Hotel Metropole - Brussels, Belgium 

This hotel is ideally situated to explore Brussels. It is Art Deco in style with a lovely bar and pavement area in which to relax. The most outstanding thing about the hotel was the exceptional service we experienced from all members of staff, especially the concierges. Nothing was too much trouble. They were brilliant. We ate in the (expensive!) restaurant one evening and the experience is worthy of recommendation. Great service and fine food. The only downside to the experience would be the bedrooms which are showing signs of needing refurbished. We had a twin room and a double. The double especially was musty and damp-smelling and the walls were a bit tatty. Perhaps this all adds to the charm of the hotel?! There is only one (open sided) lift which sometimes means there are waits to get up or down but the lift itself is a work of art. All in all, a good experience and very good value for money.

We stayed at the Metropole for a couple of nights and found the hotel pretty nice for what it is, Brussels' only 19th century hotel. The ground floor is exceptional, a real example of old world charm. Reception and staff is efficient and friendly. We were originally placed at a suite with interior view, which we did not like that much, and then quickly changed to the Jacques Brel Suite, which was a really spacious room with a charming view over Place De Bruckere. The breakfast was excellent, and there was also turndown service. All in all a very nice hotel in a convenient location, which could do a minor facelift.