Checking In: Sofitel Brussels Le Louise

Chic, modern and a little quirky. Beautiful garden terrace. Heart of the luxury shopping district.

First Impressions

If it weren’t for the giant Sofitel flag, you could easily walk right past the rather unassuming entrance of Sofitel Brussels Le Louise. Ideally situated on Toison d’Or in Le Louise, the luxury shopping district of Brussels, the entrance almost exudes a sense of exclusivity given its discreet presentation from the street. But the moment you arrive at the top of the escalator, you find the stylish hotel to be anything but unassuming.

Sofitel Brussels Le Louise is chic and modern, an absolute design standout. Varying hues of purple are incorporated throughout the hotel and play nicely with the contrasts of lights and darks. There are also in-house art galleries displaying the works of famous and local artists.

Furthermore, the hotel is designed by the renowned Antoine Pinto who truly created a masterpiece of this hotel with a giant ruby pink crystal chandelier hanging over the escalator entrance and a translucent wall carved with lace patterns in the lobby. An absolute stunner!

At The Hotel

Complimentary WiFi throughout, fitness center, garden terrace, meeting facilities, business center. In rooms: rain shower, plasma TV, mini bar, complimentary Hermes toiletries, Nespresso machine, iPod dock, yoga mat and blocks.

The Rooms

The rooms are designed with art-print pillows by Fornasetti and purple accents to follow suit with the rest of the hotel. One thing to love about the luxury rooms is the incredible view of the city. Factor in the Nespresso machine and you are waking up with incredible city views while sipping a hot espresso in a fluffy bathrobe. It doesn’t get quite any better than that!

Another thing to love, and lately I’ve come to find in many Sofitel hotels, is the yoga mat and blocks that are in your hotel room’s closet. It can’t help but inspire you to get up in the morning and go through your vinyasas! The only thing to consider is how comfortable Sofitel beds are… may make it a little hard to even get out of bed.

Hotel Restaurant & Bar

In the breakfast room, a wonderful selection of cold cuts, cheeses, cereals and crepes are available buffet style while coffee and tea is served table-side along with a bowl of breads, pastries and croissants. Sip on your morning coffee while reading from a selection of newspapers.

The absolutely stunning Crystal Lounge, a gourmet restaurant with an adjoining cigar lounge and terrace, is open for lunch and dinner. Serving international cuisine, the Crystal Lounge is a mix between a restaurant and a lounge. The Crystal lounge is uber sexy and trendy. Whether you are a guest of the hotel or not, it is obvious from the time I spent there that it is the place to be. Another thing to love is that Charlie Chaplin movies are played on the giant wall above the fireplace in the Crystal Lounge.

Also part of the hotel and Crystal Lounge is a beautiful garden terrace. At night, the hedges are light up with twinkling lights. It is the perfect place to relax with a cocktail in hand and escape the bustling city.

Location

Le Louise is in the prime luxury shopping area of Brussels, essentially the Rodeo Drive of Brussels. The area is more upscale and, in my opinion, the best area to stay in Brussels because you are separated from the throngs of tourists yet still within walking distance to the tourist areas. Also to note, I found that Le Louise has better restaurants as well.

Sofitel Brussels Le Louise
Av de la Toison d’Or 40, 1050 Brussels
0032 2 514 22 00
www.sofitel.com

Final Say: MUST-STAY! I’ve yet to ever stay at a Sofitel where I didn’t have a phenomenal stay. However, the hotel staff at Sofitel Brussels Le Louise sets the bar extraordinarily high. Every staff member that I encountered was friendly, engaging and overall just a delight. You can also tell how much they all truly love their hotel and are passionate about working there. It is an experience that I’ve yet to find in any other hotel.