Brussels is one of the most underrated cities in Europe, and we have already investigated the best luxury hotels in Brussels, but if you want to stay in the city center, where should you stay? We think you should stay at a character-filled luxury boutique hotel where you can feel the Brussels “je ne sais quoi.” Here are our best picks.
As the center of European culture and institutions, Brussels has much more to offer than most people imagine. Apart from its famous chocolates and beers, there are almost 90 museums, beautiful parks, architecture, bars, and much more. Look around our website to learn more.
There are two airports close to Brussels City: Zaventem (12 km away) and Charleroi (55 km away). You can get between these airports and the city by train, bus, taxi, and personal car.
The Grand Place, or Grote Markt, is the central square of Brussels. You will want to stay in this historic area if you visit Brussels for leisure. The Grand Place centers on its namesake square, towered over by the Gothic City Hall and ringed by opulent guild houses with cafes and the Choco-Story chocolate museum.
The Grand Place is hidden up a maze of lively cobbled and pedestrianized streets packed with local restaurants largely serving seafood, paella, and moule frites. Once you find the square, you will be impressed by the ornate, spired 15th-century city hall, as well as a number of antique guildhalls (mostly 1697–1705) with fine baroque gables, gilded statues, and elaborate guild symbols.
Centuries-old beer bars lie hidden down alleys, and restaurants serving steamed mussels line the narrow Rue des Bouchers. The stately 19th-century Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert arcade houses luxury boutiques, clockmakers, and chocolate shops.
On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, there’s a flower market in the square, and at other times of the year, it hosts Christmas fairs and jazz weekends, as well as the famous’ flower carpet’ once a year. Around the corner from the Grand Place is the Manneken Pis (a famous but small statue of a boy peeing), and it is worth taking a trip to the city’s edge to the site of the Battle Of Waterloo.
1. The Dominican
Nestled just a few steps from the historic Grand Place in Brussels and less than 10 minutes walk from Brussels Central station The Dominican luxury boutique hotel is ideally located for a weekend exploring this fabulous city.
Its location is perfect for the center of Brussels. It is around 10 minutes from Brussels’ Central Station and a block from the Theatre Royale de la Monnaie. More importantly, you are less than a 5-minute walk from the historic city center, with the Grand Place de Bruxelles and tons of restaurants and bars, and yet it is hidden a couple of blocks from the crowds.
The hotel, pictured above, stands on what was a Dominican abbey in the 15th century, and after 1800 the famous neo-classicist painter Jacques-Louis David had his home here. Now, sitting majestically among the golden gables in the heart of Brussels, it has become a luxurious 21st-century luxury hotel. It offers a unique combination of historical elegance and modern design.
Firey Tikki torches welcome you at the entrance, setting the atmosphere and stone-flagged public rooms open to the courtyard with historic archways. The Dominican is part of Design Hotels and is effortlessly stylish.
The interior is a contemporary interpretation of the old cloister, featuring the designs of the prize-winning Amsterdam agency, FGStijl. The restoration is beautifully finished. There is a trendy lounge bar with high ceilings and impressive windows, an intimate “Grand Lounge” restaurant, as well as a peaceful courtyard bistro for the summer.
The uplifting decor mixes luxurious fabrics and rich colors, giving a relaxing feel to both the rooms and the communal areas. Take a stroll through the abbey corridor in the late afternoon sun, have a casual drink in the Cosmopolitan Lounge Bar, and experience an ever-changing range of moods in unforgettable surroundings.
All rooms are luxurious and come with nice amenities like a Nespresso machine in the room. The hotel also has a small gym with sauna and steam room. The Dominican Loft room is a highlight, located at the front side of the hotel and offering a luxurious feeling in a stylishly designed atmosphere with super comfy window seats.
This is a truly wonderful boutique hotel in the heart of Brussels. It is how boutique hotels should be, with excellent service, unique and stylish decor, a great location in the center, a Hammam, a super Grand Lounge for dining and drinks, and by the inner courtyard. We love it!
2. Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte hotel
Hotel Amigo, a Rocco Forte hotel is the best luxury hotel right in the heart of the old town in the center of Brussels. Hotel Amigo is the epitome of Belgian luxury. A distinctive mix of old and new, each of the 173 rooms and suites have been redesigned by Olga Polizzi. Her masterful blend of styles and vintages gives each room its own unique charm, as do the countless thoughtful touches.
