9Hotel Sablon

Set in a dark gray row house, this 34-room hotel is spacious enough to look appropriate in a much larger property. It’s stylish and leans toward a mid-century modern aesthetic, though industrial details like white polished concrete floors and concrete pillars keep it from being overly retro. Eclectic pieces of art encased in glass are displayed amidst low, modular seating and lots of blond-wood wall panels and bookcases. It’s a bright and inviting space, with a self-service bar that can attract a fair amount of the international tourists and business travelers who frequent the hotel. But that's the most commotion this hotel sees. On the whole, the property remains relatively calm with the help of its location on a quiet side street. And many guests simply treat this spot as a convenient home base, skipping the morning's hot breakfast buffet and grabbing the “to-go” cold buffet to fly out the door.

The 9Hotel Sablon is conveniently located in the city center in the Sablon quarter that’s near numerous art galleries and antique shops. It’s on a peaceful side street, but several cafes, bars, restaurants, and chocolate shops are nearby. The Central Train Station which connects to the city's metro system is a short walk away. The medieval Grand Place square and the meeting facilities at Square – Brussels Meeting Centre are also within brief walks from the hotel, as are many top museums and other attractions. 

• Six-minute walk to Square - Brussels Meeting Centre
• Six-minute walk to Royal Museum of Fine Art
• Eight-minute walk to Central Station and Grand Place square
• 11-minute walk to the Royal Palace of Brussels
• 12-minute walk to Place Saint Gery bar district
• 11 minutes via public transit to European Parliament
• 14 minutes via public transit to European Commission
• 25 minutes via public transit to Brussels Airport 

Bright and clean-lined, guest rooms have an appealing look with dashes of mid-century design. Fresh white and cream hues are used on the walls, floors, bedding, and some of the modular-style furniture giving a clean and airy backdrop. Open closets with black walls provide a dramatic contrast, and splashes of color from bright red or green Saarinen chairs and ruby rugs give warmth. Distinctive touches like suspended copper lamps punches the style up a notch, too. Bathrooms are also dominantly white and quite stylish, showcasing spacious glass showers with rainfall showerheads. 

Rooms come in several categories, sizes, and configurations, with King, Double, and Double Twin bed options. Classic (standard) Rooms are rather small but still functional and comfortable. Superior and Club Rooms are significantly larger, and the hotel’s four Duplex Rooms are two-level suites that feature sofa beds in living rooms. Amenities throughout are high-end and numerous. They include Nespresso coffeemakers, mini-fridges, robes, slippers, safes, and magnifying mirrors. Free bottled water, free Wi-Fi, and flat screen TVs are also standard. Note that many past guests have reported being able to hear their neighbors quite easily. 

This stylish boutique hotel has an interesting, but uneven, mix of features that's a bit outside the norm, starting with a self-serve lobby bar that’s open 24 hours and operates through guests' key cards. For meals, two types of breakfast buffets are available for a fee, including a hot buffet with egg dishes and breakfast meats. But there's no full service restaurant for lunch or dinner, although room service is available.

Another unusual feature is the subterranean wellness center that opened in 2016, which includes a sauna, whirlpool, and pool that’s partially illuminated by a clever skylight dropping in natural light from high above. Shower facilities and changing rooms are also on hand, but oddly there's no fitness facilities. Other features include concierge services, including valet dry cleaning and laundry. Wi-Fi is free, and a public computer and printer serve as a business corner. No parking is on site, but public garages are close by and staff can help secure parking.