Sweet Dreams

Below is the UP Front Guide to some of the best hotels in Brussels. Prices and standards of luxury vary, but they all have something to recommend them. Take your pick! The number of euro symbols (one, two or three €) represents the cost. Most of the hotels offer weekend deals if you get in quickly.

Amigo

The Rocco Forte-renovated Hotel Amigo has managed, more or less, to combine fresh, modern bedroom interiors, while retaining the hotel's original 16th century Spanish Renaissance charm. The latest addition, a Fitness Centre, has proved popular with business and leisure clientele alike, while the well-appointed bedrooms (Classic, Deluxe and Executive) all offer body and technology comforts, such as comfortable chairs, computer and fax connections, interactive satellite TV, and afford fantastic views of Grand'Place and the picturesque churches and spires of Brussels. Or, if you fancy another perspective on Belgian culture, the spacious marble bathrooms are humorously enlivened with Hergé's characters Tintin, Snowy the Dog and Captain Haddock. €€€

1-3 Rue de l'Amigo Centre
Tel: 02/547.47.47
Fax: 02/513.52.77
Website: www.hotelamigo.com
Email: amigo.comhotelamigo@hotelamigo.com

Brussels Marriott

Located next to Brussels' bustling Rue Antoine Dansaert, where many of Belgium's top fashionistas have taken up residence, and St-Gery, which thrives with atmospheric restaurants and trendy bars, the Marriott offers deluxe accommodation with executive rooms, bar and restaurant, business centre and health club. A touch of opulence is provided by the hotel's grand ballroom, while the Bar de la Senne combines sophistication with a friendly ambience. The restaurant's open kitchen is very entertaining, too - the chef prepares the cuisine in full view of customers. €€

3-7 Rue Auguste Orts La Bourse
Tel: 02/516.90.90
Fax: 02/516.90.00
Website: www.marriott.com

Brussels Welcome

Situated in a quiet street in the heart of Brussels, the Welcome Hotel offers its guests nothing less than a world tour: the 17 rooms are all devoted to a different country. Each decorated with genuine artefacts, many provided by previous hotel guests, your bedroom is an exciting glimpse into a different culture. Fear not, they're comfortable, too; each has a bath or shower, TV, telephone, safe, and mini bar, and wifi internet access. Garage parking and a private shuttle service to and from the airport or railway station are also available. The breakfast art deco buffet bar offers a simple but tasty start to your day; perfect for a coffee and a perusal of the morning papers. The hotel's district is also famous for its fresh seafood, with many restaurants and bars close by. €

5 Rue du Peuplier Place Saint-Catherine
Tel: 02/219.95.46
Fax: 02/217.18.87
Website: www.hotelwelcome.com
Email: info@hotelwelcome.com

Carrefour de l'Europe

Handily located in the historical centre of the city, just a few minutes away from Grand'Place and the Central Station, Carrefour de l'Europe is a restful, practical location ideal for business travellers. There's public parking adjacent to the hotel, with easy access by car, metro, train or taxi. You can relax in the South-American themed Barista Lounge, or sample the restaurant's South American specialities. All rooms have a mini-bar, telephone, air-conditioning, double-glazing and electronic safe, and disabled rooms are also available, and there are no worries about internet access - the hotel is completely wi-fi connected. €€

110 Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes Centre
Tel: 02/504.94.00
Fax: 02/504.95.00
Website: www.carrefoureurope.net
Email: info@carrefoureurope.net

The Conrad

Brussels' best? Probably. It's certainly where the stars of sport and screen head if they're in the city for a few days. The Conrad is to be found on Avenue Louise, the city's famed shopping paradise, and is exceptionally stylish and elegant. The hotel prides itself on offering the best bedrooms, total commitment to service, fine Mediterranean and Oriental cuisine in Restaurant Loui and outstanding culinary delights in Cafe Wiltcher's. The Conrad Brussels ballroom is ideal for conferences and banquets, while one of the nine elegant meeting rooms offers the perfect focus for smaller events, with multi-point video-conferencing presentations all part of the service. The gym's not bad, either; Aspria Avenue Louise has a swimming pool, spa bath and steam room, relaxation and six treatment rooms, sauna, solarium, gymnasium, dance studio, beauty studio, members lounge and juice bar. €17 gets you in, and there are separate charges for treatments. €€€

