20 July 2015

HOTEL DES GALERIES BRUSSELS

A little bit of Paris in the heart of Brussels! Parisienne Nadine Flammarion, owner of Hôtel des Galeries, already has a hotel in Paris. She’s a publisher and a collector of art. Hôtel des Galeries therefor has a strong link with art and books: in the lobby we find a library full with her books and on the walls of the restaurant she exposes the colorful work of a female artist. Upstairs, guests can even work inside an installation by Daniel Buren. Her daughter, Camille Flammarion worked as an architect on the interior of the hotel together with Fleur Delesalle who did the design. The hotel is located almost inside the famous Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert where you can find shops and of course some chocolatiers. A more central location is almost impossible. Five minutes to one side and you’re on the Rue Antoine Dansaert; five minutes to the other side and you arrive at Central Station or the beautiful museums (like Bozar where they now have an exhibition about Belgian fashion). Although it’s busy outside the hotel with tourists taking selfies, inside you’ll enter an oasis of calmness and beautiful design. The hotel has a restaurant where famous Belgian chef Julien Burlat, who owns the Dome (1 Michelinstar) in Antwerp, created a menu of typical Belgian cuisine. Even if you don’t stay here, you can have dinner at his restaurant called Comptoir des Galeries. There’s also a small bar where they not only serve you a refreshing drink but they also make very tasty waffles. Then the hotel rooms: they only have 23 rooms and they all look very stylish. My room is on the top floor and is very cozy because of the sloping roof. Every room has a typical view over Brussels: I look out onto the galleries. There is a desk for you to do some work, but I also have a bath in the spacious bathroom. The hotel is highly recommended for both business travelers as couples. 

From 130 euro per night, check out: www.hoteldesgaleries.be