Weekend in Brussels: The Dominican and the Be Manos, two new five-star hotels
Belgium, Bruxelles

Weekend in Brussels: The Dominican and the Be Manos, two new five-star hotels

Just behind the Théâtre de la Monnaie, a stone’s throw from the Grand-Place, The Dominican occupies a choice location. It was also in this historic building that the exiled French painter Jacques-Louis David lived from 1815 to 1825.© Le DominicanArchitect Bart Lens and Dutch firm FG Stijl (who built the College Hotel and Dylan Hotel in Amsterdam) have given this place a sober design. Their work makes many a nod to the old Dominican monastery that stood there in the 15th century, with large interior spaces, high ceilings and arches. © Le DominicanThe 150 rooms are arranged around an interior garden in the form of a cloister.The standard of comfort is superb and the décor goes in for romantic cocooning, a short distance away from the heart of the old town. The hotel, of course, has its own gym, sauna and Turkish bath. © Le Dominican© Le Dominican© Le DominicanThe “food book” (the menu, that is!) allows you to order the standards of international cuisine, but also Belgian specialities, at any hour of the day and night – or almost (the kitchen closes at 11pm). This luxury hotel is capable of accommodating groups of 150 people, organising receptions for 250 and dinners for 120 guests.© Le Dominican© Le Dominican© Le DominicanBrussels’ other new five-star hotel, the Be Manos, has deliberately chosen the total design concept in collaboration with numerous young designers and artists. Behind this exemplary restoration of a dilapidated old veterinary school from the 1920s, which was home to squatters, is the Poulgaras family, who already own the Manos Stéphanie and Manos Premier. The plan to set up five minutes from the Gare du Midi station and Eurostar and Thalys terminus, in a district that is being renovated and returning from death’s door, is rather bold; in any event, visitors are only a fifteen-minute walk away from the Grand-Place.© Le Be ManosWith two predominating colours – black and white – the décor of the Be Manos adopts an ultra-contemporary style, not without reference to the pop aesthetic and the Seventies. In the rooms, the pure lines of the rattan wood furniture meet materials such as Chinese black shale, leather and wood as well as Perspex, stainless steel and opaline. © Le Be ManosPhotographer Carol Kohen has personalised each of the 60 rooms with 60 portraits of unknown but willing subjects. There is even an erotic floor where some of these amateur models have revealed a little more of themselves.© Le Be ManosGlamour, paste, cowhide pouffes, glass bubble chandeliers, an orange psychedelic lounge nonetheless called the “Black Lounge”, a breakfast room painted bright apple green – everything to satisfy fans of design, architecture and unusual materials. This is Brussels’ first real boutique hotel where you can order everything you see – or almost. Last surprise in a place that is full of them – the restaurant of the Be Manos serves traditional Belgian dishes rather than soulless modernist cuisine.© Le Be Manos© Le Be Manos

Modern, functional and inexpensive: Hotel Bloom

This three-star hotel, which opened in September 2007, is just next to the Botanical Garden.

Its 306 rooms, divided into 9 categories, each offer a personalised décor: the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) selected 31 artists from all over the world to decorate the section of wall above the bed in each room.

Practical information

The Dominican Hotel

Rue Léopold, 9

1000 Bruxelles

Tel: 00 32 2 203 08 08

www.thedominican.be

Be Manos Hotel

23 square de l'Aviation

1000 Bruxelles

Tel: 00 32 2 520 65 65

www.bemanos.com

stay@bemanos.com

Hotel Bloom

Rue Royale 250

1000 Bruxelles

Tel: 00 32 2 220 66 11

www.hotelbloom.com

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