“It was the time when Brussels could sing. It was the time of the silent movies. It was the time when Brussels was king.” - Jacques Brel
Head Concierge Marc has been working at Hotel Amigo for 38 years. He loves nothing more than exploring Belgium with his wife and grown-up children. Here, Marc shares a few insights and secret tips on his favourite city.
The Grand-Place and Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
This is one of the most beautiful squares in the world. I often make a detour on my way to the hotel to grab a coffee and pass through the gallery.
We’re very lucky that Hotel Amigo is so close to the beautiful Grand-Place – together with Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert it’s the first thing you should take in when you arrive in Brussels. I’ve been at the hotel for nearly 40 years, I’m in my sixties now and I never tire of the sight!
A little older than I am, the glass-covered Galeries celebrated its 175th anniversary a few years ago. Here you’ll find coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, chocolateries, even a small hotel – not quite like Hotel Amigo. If you miss the Galeries, you’ll miss something truly special. I enjoy strolling through them with my wife, it makes us feel so proud.
My favourite cafés for coffee and pastries within the Galeries are Aksum Coffee House and Le Pain Quotidien which is a Belgian brand, the first of which opened 25 years ago in Brussels. I also like Mokafé Taverne for a warming soup or fresh salad, and Maison Dandoy – it has great cookies and waffles. All good, traditional Belgian restaurants.
Quartier Dansaert
I love this area around Place Sainte-Catherine, a ten-minute walk from our hotel, with its small boutiques showcasing unique Belgian designers
Instead of high street designer brands, this unique shopping district is home to Belgian designers. I usually send guests to Stijl – a multi-brand boutique where you can discover internationally-renowned fashion designers such as Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. There are also a number of small boutiques along the street selling fun, colourful glasses to wear.
Royal Palace of Brussels
I try to visit the Palace of Brussels every few years, it’s great that you can visit for free!
Every year, after our National Holiday on 21st July, everyone is offered free access to the Royal Palace of Brussels, ten minutes by car from Hotel Amigo. It’s a stunning building. I’m fond of the King and the royal family; it’s their spirit – they’re down to earth and close to the people. Within the palace, the most important room is used for l’audience – where the King welcomes the public, whether the national football team after a successful tour or for Ambassador Day. This room and the grand stairs at the entrance are most impressive.
For guests interested in beautiful gardens, the Palace of Laeken, where the royal family lives a little out of the city centre, is home to a vast greenhouse, built under King Leopold’s reign. It opens to the public for a few weeks in April and May, and it’s wonderful. It books up very quickly but we do our best to help our guests experience it. The impressive architecture, combined with exotic plants and large trees inside, make it a unique, must-see in Brussels.
European Parliament
I like to say if you’re visiting Europe, ‘visit Brussels first’. It’s the heart of the European Union and shouldn’t be overlooked.
You can’t enter NATO’s HQ unless you’re representing your country, but it is possible to visit the European Parliament. We help guests eager to understand Europe to register with their passport number and gain access. Here you can also visit the Parlamentarium and the House of European History for free.
As well as the Parlamentarium, there’s the Parc du Cinquantenaire with a number of interesting museums all in one area: Autoworld; the Brussels Air Museum; and the Art & History Museum. In the European District, there’s enough to see and do over a whole day. If guests have more time, we have plenty of suggestions to help them explore Brussels and the rest of Belgium.
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Phone Number*
Address
Rue de l'Amigo
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Phone Number*
Address
Rue de l'Amigo
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
Found in the heart of Brussels, Hotel Amigo seamlessly blends art, culture, heritage and creativity.
Phone Number*
Address
Rue de l'Amigo
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
Brussels