71 Avenue Louise Centre
Tel: 02/542.42.42
Fax: 02/542.42.00
Website: www.conradhotels.com
Email: brusselsinfo@conradhotels.com

Hilton Brussels City

Previously perceived as an under-par Hilton, the recently renovated Brussels City has nevertheless carved a niche for itself with its new-generation, 4-star luxury, offering an intimate, relaxing, young and dynamic hotel experience. The theme is 'luxury with a human dimension', and, whether you buy that or not, there's no doubting the friendly atmosphere and personalised service. The brasserie L'Oliva is suitably chic, there are two meeting rooms and a health and relaxation centre with sauna, steam bath, solarium and fitness equipment. The North station (offering an airport express train plus nearby hookers) is only 300 metres away. €€€

20 Place Rogier
Tel: 02/203.31.25
Fax: 02/274.24.74
Website: www.hilton.com
Email: res.brusselscity@hilton.com

Hotel Manos Stephanie

The Louis XV furniture, marble lobby, and antiques provide an air of elegance rarely found. Even Manos Stephanie's corridors are decorated with sumptuous paintings and mirrors. The hotel is a converted townhouse, located near Place Stephanie and Avenue Louise, and is a reflection of genuine Brussels hospitality. It's a really smart choice for business or pleasure. €€€

28 Chaussée de Charleroi, Saint-Gilles
Tel: 02/539.02.50
Fax: 02/537.57.29
Website: www.manoshotel.com
Email: manos@manoshotel.com

Ibis

Despite the rather unsavoury aspects of some of the Gare du Midi locales, this budget hotel has plenty to offer as an access point to the more cosmopolitan areas around the station. Prices start as low as €79 (€102 being the most expensive), and all rooms and business facilities (they can cater for up to 50 people) are comfortable and well-equipped. €

2-20 Rue d'Angleterre, Midi station
Tel: 02/541.44.44
Fax: 02/541.44.45
Website: www.ibishotel.com

Jolly Hotel du Grand Sablon

The classic white facade of the Hotel du Grand Sablon enjoys one of the finest locations in the city - directly on Place Sablon, an area famous for its antique shops, exclusive chocolatiers, boutiques and restaurants. At weekends, the square comes alive with tourists and locals, who browse the famous antique market before perhaps stopping for a cup of hot chocolate or to sample some of Belgium's finest (beer, that is) on offer in the nearby cafe bars. The hotel itself is relaxed and welcoming, with friendly lounge bar and well-respected Italian restaurant. The classic decor bedrooms are spacious and welcoming, and there's a generous, well-presented buffet breakfast every morning to get your day off to the best start. Overall, this is a high-standard, value-for-money base from which to explore the city. €€€

2-4 Rue Bodenbroeck Sablon
Tel: 02/518.11.00
Fax: 02/512.67.66
Website: www.jollyhotels.be
Email: jollyhotelsablon@jollyhotels.it

Le Dôme

Formerly the Hotel Cecil, Le Dôme was built in 1902 as the height of the Art Nouveau movement. It closed in the 1960s, but re-opened in 1990 following a complete renovation. While the 125 luxury bedrooms now have few art nouveau trappings, the breakfast area more than makes up for this omission. There's a cultural bent to the business meeting rooms, too which have been themed on artist Gustav Klimt, architect Victor Horta and musician Adolphe Sax. Three famous Belgians in one hotel? Some kind of record, surely? €

9-13 Boulevard du Jardin Botanique Gare du Nord
Tel: 02/218.06.80
Fax: 02/218.41.12
Website: www.hotel-le-dome.be
Email: dome@skypro.be

Le Plaza

Another hotel frequented by the great and the good; guests as diverse as Phil Collins and Romano Prodi have rested their weary heads at this five-star establishment built in 1930 along the lines of Paris's George V Hotel. It was closed in 1976, but was re-opened 20 years later by Baron van Gysel, who, along with acclaimed interior decorator Pierre-Yves Rochon, affected a thoroughly marvellous renovation. You can practice your golf putting (on the roof, of all places, watch that swing), but, if your inclination tends towards more traditional hotel relaxation, the warm and attentive service and elegance of tapestries, marble floors and chandeliers, with original paintings adorning the walls, should more than satisfy. Excellent business facilities, too. €€€

