Fun in the city: 10 of the best family-friendly hotels in Brussels

Exotic travel is the theme at this hotel, which makes staying in it a special experience. A wonderland lies behind the rather plain façade: you’ll find unique, theatrical décor and great value for money, close to Rue Antoine Dansaert and the Grand Place. Each room is designed in the style of a different nation or destination, inspired by the travels of the owners. Extra beds can be added to many of the rooms, and there is a deluxe duplex family room (China) sleeping four to six people. The lobby has a library of travel guides and leaflets, and staff are happy to advise about family-friendly activities in the vicinity.

The hotel building was the site of not just a Dominican Abbey, but also the home Jacques-Louis David, painter to Napoleon, in the early 19th century. The aesthetic is set by the flaming torches at the entrance, and the suite of stately, stone-flagged public rooms set around a courtyard. Yet there’s also an emphasis on modern comfort and ease, as seen in the sleek bedroom furniture and extensive facilities. Dishes from a fine dining menu can be eaten anywhere in the suite of public rooms. The hotel provides extra beds and cots, and has some interconnecting rooms; there are five studio flats next door with kitchens.

The ‘Louise’ here refers to Avenue Louise, the chic shopping hub just to the south of central Brussels – and this boutique hotel, in a quiet street close by, is every bit as stylish. It is family-owned, which lends it a personalised charm. The core building dates from 1911 and still retains its historic charm, with an original six-storey stairwell, but everything has been upgraded with the flourish of a designer’s eye mixed with beguilingly ‘homemade’ touches seen in the individually styled rooms. There is a leafy courtyard at the back, and four family rooms with three beds and a cot (or double bed plus a single) are available.

You know there’s something special going on here from the railway carriage projecting over the street from the rooftop. The décor throughout is train-themed, with authentic railway memorabilia. Two historic railway carriages sit on the roof, one contains 14 low-cost shared ‘cabines’ (guests have to rent or bring their own sleeping bag and towel). The other carriage is an exclusive-use luxury suite with its own bathroom and rooftop terrace. There are a range of modern rooms providing flexible accommodation. The unique setting is a little children’s dream come true: if you’re game for a fun experience, it’s definitely worth the ride.

This hotel is named after the area around Avenue Louise, the byword for high-end shopping in Brussels. Glamorous in itself, the hotel is also well-located for visiting the historic centre of Brussels and key Art Nouveau sites close by. The bedroom décor is spare, almost minimalist, largely black and white and beige, punctuated by vivid upholstery. Junior Suites are particularly well suited to families. Following the Sofitel ‘MyBed’ system, the beds have a double mattress, with thin, super-comfortable upper mattress. Children will be delighted by the delicious cheeseburgers and tapas served at Crystal Lounge.

Behind the ivy-clad façade is a stately home, with glittering chandeliers, Neoclassical columns and Louis XV furniture. The elegant deluxe rooms and suites can accommodate families, and babysitting can be provided. Outside, the garden is like a miniature park, with mature trees, waterfalls and ponds; there is a children’s playground in the garden. The Kolya Restaurant offers inventive European cuisine with Asian influences, as well as a copious buffet breakfast. Parents will find respite at The Lella spa, with a luscious, Alhambra-inspired Turkish hammam and a turquoise whirlpool plunge bath.

Three grand old townhouses have been stylishly converted to offer comfortable self-catering suites and apartments, with a living area and a kitchenette designed for simple food preparation, with fridge and microwave or oven. The formula offers flexible short and long-stay accommodation at very attractive prices. Two additional people per suite are allowed, making it ideal for families; the hotel can also provide extra beds and cots. There is also a separate duplex apartment, which sleeps six people. It’s like a small house in the garden, with a master bedroom and two single bedrooms.

9Hotel Sablon trades on its intimate scale and refreshingly vibrant yet coolly understated design panache. It’s located in a historic square famous for its antique shops and, recently, its collection of top chocolate shops, including Pierre Marcolini, Wittamer and Frederic Blondeel (in Rue de la Paille). Grand Place and most of the main museums are within easy walking distance. It has an attractive ‘wellbeing space’ in the cellar, with a Finnish sauna and a large plunge pool with whirlpool jets. Bedrooms all come with studiously high-quality beds. The Duplex Suites and the Family Room can accommodate up to four people.

While this hotel is conveniently placed for the EU institutions, the historic city centre is not far away. The on-site restaurant offers fresh, seasonal Belgian food sourced from suppliers who come to the Sunday organic food market in the nearby Place Jourdan. The plaza is also famous as the home of Maison Antoine, one of Brussels’ most celebrated purveyors of frites. Other noteworthy features include a cosy library with comfortable seating and an open fireplace, and a roof terrace. Extra beds, cots and connecting rooms are available. Children receive a welcome package, and there is a children’s menu at the restaurant.

A former brewery is the industrial setting for this novel property. The structure has permitted an extraordinarily spacious interior, with large public rooms, massive corridors and enormous bedrooms. It takes only 15 minutes to walk to the Grand Place, and the route passes along Brussels’ main fashion district. The immediate area is packed with interesting restaurants, shops and chocolatiers. Rooms come in all sizes and can accommodate up to six people. It’s a fun place to stay for families, especially if you want flexible accommodation, an easy-going atmosphere, effective catering and highly competitive prices.

Be Manos is a boutique design hotel. With its stylish black-and-white photography and its silver and black colour schemes, it has the cool buzz of a fashionable gallery. The staff go out of their way to make guests feel at home, creating a family-like, clubby atmosphere. There are rooms and suites with sofa beds sleeping up to three, and interconnecting pairs of rooms. Pets are welcome and stay for free. It feels slightly off the beaten track, but it’s a convenient location, just five minutes’ walk from the Gare du Midi, where Eurostar trains arrive, and walking distance to Grand Place and the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts.

This privately-owned hotel lies in a quiet side-street, very close to the historic heart of Brussels, surrounded by interesting restaurants, bars and shops. Many of the staff have been at the hotel for decades, and lend it the reassuring ease that lengthy experience brings. The most family-friendly room category is the six duplexes with sofa beds, sleeping four. Cots and extra beds can be supplied. All rooms are double-glazed for noise and insulation, and most are set around a quiet, unused courtyard. With stylish, modern and well-presented rooms, it offers solid, high-quality accommodation at very reasonable prices.