"Aloft Brussels Surrounded by European Union government buildings, the quirky and characterful Aloft Brussels brings the Starwood brand’s lively spin on business hotels to the European capital. With sleek, loftlike rooms, 24-hour self-service dining, and all the highest-tech amenities (it’s the first hotel in the Benelux region to have a keyless check-in system), the hotel appeals to young professional travelers who don’t need the over-the-top services of a traditional business stay. Its boxy, avant-garde architecture and bold, colorful decor attract a more design-conscious crowd that values both style and substance, as evidenced by the regular artist- and creative-hosted events the hotel sponsors. But it’s the bar that says the most about how the Aloft Brussels stands out: the sprawling, vibrant lounge has pop art–inspired decor, a pool table, an outdoor patio, and regular live music; it attracts a young, attractive crowd for after-work drinks and late-night parties throughout the week."

"Even a Brussels native would be forgiven for thinking, at first glance, that the Dominican is a historic building. After all, the façade incorporates many of the features that existed when renowned 19 th -century French painter Jacques-Louis David lived at this address. And, inside, the site’s former incarnation as a 15 th -century Dominican monastery appears in such details as the courtyard colonnade and original stone floors in the serene Monastery Corridor. The soaring ceilings, oversized windows, and ornate ironwork of the Grand Lounge and its adjacent bar call to mind the grand cafés of early 20 th -century Europe, while rooms are adorned with vibrant paintings of classical subjects, like those by David and his contemporaries. As historic as it all is, though, there’s no doubt that the Dominican is a modern hotel. The contemporary decor harmoniously complements its surroundings, and each of the 150 luxurious rooms has been individually designed. Many afford views of the impressive La Monnaie, the city’s opera house, located next door. The lounge is one of Brussels’ hottest spots for everything from power lunches to date nights, and the gym even has a private boxing room."

"No, your mastery of languages hasn’t led you astray—“amigo” isn’t a French or Flemish word. Rather, when the Spanish controlled the city in the 16 th century, they misunderstood the Flemish word for “prison,” and so the city jail earned its incongruously friendly nickname. Now one of Brussels ’ premier luxury hotels, under the discerning eye of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, the landmark has finally earned its name, welcoming celebrities, captains of industry, and international dignitaries into its refined space. Designed by Forte’s sister and longtime collaborator, Olga Polizzi, the hotel blends contemporary Italian and Belgian styles—clean-lined furnishings, velvets and Belgian linens in muted tones, soaring windows framed by heavy drapes—with distinctive Flemish classics like Magritte paintings and original flagstone floors. As impressive as it all is, especially when paired with its acclaimed fine-dining restaurant and popular bar, the real star is the view, which, from most rooms, includes the city’s famous town hall."

"Hidden away within the mid-19 th -century grandeur of Brussels ’ Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, the recently opened Hotel des Galeries is an ode to contemporary Belgian design. Which is especially appropriate, since the royal galeries , 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. Each of the uniquely decorated rooms and suites is bright and colorful, meant to feel like a private pied-à-terre, with rough-hewn parquet floors, colorful geometric ceramic bathroom walls, and large windows with views over the galeries , 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. Perhaps the galeries haven’t changed so much, after all."

"A 1920s townhouse in Brussels ’ well-heeled Châtelain neighborhood, the intimate, Fellini-inspired Odette en Ville might as well be your fashionable Belgian friends’ pied-à-terre in the European capital. Its older sibling, Chez Odette, a landmark restaurant and inn, is hidden away in the tiny village of Williers, on the French-Belgian border, and when the Brussels iteration opened, it dressed up with all the panache of a newer arrival: a little bit flashier, a little bit sleeker, a little bit more urbane. Its marble bathrooms, dark walls, and chrome accents all feel very grown-up, but roll-top tubs, fireplaces, and vintage decor reveal those homey country roots, as does the fresh, unpretentious cuisine, including the homemade jam at breakfast. With just eight rooms, the hotel feels intimate and private, an atmosphere only enhanced by the private library, a cozy lounge (notably, adjacent to the bar) with overstuffed leather Chesterfields, vintage chess sets, shelves of art books, and a working fireplace."

"Think of the Pantone Hotel as a chance to reconsider your color scheme. A sleek concept hotel with the classic white backdrop and clean-lined, retro-inspired furnishings common among European design hotels, this venture from the iconic color company and two of Belgium’s top designers and architects lives up to its name. Bold splashes of the brightest Pantone colors exist throughout. Each room is themed according to its own color (don’t worry, each is identified, so you can stock up on mugs and other Pantone swag in the hotel’s shop) and decorated with original art photography of Brussels in which the specific Pantone hue has been found. Larger rooms combine complementary shades from the Pantone spectrum. The lobby lounge is a vibrant, airy space where geometric furniture and pops of color create an updated version of a 1970s aesthetic that incorporates the building’s original architecture into the modern conceit. Most entertaining of all, the colors don’t even stop at the food: sugar packets are filled with Pantone-tinted sugar for your coffee. Talk about obsessive."

"The Radisson Blu brand may be known for its Scandinavian midcentury design, but the Royal Hotel, in the heart of Brussels , has a far older pedigree. In the soaring atrium at the heart of the art deco–inspired building sit the remains of the city’s first wall, originally constructed in the 12th century. This dichotomy between old and new persists throughout the luxury hotel, itself pulled in two directions as a business-focused hotel on the edge of the city’s historic center. The greenhouse-style restaurant and lounge surrounding the Romanesque wall have an Old World elegance to them, contrasting harmoniously with the sleek modernity of the glass ceiling and soaring geometric walls. Different rooms channel different parts of the hotel’s identity, some outfitted with midcentury Danish design–inspired furnishings, others with the wood and leather of a slick urban loft. Even the Michelin-starred restaurant vacillates, its decor taking inspiration from a refined 1930s private club while its cuisine reimagines Belgian seafood in avant garde ways."

"Once just another of the European capital’s many high-end hotels, the Sofitel Brussels Le Louise was transformed by noted architect–designer Antoine Pinto (who did the public spaces in his signature bold and whimsical style) and designer Etienne Bouten (who oversaw the rooms), so it’s now one of the more visually arresting spots in town. The 169 bright and airy rooms and suites are done-up in a sleek but comfortable style, with pops of color and playful touches accenting the cushy beds, convenient work deasks, and bathrooms stocked with Hermes products. Downstairs, Pinto’s Crystal Lounge has become one of Brussels’ hottest spots, both for its retro supper club style—complete with 40-foot alabaster bar, deep leather seating, and softly lit outdoor terrace—and its menus of creative cocktails and local cuisine, served against the backdrop of live music. Along with all that, an ideal location on the border of the historic city center and the fashionable Avenue Louise shopping district makes this hotel a convenient hub for both business and leisure guests."