118-126 Boulevard Adolphe Ma, Centre
Tel: 02/278.01.00
Fax: 02/278.01.01
Website: www.leplaza-brussels.be
Email: reservations@leplaza-brussels.be

Les Tourelles

A one-of-a-kind hotel: the façade is mock Tudor cottage with Rapunzel-esque towers, while inside, the welcome is warm, friendly and antiquated, and an ancient-looking (but safe) wooden staircase leads you to the rooms, which are simple but cosy. There's no restaurant or bar, but there are loads available in nearby Uccle. The friendly staff will be only too happy to point you in the right direction. €

135 Avenue Winston Churchill, Uccle
Tel: 02/344.95.73
Fax: 02/346.42.70
Website: www.lestourelles.be
Email: info@lestourelles.be

Métropole

The Metropole Hotel celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2005, and prides itself on being Brussels only remaining 19th century hotel. The mixture of decoration styles is beguiling, with French renaissance greeting you at the entrance, Empire in the reception hall, and some rooms in Art Deco. In April 2002, the Council of Monuments and Sites put the Métropole Hotel's façade, as well as the ground floor, on its protected list. With Le 19ième bar and sumptuous restaurants on hand to serve the needs of the body, and Café Métropole's unique year-round heated terrace, you might find it difficult to think of an excuse for leaving the hotel. Should you do, though, its location, just a few steps away from Grand'Place, the Bourse and the Theatre de la Monnaie, is perfect. €€€

31 Place de Brouckère, De Brouckère
Tel: 02/217.23.00
Fax: 02/218.02.20
Website: www.metropolehotel.be
Email: via website

NH Atlanta

The recently renovated NH Atlanta is a pleasant, functional hotel with well-equipped rooms, Belgian, French and Italian-cuisine are on offer in its Brasserie Atlanta plus an opportunity to sample some of its wide range of famous Belgian beers and whiskys in the comfy lobby lounge. A health & fitness centre with sauna and Turkish bath is available to guests free of charge, and there's even an experienced team of coaches on hand to help you make the best use of the sporting and leisure facilities. Business needs are well catered for, too - six conference rooms can each hold up to 80 people. €

7 Boulevard Adolphe Max, De Brouckère
Tel: 02/217.01.20
Fax: 02/217.37.58
Website: www.nh-hotels.com
Email: nhatlanta@nh-hotels.com

Novotel

Novotel has got the nous when it comes to caring for kids; there's an excellent play area with a table full of Lego and a large screen Playstation, more than enough to keep the little ones happy while you enjoy a drink in the adjacent bar. The hotel is very clean, just a minute's walk from Grand'Place, and, best of all, excellent value for money. The rooms are fairly small but comfortable and breakfast is a well-presented buffet style feast. Perfect for a short break. €€

120 Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes Centre
Tel: 02/514.33.33
Fax: 02/511.77.23
Website: www.novotel.com
Email: H1030@accor-hotels.com

Renaissance Brussels

Boasting one of the finest gyms in Brussels, the 2,000 sq. metre World Class Health Academy, the Renaissance Brussels, located in the environs of the European Parliament, is perfect for a business or pleasure stay. The dining is fine at the Symphony Restaurant, with cocktails and charm on tap at the Intermezzo Bar. Rooms are functional but comfortable, and you're little more than a mile away from the city centre. €€

19 Rue du Parnasse, European Quarter
Tel: 02/505.29.29
Fax: 02/505.25.55
Website: http://www.marriott.com

Van Belle Hotel

The Van Belle Hotel offers a warm and friendly atmosphere; it's clean, modern and prices are interesting (starting at €55) compared to others in the city centre. The facade of the building is not as new as the inside, and the neighbourhood is not the most charming, but you are only around two miles from Grand'Place. €

39 Chaussée de Mons, 1070 Brussels
Tel: 02/521.35.16
Fax: 02/527.00.02
Website: www.hotelvanbelle.be
Email: reservation@hotelvanbelle.be