Queen Anne

The three-star Queen Anne is a 60-room budget alternative to design hotels, located close to Sainte Catherine and Gare du Nord. The staff comes across as courteous and professional without trying too hard, and the airy lobby has cozy seating, free Internet stations and a small bar. Best of all, it’s very reasonably priced.

The clean and tidy rooms, though small, do the job nicely. The walls are all white, with occasional floor-to-ceiling photo wallpapers. Each room features a tiny television, a writing desk and a spartan (but sparkling clean) bathroom. The comfy beds are crowned with fluffy duvets.

The busy location puts you close to many shops and major attractions, not to mention a number of restaurants. The nearby Rogier, a subway junction with multiple lines, makes it a breeze to get anywhere in the city. On foot, getting to the heart of stylish Sainte Catherine should take no more than ten minutes. In other words: location, location, location!

Note that lower-floor rooms facing the street may be noisy, as a major traffic artery runs in front of the hotel. And if you’re faint of heart, skip the elevator, which has only two sides. The lift shaft’s walls will slide by you as you ascend. (Or you might as well get used to it—this isn’t unheard of in Belgium.)

Breakfast is included. Wi-Fi is available for an additional fee.