Hotels in Brussels

Quirky and distinctive, this boutique hotel celebrates the romance of travel. Each of the 17 rooms is individually decorated with ethnic textiles and artefacts to evoke a far-flung corner of the world: the Congo room is strewn with mosquito nets and leopard-spotted cushions, the Cuba room features a mural of old Havana and the Tahiti room has a bamboo bed and a wildly colourful, tropical theme. Within easy walking distance of the historic centre, it stands on a quiet street next to Place Sainte Catherine.

Crowne Plaza Brussels Airport is located 5 minutes from the airport by shuttle bus. The hotel has an on-site business centre, conference facilities, a health and fitness club and a restaurant.

Although within short walking distance of the bustling Grand-Place, the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo is a haven of calm and comfort. In the 16th century, the building served as a prison; the Amigo opened as a luxury hotel in 1957. Furnished with rich tapestries and antiques, it offers a friendly welcome and good facilities including a restaurant and cocktail bar, meeting rooms and a banqueting suite. The décor of the 176 rooms and suites blends contemporary elegance with dashes of colour and humour - Hergé characters and Magritte graphics appear here and there. Past guests have included Helmut Kohl and Harrison Ford.

The 19th-century Hotel Metropole, with its gracious art nouveau interior, is the first choice for those wishing to combine a lust for nostalgia with a need for modern comfort. Located a stone's throw from the Grand-Place, this palatial hotel offers a truly grand entrance hall and an Italian baroque style restaurant, L'Alban Chambon, which takes its name from the building's French architect and is lined with mirrors and stained glass. There are 283 comfortable and well-equipped rooms and 15 suites, many of them decorated with drapes, swags and chandeliers.

This 50-room hotel occupies a 17th-century building in a lively area just off the Grand-Place, amid a plethora of bars and small eating places. For a budget option with simple rooms and facilities, its lobby is surprisingly grandiose, elaborately decked out in marble, patterned tiles and baroque furniture. There's more cheerfully florid décor in the small courtyard garden.