NH Brussels EU Berlaymont

The Hotel Berlaymont Brussels EU caters to the business travelers who travel to Brussels to attend meetings at the European institutions. The building is a modernist structure of glass and steel with sterile interior public spaces which resemble the same space-agey style of the EU buildings. The public areas, meeting rooms, and guest rooms showcase a permanent collection of art and photography. Guest room doors are plastered with artistic images and framed photographs are on display in rooms and an on-site gallery. 

The Hotel Berlaymont Brussels EU is just steps away from the Berlaymont building housing offices of the European Commission, a five-minute walk to the European Council, and a 15-walk to the European Parliament. Schuman metro and train station are five minutes away on foot and so is Schuman roundabout where the airport bus can be caught, a trip which takes 30 minutes. The center of Brussels, where most tourist sights are concentrated, is four metro stops away. There are many pubs and restaurants in the neighborhood which mainly cater to the office crowd. 

The hotel has 212 rooms spread over eight floors and shared between two connected buildings. To reach some rooms, guests have to descend two levels, walk along a long corridor and then take an elevator, which can be a challenge for people with reduced mobility. The rooms on the lower and ground floors are dark and gloomy while those on the upper floors offer more light. Some rooms have been refurbished but many are showing signs of wear and tear: worn furniture, stained carpets, and the need for a fresh lick of paint. None are up to advertised four-star standards. 

Each room has a flat-screen TV, minibar, iron and ironing board, safe, air-conditioning, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. The Comfort Rooms and Club King Rooms are reasonably spacious with 215 square feet of floor space. The Comfort Business Ladies Rooms are located on a private non-smoking floor close to reception and offer a few extras like fresh flowers, a make-up mirror and 1600W hairdryer in the bathroom, and a special lock system for the door. Guests staying in the Club King Rooms get a welcome drink, free access to the wellness center, a daily newspaper, free local calls, and free parking. The same extras apply to guests staying in the two 600-square-foot Junior Suites, which also include a separate living area, balcony, two marble bathrooms, a Hi-Fi unit and fax machine.

The wellness center includes a small spa, hot tub, relaxation pool and sauna which can be used for an extra fee or is free for upper category rooms. The fitness center is a reasonable size though cardio machines aren't the most modern models; a strength-training machine is also provided. The L’Objectif restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, as well as for breakfast, which many find overpriced. The Baqué Coffee House in the lobby area is open during the day and the News Bar opens in the late afternoon, serving drinks and snacks. Parking in the private garage is free for upper category rooms.