Those looking for a small, three-star, independent boutique hotel in Brussels centre should check out the charmingly quirky Brussels Welcome Hotel, which really does offer a five-star welcome to guests.

This is located in the informal and ancient St Catherine area of Brussels, where the fishing boats used to sail up the canal to unload their catch, and where many of the City’s best seafood restaurants are now based, and is a six-minute walk from the Grand Place For fans of Asian cuisine there is a small area with Asian restaurants a few minutes walk away and the St Catherine Metro, with connections to the European Commission area, Avenue Louise shops, the Atomium and rail stations for Eurostar and Thalys trains is opposite the hotel.

Offered at the Brussels Welcome are sixteen bedrooms, all named after countries and appropriately furnished with items brought back from the previous extensive travels of owners Michael and Sophie. All rooms have air-conditioning or fans, flat screen TV and complimentary Wi-Fi, and, if booked through the hotel’s web-site the prices for all the de luxe and above rooms include a substantial buffet breakfast and a complimentary hot drink service (Coffee Corner) for other times. For those staying in standard rooms the breakfast is 8 euros.

There are eight standard rooms (Istanbul, Thailand, Zanzibar, Saigon, Kenya, Cuba, Congo, Japan) from 85 euros, four de luxe rooms (Tibet, Tahiti, Morocco, India ) from 115 euros, one de luxe superior (Bali, only available on website and includes a double spa bath) from 160 euros, one de luxe quad for up to four people (China) from 165 euros and two suites (Egypt and The Silk Road) from 185 euros. All the de luxe and above rooms have baths and the superior and the suites have spa baths for extra relaxation.

Tel 00 32 2 219 95 46 email [email protected]