Hotel a la Grande Cloche

There are a few hints of the traditional character of the 19th-century building: The reception area and breakfast room have elegant wooden paneling and attractive lamp shades with old black and white photographs of Brussels on the walls. The rest of the hotel is decorated tastefully in neutral shades of gray and beige. In addition, guests are given real keys rather than plastic keycards. This is a small hotel with few common spaces or amenities, though there are a couple of computers for guest use in the lobby. Though there's no restaurant on-site here, there is a large cheerful breakfast room (where breakfast is served for a fee) and there are many restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from within walking distance from the hotel. Overall, this small hotel is clean, quaint, and dated in many areas. Most of the guests are couples seeking budget rates near the train station, though some families are attracted by the Two-Bedroom Apartment option.  

The hotel sits on a charming square best known as the address of one of Brussels’ most renowned restaurants, the two Michelin-star Comme Chez Soi. Many tourist sights can be easily reached on foot: The city’s beautiful medieval square, the Grand Place, is a nine-minute walk away, the iconic statue Manneken Pis is six minutes away, and Place Saint-Géry, the center of the city’s lively bar scene, is a seven-minute walk away. The nearest streetcar stop which connects to the metro line is only a two-minute walk, while the Brussels Midi train station is 15 minutes away, or 10 minutes by streetcar. The neighborhood adjacent to the station is part of an urban regeneration project and can appear a little rough around the edges but is not typically unsafe, though it's wise to exercise caution at night. 

Of the 37 rooms spread over four floors, 26 have full bathrooms with a bathtub or shower, toilet, and bidet. Some of these are quite spacious. Other rooms have small, partitioned shower cubicles and sinks, with a shared toilet outside in the hall.

The Single Room is tiny at only 107 square feet but it does have a bathroom and toilet, while the Economy Double Room is only slightly bigger at 140 square feet, with a shower and sink but no toilet.

The Double Rooms with Private Bathroom offer more space and some even have spacious bathrooms, like Room 51 -- which also has a balcony with a view over the square. The Two-Bedroom Apartment shares a bathroom, which may be inconvenient, but has a private roof terrace and glassed-in living area with fantastic views. 

All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, telephones, hairdryers, and free toiletries, while some also have a safety deposit box and ironing facilities. There are also an iron and board available in the lobby. Most are decorated simply but attractively in gray and beige; others look like they were missed in the renovation, and have old green carpets and motel-quality red comforters. 

There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel but it can be slow in some rooms, with better reception in public areas. The breakfast service and use of computers and printers in the reception area are charged extra.