Brussels
Belgium


The Experience

Make no mistake: The Conrad Brussels is a business hotel through and through, but one that's hidden behind the elegant facade of a fin de siècle mansion. And while the hotel offers fairly cookie-cutter luxury and its guests are largely Eurocrats (beware of when the EU is in session as rooms become incredibly scarce), it's still the city's preeminent property. You'll find a breadth of amenities, a classic decor and above all, a top-notch location: at the corner of Avenue Louise and Boulevard de Waterloo, the city's upscale boutique axis, within eyeshot of the Palace of Justice and the grandeur of Grand-Place.

The Rooms

There are no big surprises in the rooms, which are decorated with floral-patterned wall-to-wall carpeting and come with large marble bathrooms and beds covered in plush Egyptian cotton linen, oversize goose-down pillows and goose-down feather duvets. Still, at almost 500 square feet, the hotel's 230 rooms are the capital's largest. Unless opting for either of the two Presidential Suites or the 4,000-square-feet Royal Suite, forgo rooms with street views -- they can be loud. Instead, try to secure one of the hard-to-come-by 24 junior suites, which are arranged around a central courtyard and have whirlpools, or one of the half-dozen bilevel duplex suites, which were redecorated three years ago and measure up to 1,400 square feet.

The Service

Staff function flawlessly and can cater to the demanding needs of on-the-move notables like Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton with the same ease as a couple on a city break. They're unsurprisingly multilingual and always cheerful -- a priceless commodity given the city's often dreary weather.

The Highlights

Anchored by a marble lobby with huge polished chandeliers, this is where most of the business of Europe is conducted, at least informally. Escape to Aspria Avenue Louise, a vast three-tiered fitness center and spa where you'll find a 55-feet-long pool and hammam. And, to avoid the rush of diplomats and delegates at Café Wiltcher's, an elegantly appointed brassiere where dishes stray into Eurasian environs, head to Loui, the warm wood-paneled lounge and bar, where patrons sink into deep leather divans and raise Trappist ales, saisons and lambics.

-- Farhad Heydari

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