The Hoxton Brussels

The bath was a real highlight, easily a 10/10, though I would have liked a bath product or robe as a nice extra. I get that those may not be in every room, but you book a room with a bath like that for the experience. The decor is beautiful, but at this price I expected more care across the stay. It felt like corners had been cut, and all the small letdowns added up. We asked for light housekeeping and didn't expect fresh sheets, but assumed that meant making the bed. It wasn't done, and no one had explained that. I support sustainable choices, but I'd like to know how spending five to ten minutes making a bed would be an environmental issue. Someone did take the bins out, but also took a room key we'd left behind. Nothing happened, thank goodness, but not knowing who had it or whether they'd come back made us uneasy. The TV had only a couple of English channels, mostly news, and there was no way to sign in to Netflix or cast from a phone. That feels like a basic modern hotel feature. There was no paid minibar in the room. Room service closed at 10pm, but they stopped taking orders well before then. When we went to the bar to bring drinks upstairs, we waited at least ten minutes without anyone acknowledging us. The room had dust in the corners, an unused towel with a stain, and a torn lampshade. Normally I'd overlook those little things, but they added to the overall disappointment. The location wasn't great either. I expected a trendy neighborhood to go with the hotel, but the area felt sketchy and had no real vibe. We had to walk about 20 minutes to get anywhere we wanted to spend time. I was looking forward to staying at a Hoxton for years, but this has put me off going back. They're good at marketing and decor, but the customer experience was a huge disappointment.

The rooms were really nice, especially the corner ones, and the hosts were friendly. It’s a useful base for seeing the city, though the area is mostly offices, with few restaurants and some unsettling people around at night. Breakfast tasted good, but choices were limited and each person could order just one menu item.

The staff made this stay for me. After I checked out, I realized I’d left my AirPods in the room. The team found them quickly, kept me updated, and patiently helped while I arranged a courier to collect them. It all went smoothly. We also had a delicious New Year’s Eve meal at the Cantina, with a great atmosphere. The Hoxton Brussels is stylish and comfortable, and its location made getting around easy. I’d happily return and recommend it to anyone visiting Brussels.

Every time I stop at the lobby bar/coffee corner, Kilian, Caroline, and Josette make it a pleasure. They’re skilled, welcoming, and always get my lungo and hot chocolate just right, with real care. Their friendly manner makes each visit lovely. Keep it up!