Close to both the Grand Place and the business district, the St. Nicolas Hotel is a two-star property that provides a good value for the buck.

The eclectic Hotel Noga is a family-run, three-star hotel situated on a quiet side street in fashionable Sainte Catherine. Just a few minutes’ walk away from the Grand Place, the hotel brims with character.

The Max Hotel, situated on a busy shopping street in central Brussels, is a cool, modern and unapologetically basic budget hotel. Though technically a one-star hotel (quote the Web site: “who cares?”), its uncluttered design easily exceeds those of most two- and three-star establishments. It’s also super-clean and comfortable—not to mention conveniently located.

The three-star Pantone Hotel is the only hotel in the world built according to the Pantone color categorization system. Situated on a lovely square just a few tram stops from the city center, this colorful establishment provides an affordable base for the stylish.

With 262 rooms, the four-star Renaissance Hotel, an outlet of the Marriott Hotel chain, is a mammoth establishment spanning an entire block. Located just around the corner from the European Parliament, the impeccably equipped Renaissance caters mostly to business travelers, but can offer a great value to tourists on weekends.

The four-star NH Stephanie Hotel promises that you will “experience the way you deserve to be treated.” If that holds true, you deserve efficiency and cleanliness, as well as professional, if not cool, reception. Located just around the corner from the Louise Metro stop, the Saint Gilles branch of the NH chain is a competent business hotel.

Austin Powers would feel right at home in the groovy time capsule that is the three-star Hotel Vintage. Located a mere block from the major thoroughfare of Avenue Louise, the Vintage is an intimate boutique hotel that strikes the right balance between comfort and quirk.

Instead of poolside celebrities, you might see a middle-aged German couple in the basement sauna at the three-star Hotel Beverly Hills. The place is unpretentious and comfortable.

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 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 Residence Marie Therese is a five-room bed and breakfast occupying the second and third floor of a bourgeois townhouse built in 1880. Located in residential Ixelles, this homey place provides homespun hospitality in a quiet space away from the bustle of the city.