Hotel Bloom!

A brilliant boutique hotel has blossomed right next to the Botanic Garden. The three-star Bloom! Hotel, newly opened in 2008, offers 300 stylishly decorated rooms and upscale service at a fraction of the rate found at luxury establishments.

The hotel’s 280 rooms are incredibly spacious—the smallest clocks in at a whooping 35 square meters (377 square feet)—and stylish, each decorated with hand-painted frescoes by a different artist. An additional 20 rooms feature rotating exhibitions by visiting artists. The bedding is sumptuous, and rooms are equipped with a flat screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, MP3 connectivity and mini-fridges. The marble-floored bathrooms feature the hotel’s floral-inspired toiletries, though they could use a bit more storage area.

The hotel makes up for doing away with stuffy extras like bellhops and room service with other cushy pluses. The top-floor gym is spacious and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Smoods, the downstairs “livingroom/kitchen,” is a trendy bar and restaurant where fashionistas are said to congregate on weekends. (The breakfast served here looks tasty, but is quite pricey.)

In case the Fashion TV blasting at the glittery reception didn’t tip you off, this is a very fashionable place, dah-ling. The young staff is efficient, even a bit cool. Shimmering faux-pearl bead curtains, velvet stools and hanging bubble chairs create a funky, whimsical atmosphere in the lobby. Look up, and you might see someone playing Wii in the mezzanine that doubles as a conference room.

The urban patchwork of Brussels’s diversity is right around the corner. You might stumble onto the red light district, then turn a corner and see a cathedral or a mosque. A quick tram or Metro ride will put you in the old city in less than 10 minutes.

With all this hip happening, the Bloom! wouldn’t be our first pick for family travel, but for trendsetters on a budget the hotel offers fresh design and superb furnishing at a very reasonable price, especially if you book early.