Grand Place and other top sights are within a 10-minute walk
Rooms renovated in 2016 are sleek, clean, and modern
Shared and private rooms have ensuite bathrooms
Excellent free breakfast spread with hot items
Located a short walk from multiple transit connections
Free luggage storage available after check-out
Free and reliable Wi-Fi throughout
Laundry facilities and three meeting rooms are on-site
Two USB ports by every bed
Brussels Airport is 20 minutes away by train
Hotel is environmentally, socially, and culturally conscious
Mid-day lockout period for hostel rooms can be annoying
No communal kitchen for guests to prepare their own food
Travelers over 35 must rent a private room
Although it doesn't look like much from outside, Sleep Well Youth Hostel is a clean, comfortable place for youth backpackers on a budget. It's close to most of the city's top attractions -- it's just 10 minutes on foot from Grand Place -- and has great connections to ones farther afield. Rooms were finished being renovated in 2016 and are cleaned daily during a mid-day lockout period, which could be annoying for some. And while the free breakfast spread is excellent, there's no communal kitchen for guests to cook in; however, plenty of cheap eats are close by. Guests traveling in groups who don't want the dorm experience might find the private rooms to be one of the best values in the city. Travelers looking for a more homey stay at just slightly higher rates should consider The Residence Les Ecrins.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Young backpackers save the partying for outside this modern hostel.
It doesn't look like much from the outside, but Sleep Well Youth Hostel has been hosting visitors for 35 years. As of the end of 2016, rooms had completed renovations to give them a sleek, modern appearance. It might not be surprising, given the name, but Sleep Well isn't a party hostel; instead, it's a cheap, clean place to put one's head for the night. Many guests are groups in town for educational purposes as well, and often take advantage of the on-site meeting facilities. It's also a determinedly eco-friendly hostel, with 100 percent of its electricity coming from green sources. Additionally, the hostel advertises its cultural and social initiatives that range from providing free walking tours of the city to guests and contributing to the rehabilitation of young people who have dropped out of school. Most guests are young backpackers, and guests over 35 or with children must rent a private room.
Location
Located a short walk from Grand Place and well-connected to the city's other top sights
Located opposite the backside of a mall, Sleep Well Youth Hostel is immediately close to plenty of shops (many of which are along a pedestrian shopping street three minutes away by foot) and inexpensive places to grab a quick bite to eat. However, it's also close to top sights and has plenty of transit connections within a five-minute walk: Grand Place is 10 minutes away by foot, with lots of bars nearby for going out at night; Manneken Pis is about a 15-minute walk; and Botanique cultural center is 12 minutes. The city's famous Atomium is 40 minutes by tram, while Cinquantenaire, a beautiful park with many museums, is 21 minutes by metro. Brussels Airport is 20 minutes away by rail.
Rooms
Modern shared and private rooms are minimally furnished and clean.
Shared rooms and private rooms are both available -- the shared rooms, as is typical for a hostel, are much cheaper. Rooms were renovated in 2015 and 2016 with minimalist but sleek and modern decor -- think wood furniture and floors, white bed linens, and simple splashes of color). Hostel-room guests are locked out every day (between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during our visit) for quality cleaning. Private rooms are compact with ensuite bathrooms and showers, as well as flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. Shared dorm-style rooms also have their own ensuite bathrooms, which means no trekking down the hall to shower; however, guests with early-rising roommates might find themselves woken up. Two USB ports are by every bed, which is great for device-dependent backpackers. Lockers are available, however, they're too small for most backpacks and locks are not provided. Towels and hairdryers can be rented from the front desk for a nominal fee. Two rooms are available for reduced-mobility guests.
Features
The free breakfast is excellent, but there's no communal kitchen.
There's a free breakfast offered each day from early morning until mid-morning that's excellent for a hostel and includes typical continental fare as well as meats, cheeses, and hot dishes during the week. The heart of any hostel, the bar stocks Belgian beers, but it's more a place to start the night than spend it. However, one major downside for a hostel is the lack of a communal kitchen for guests to prepare their own food. Travelers can also expect to see standard hostel extras such as a ping-pong and foosball table, and beanbag chairs. Washers and dryers are available to guests, as are bicycles for rent. Three meeting rooms are also on-site, typically used by traveling educational groups. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property and is surprisingly fast and reliable. A free luggage storage room is another convenient perk.
