Room prices: between €400 and €430
Breakfast price: €24
Link to book a room
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And you, what are your favorite hotel addresses in Brussels, or your good accommodation tips?
Find all my articles on Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia) below:
⇒ All my articles on Belgium
⇒ All my articles on Flanders
GENERAL INFO ABOUT BELGIUM
⇒ Brussels, the capital
⇒ Belgian gastronomy
⇒ Bed and Breakfasts in Belgium
MY ARTICLES ON FLANDERS
⇒ Bruges
⇒ Ghent
⇒ Louvain / Leuven
⇒ The Belgian Coast and Ostend
MY ARTICLES ON WALLONIA
⇒ Gaume Province
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free; the photographer's permission is mandatory before any use
