Juliana Hotel Brussels, Bruxelles

A new addition to Brussels, the Juliana feels more like a private residence with the benefits of an on-site bistro and underground pool and gym.

• The subterranean swimming pool and hammam area
• The original design details from the massive mosaic portrait on the main stairway to the artistic photographs in the rooms
• The compact but glamorous bar

Located in a series of historic neo-classical townhouses on one of the city’s more hidden squares, Place des Martyrs, Juliana is Brussels’ most stylish boutique hotel.

Instead of a traditional lobby, the main floor encompasses a series of stylish salons—from a jewel box of a bar that mixes tribal wooden carvings from Africa and a black and gold lacquer panel from China with glamorous contemporary chandeliers, to a library area with inviting velvet couches and shelves lined with books and cabinet-of-curiosity-type treasures, like a display of blue morpho butterflies.

At the far end is the inviting bistro, which serves comfort food from breakfast through dinner. In warm weather, a plant-filled interior courtyard also offers seating for meals.

The 43 rooms and suites, which were designed by Italian Eugenia Manzoni, are spread over three floors with the best ones on the corners facing Place des Martyrs. All are individually decorated to feel more like comfortable small residences with fine Belgian linens and art chosen to appeal to the French hotel owner who is a collector. The Juliana suite on the first floor comprises a master bedroom as well as a large living and dining room, facing the square. Other suites include #314 on the third floor with exposed wooden beams in the eaves that lend a loft-like feeling to the space.

In the basement, there is a lovely small swimming pool, gym, hammam and sauna.

As the parliament of Flanders will soon be moving into more space on the square, there is considerable construction going on in the surrounding area—but many Brussels regulars have discovered that being located here offers a chic retreat walking distance to the Grand Place and royal gallery arcades, with their many shops and restaurants, as well as a sense of calm away from the central bustle.