The Amigo opened in 1958 and is located in the center of the city, right next to the Grand Place, which is considered by many to be the most beautiful square in Europe. The location is perfect, steps from the historic Grand Place, up an atmospheric cobbled side street.
The square houses the city’s Town Hall and acts as a central focal point for the city, its ornate architecture drawing both residents and visitors throughout the year. In addition, many of the city’s traditions and festivals take place in the square, including the famous bi-annual flower carpet festival.
Hotel Amigo offers a variety of bedrooms and suites which are individual in style. The 173 rooms, of which 18 suites and 1 Royal Suite, are completely renovated and refurbished in a new, modern, and tasteful style. Some rooms have views through to the Grand Place, whilst others look out over the churches and spires of the city. Good-sized bathrooms contain mosaic details in red or green to match their marble vanity tops, and figures of Herge’s characters Tintin, Snowy the dog, and Captain Haddock enliven the walls with a touch of humor.
3. Pillows Grand Hotel Place Rouppe
Pillows Grand Hotel Place Rouppe is an elegant hotel with a stylish white-company color scheme of creams and greys. Suites are the rooms to pick from, and they have super bathrooms and deep soaking bathtubs.
The hotel is centrally situated by Place Rouppe, an area with bars and eateries close to the center and Brussels’ Unesco-listed Grand Place and Manneken-Pis fountain.
The rooms to choose are those overlooking the square for looking down on the world going by. The Living Resto & Wine Bar downstairs is excellent for light bites, and it has a roaring fire to keep you warm on colder nights.
4. The Hotel. Brussels
The Hotel. Brussels is located on the fashionable Boulevard de Waterloo in central Brussels, where most world-renowned luxury lifestyle brands are located. The Grand Place and Brussels tourist center are within walking distance. The European Commission is just a 10-minute drive away. The hotel. is also just 20 minutes from Brussels International Airport and 8 minutes from South Station (Eurostar, TGV, Thalys).
The 27-storey building dates from 1967 and was named ‘The Hotel.’ on February 1st, 2011, following the takeover by Pandox AB, the Swedish hotel investment company. The hotel offers 421 renovated rooms and suites, a super The Urban Spa & Fitness on the 23rd floor, and “The restaurant by Pierre Balthazar” with an innovative food concept and bar & lounge on the ground floor. The interior is inspiring, stylish, and innovative, and regardless of what floor you are on, the view of the hotel in the city of Brussels is simply phenomenal.
The rooms are well designed, some offering an open bathroom so you can bathe whilst looking at the view. The decor is stylish whites and creams offset with dark woods and mirrors. The beds are very comfortable, with mountains of pillows. The shower is both powerful and large shower, and the CO Bigelow toiletries are a delight. If you opt for a Deluxe panorama room, you will get access to the Club Lounge on the 24th floor with ever more breathtaking views. The Club Lounge also offers an excellent breakfast, afternoon snack, and pre-dinner drinks.
5. Hôtel des Galeries
Hôtel des Galeries is located in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, a 19th century covered walkway. The royal galleries, in their original heyday, were centers of art and culture, attracting such francophone luminaries as Victor Hugo and Paul Verlaine.
Conceived by Nadine Flammarion, of the publishing magnate family, the intimate boutique hotel’s industrial- and vintage-inflected style comes from the minds of two of Belgium’s top designers, who in turn sourced custom furnishings from local artisans—like carpets by Toulemonde Bochart and tables by Sylvain Willenz.
Room features include polished parquet floors, beautiful individual and bespoke furnishings, and antiques from the Sablon district. Bathrooms are stunning, probably the best hotel bathrooms in Brussels. Bathrooms have colorful geometric ceramic walls and large windows with views over the galleries, the Cathedral, or the historic rooftops.
The aesthetic extends to the acclaimed restaurant, which is less a hotel restaurant and more the kind of Old World café where artists and intellectuals gather for its lively and relaxed scene.
