Why it works

Cool kid brand The Hoxton’s new(ish) Brussels outpost occupies a brutalist tower that once housed IBM’s European headquarters.

AIME Studios reimagined the hotel interiors as a nod to 1970s design, featuring brutalist elements, polished plaster walls, and bold geometrics. Belgian-sourced vintage furniture and vibrant bespoke murals from Brussels artists Madeleine Schilling and Claire de Quenetain enhance the multilayered design. The lush plantings throughout echo the neighboring Botanical Gardens’ heritage.

The lobby is for lounging and catching up with friends—not only is it spacious, but you will also find a retro-tinged coffee bar with a nocturnal identity: espresso spot by day, cocktail bar by night.

The 198 guestrooms categorize into three classifications: Cozy, Roomy, and Biggy. Retro hues blend with raw materials, displaying lacquered finishes, velvet upholstery, marble highlights, walnut cabinets, and bold rugs. The sophisticated palette of pinks, blues, and ochre lends a dark, moody atmosphere, while the bathrooms stand out with their putty-pink basins set against deep blue tiles and oversized terrazzo floors.

Ground-floor restaurant Cantina Valentina is a capsule of Peruvian gastronomy and mixology via its on-offer dishes and drinks. Order the Tequeño—crispy cheese wontons—and, to drink, opt for the CV Pisco Sour—Barsol Peruvian pisco blend, citrus, orange flower water, egg white, and lemon sherbet.

The Latin flair doesn’t end there. Rooftop bar and terrace Tope offers a range of Mexican-style dishes, including très tasty tacos.

Fast Facts

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Rating: Four-star

The Vibe: 1970s flair

Food + Drink: The lobby coffee shop becomes a bar after dark, Cantina Valentina serves Peruvian-inspired food and cocktails, and rooftop Tope offers Mexican cuisine and city views.

Amenities: Restaurant, bar, coffee shop, pet-friendly rooms, and meeting spaces.

Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: A vintage radio beside the bed adds one more convincing detail to the revitalized 1970s effect.

Neighborhood Recs: Stroll through the Botanical Garden next door, then visit the House of European History for a thoughtful look at the continent and the formation of the European Union.

What’s Nearby: Botanical Garden Brussels, Toy Museum, Parc Saint-François, Belgian Comic Strip Center, and Museum of the City of Brussels.

Pricing: Rates start at $171.

Room Count: 198

Closest Airport: Brussels Airport

Hotels Above Par

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