Where to Stay Near Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium: Ibis Brussels

I recently had the opportunity to provide press coverage of the 2016 Flower Carpet in Brussels, Belgium. (You can read more about this amazing biennial event here!)

Because this event draws visitors from all over the world–and it only happens once every two years–it is understandably crowded. The best way to ensure that this doesn’t put a damper on your visit is to stay nearby, allowing you to come and go as you please and to stop by during off hours. (Few things are more gorgeous than Grand Place when it’s deserted late at night.) However, the number of hotels within easy walking distance of Grand Place that are both affordable and plenty comfortable is, well…limited. However, I managed to find one that is the perfect balance of all three!

Enter Ibis Brussels off Grand Place. You can see Grand Place from your window and walk to the square in approximately two minutes or less, the hotel is modern and fully equipped with all the amenities you’ll need, and it’s under €100 per night. Score.

I was extra impressed by this establishment because Ibis is supposed to be a line of budget hotels, but this one did not have that typical “cheap motel room” feel at all. Nothing about Ibis Brussels says “budget hotel” except the price! Everything looks freshly renovated, and the rooms are all updated with nice, new fixtures. No dingy carpet or worn-looking furniture here!

Downstairs, the reception desk sits in front of a wall of screens that provide real-time information such as the weather, stock reports, and hotel information and announcements. This was a really cool touch, making Ibis Brussels all the more up-to-date with the newest technology.

In addition, their breakfast is off the charts. My personal favorite part was the fresh-orange-juice-squeezing station–what a perfect way to get a healthy start to the day! They also offer a wide selection of pastries, cereals, coffees, fruits, meats, cheeses, and hot food. Another highlight is the hot chocolate assembly station–pour steaming hot milk into a cup of chocolate chips and lose yourself in the rich chocolatey indulgence. It’s a good thing this hot chocolate wonderland isn’t open all day, because I would have made one every hour.

In addition, Ibis Brussels has a bar downstairs that’s open late and a section of food and drink available for purchase 24/7. Super convenient, because surprisingly, a lot of the restaurants in Brussels close relatively early. Because we work weird hours, we’re sometimes ready for dinner at 12am but everything is closed–so having a selection of microwave meals available (among other snacks and bites) right in the lobby was a huge plus for us.

Overall, we had an awesome stay at Ibis Brussels off Grand Place and would highly recommend a few nights here if your goal is to be extremely centrally located and have constant easy access to Grand Place. The staff was kind and helpful, and we had everything we needed for a comfortable and convenient stay just off of Grand Place!

Side note: Ibis Brussels also has the perk of being located next to what I have declared the best restaurant in Brussels: Pasta Divina. Honestly, stay at Ibis Brussels just so you can eat homemade pasta at this family-run restaurant for every meal. Worth it.

See more details and photos on my TripAdvisor review and give it a “helpful” vote.