6. Leopold Hotel Brussels
A great way to arrive into Brussels is by the Eurostar. Simply hop on at London’s Kings Cross, and within hours you are in the heart of Brussels. From the Eurostar terminal, take the Metro to Troon, and just steps away from the metro station, you will find the gem that is the Leopold Hotel Brussels. This modern hotel will make you feel right at home in the center of Brussels’ EU district. Just a few steps from the EU Parliament and EU Commission, the Leopold Hotel Brussels EU is ideal for business and a great bargain for a weekend break in this upmarket area of Brussels.
The Leopold Hotel Brussels is not far from Brussels city center. The high-end shopping street of Avenue Louise, the Royal Palace, the Royal Park, and the National Museum are just 3 minutes walk away. A 10-minute walk will get you to the Antique market Sablon, the Centre Borschette, the European Commission, and the Palais des Congrès. Fifteen minutes walk away is the Grand Place and Manneken-Pis. Crucially, hotel Leopold is situated in a quiet residential and business area, so evenings are quiet, ensuring a good night’s sleep.
The hotel offers 106 comfortable rooms, suites, and apartments, a quiet library to read a book and relax in, a sunny indoor terrace with an opening roof for summer or winter dining, a welcoming bar stocked with Belgian beers, and a brasserie restaurant for a delicious taste of the local cuisine.
7. Steigenberger Wiltcher’s
This hotel isn’t in the center of the Grand Place. It is instead located on upscale Avenue Louise. Steigenberger Wiltcher’s has stood as a paragon of good taste since 1911. Now she stands ready for the next century with an understated, modern elegance that invites guests to relax and linger. The location actually isn’t bad. It’s perfect for shopping, and if you want to sightsee, you can take the Metro to the Grand Place, which is minutes away.
With 267 serene guest rooms, which are the most spacious of the city, offer beautiful views over the inner courtyard or the Avenue Louise. Plan afternoon adventures over sweet delicacies in the library, then join locals for handcrafted cocktails and a market-fresh meal in the cozy Loui bar and restaurant. You’re just minutes from Brussels’old town.
8. Sofitel Brussels Le Louise
Sofitel Brussels is also situated near upscale Avenue Louise. Nestled among the fashionable streets of Brussels’ prestigious Avenue Louise district is the 169-room Sofitel Brussels Le Louise. This five-star hotel has all the luxurious touches you could imagine.
From Hermès lotions in the bathroom to dinners and peaceful Sunday brunches by award-winning Chef Adwin Fontein, this stylish hotel exudes opulence. Stunning plays on color and light enhance the vibe, which blends Brussels’ historic beauty with French art de Vivre.
Whether you start your day with an espresso on the terrace or end it with a cocktail in the lounge, you’ll be experiencing the good life in the heart of Brussels.
9. Vintage Hotel
Again, this hotel is just moments from the designer stores on Avenue Louise. It is the quirky and colorful Vintage Hotel which thoroughly embraces the 1970s. Rooms can be small here, but all are perfectly formed and overlook a central courtyard. Decore is retro wallpaper and fluffy pillows. For something different, stay in the Airstream caravan with a nice bed and a shower. This hotel also has a good wine bar stocked by an award-winning sommelier.
10. Odette en Ville
Odette en Ville is a romantic hotel with lots of low lighting, so your wrinkles never show. This ultra-trendy hotel-restaurant located between the Place du Châtelain and Avenue Louise in Brussels has opened its doors in a beautiful mansion dating back to the 1920s.
The original design of Odette en Ville in Williers offers the glamour of a New York boutique hotel. Book the restaurant ahead for a taste of the excellent fusion dishes, like lobster dumplings, or enjoy an exquisite cocktail with Brussel’s most sophisticated locals.
Review: The Dominican, Brussels
Nestled just a few steps from the historic Grand Place in Brussels and less than 10 minutes walk from Brussels Central station, The Dominican luxury boutique hotel is ideally located for a weekend exploring this fabulous city. The hotel stands on what was a Dominican abbey in the 15th century, and after 1800 the famous neo-classicist painter Jacques-Louis David had his home here. Now, sitting majestically among the golden gables in the heart of Brussels, it has become a luxurious 21st-century luxury hotel, offering a unique combination of historical elegance and modern design.
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