The Sofitel in Brussels is a city hotel right next to Grand Place and within walking distance of most of what the city has to offer. It’s in the business district, so is popular with people in suits. However, the tourist areas are only a short walk away, and the service here makes it worth considering whether you’re here for business or pleasure.
It is a 5-star venue, with a modern elegance that will suit the young traveller. The exterior is modern, blocky and square. It’s quite an imposing building with large windows and uplighting, but feels welcome at the same time. The entrance is grand with a huge entrance and a pair of doormen to usher you through.
The lobby is large with plenty of seating. The reception is to one side behind a large wooden desk. The atmosphere was of quiet efficiency. There were staff bustling around quietly everywhere, guests reading papers and all that you would expect to see in a quality hotel. The check-in process was quick and painless, and we were off to our room in no time.
We had a Junior Suite which had plenty of floor space, a living area, bedroom area, decent sized bathroom and wardrobe. There was plenty of space to walk around and there was plenty of storage to put our things. It was a good size considering we were in the city centre.
"As hard as we might try, we could not fault the Sofitel in Brussels."
The bed was queen-sized, plenty big enough for us with a firm but comfortable mattress. The pillows were decent, soft but firm, and the bedclothes are crisp and warm. There was everything here to provide a great night’s sleep, which it did.
The suite also have two large LCD TVs, a Bose sound system throughout and Wi-Fi. There is also the usual coffee making facilities, safe, minibar and phone. The room was complete, with everything you would need, and anything else provided by the friendly reception staff. We were not left wanting for anything.
The bathroom was lovely. The tiles were sparklingly clean, the bath a generous size, and the shower was quite powerful. There were also Hermes products too, which gives you an idea of the quality of this place. The bathroom was light, with enough space to move around, and nice fluffy towels.
The room had a nice relaxed atmosphere. Somewhere you would be happy spending a few days of leisure, or even work. The balance between a hotel catering for leisure and business customers was just right here. As hard as we might try, we could not fault it.
The rest of the building was equally nice. The public areas were all clean and tidy. The staff whooshed round in dignified calm. Anything we wanted was provided and we were made to feel as though the staff wanted to look after us rather than just going through the motions.
Regular readers will know that to my mind, the quality service is as important as the hotel. Sofitel has it just right here.
The hotel has a restaurant called the Crystal Lounge, which offers international cuisine and looked full while we were there. There is also a busy bar, which was part of the Crystal Lounge. It served cocktails made by a mixologist, and from the crowd, seemed quite popular.
Overall, our stay at the Sofitel in Brussels were overwhelmingly positive. The building is great, the staff friendly and helpful and the rooms were of a high standard. We would recommend this to any traveller to the city.
For Sofitel reservations from the UK call 0871 663 0625
The Bill: £900 per night
