9 Hotel Central Brussels – Modern Architecture Meets Classic Design

Located in the museum district, halfway between the Place Royale and the Grand Place, 50 meters away from the Cathedral, the 9Hotel Central is ideally situated for those working or staying in Brussels. Behind a typical Belgian architecture, you will discover the work of Castel Veciana Arquitectura studio in Barcelona, a cosy atmosphere with design objects as well as antiques, wood and exposed brick walls.
The 9Hotel has 47 spacious and cosy rooms with great architectural views on the nearby buildings giving an impression of a Loft, a musical lounge, a simple, chic and casual elegance, a very nice place to stay in the centre of Brussels. The smart casual style is what I love the most. The location to the city is a stone’s throw away and if you need to travel by train, the main station access to the rest of Europe is only a two-minute walk.
To me it came to no surprise that the designer was from Barcelona. The use of exposed brick with wood is something I have experienced a lot when in Barcelona. The simplicity of the room was amazing. This hotel has been taken over by new innovators that want to establish themselves on a different level when it comes to hotel stays. The views of the city are lovely and they give you a real taste of what Brussels has to offer.

View from my Balcony

Lobby

As soon as I entered the hotel lobby there was Pablo helping me to check-in. I used Pablo to practice some of my Spanish during my stay. The lobby feels warm and cosy with all the woodwork, which on this cold and rainy day, stood out.

Club Room

I stayed in the club room which is about 20m² big and is equipped with a king-size bed with white duvets, a desk and a bathroom with bathtub. It also had two comfortable chairs, great to do some reading. The room was spacious and modern with the exposed bricks just adding to the creative side of things. Other elements I loved were the wooden parquet flooring, wooden elements and light and bright bed linen. This style was replicated throughout the rest of the hotel. It felt warm and comfortable, and I really didn’t want to leave the room.

The space was perfect and as I was on the fifth floor, it was also very quiet. What I like more and more in newer hotels and also in this hotel, is the ability to connect your phone or media player via Bluetooth to some wireless speakers. But for me, the most important was the Nespresso machine and the free Speculoos cookies from Maison Dandoy.

Another thing I loved was the lighting. Within three clicks, I was able to create my own atmosphere. It was right beside the bed head so when up during the night, it was so easy to work and find. The white flat-screen TV was pleasing to the eye too and easy to use. The free WiFi Internet was easy to connect to and the working area behind the bed was large enough for me to do my work comfortably.

Exposed brick wall and a simple but elegant style.

These boxes were fun and handy, you could pack your clothing anyway that suited your travel needs.

I loved the local Speculoos biscuits by Maison Dandoy.

Bar

The bar was not busy at all; it was a Sunday after all, but I did have great chats with the staff and other guests. The Belgium beer selection is more than enough to keep me happy. I tried some of the Chimay blue beers. As with the rest of the hotel, it felt really warm and cosy, like a living room.

Breakfast

The breakfast is simple but more than enough. I really liked the takeaway package. So if you have to leave early, like I had to, then it becomes very handy to eat your breakfast on the train.

Conclusion

The overall experience at the 9Hotel Central was excellent, and it was the perfect weekend treat for me. The location is perfect to explore such a great city as Brussels, with it being close to all the major tourist attractions. The central station is only 2 minutes away so when arriving or departing by train, it is such a perfect place to stay. The beautiful designed interior with its exposed brick, light colours and use of wood made for a very warm and welcoming stay. I loved the personal attention you get with a smaller boutique style hotel like this one. Put this hotel on your list next time you decide to go to Brussels.

Details

• Room reviewed – Club Room Breakfast Included – From €140
• Website: www.9-hotel-central-brussels.be
• Address: 10 Rue des Colonies, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
• Tel:  +32 2 504 99 10