Hip Apartments in Brussels You'll Want to Call Home

Three 19th-century townhouses now live on as elegant, homey self-catering suites and apartments, retaining some eye-catching original features, from fireplaces to stucco ceilings, interspersed with modern furnishings. There are rooms with balconies and a small outdoor garden area to idle in post-sightseeing. The location, in a residential spot less than a mile from the European Parliament, is also a 10-minute public-transport ride from the photo-perfect Grand Place: at the heart of the city, it metamorphoses every other year into the magnificent Flower Carpet.

Wooden floors and jazzy turquoise injections give contemporary oomph to these light-filled studios – as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments – in the south of the capital. Here you’re just a brisk walk from the Justice Court and Royal Palace, and if you don’t feel like cooking, you’ve got stacks of grade-A restaurants to sample in the area; the Saint-Gilles district is a multicultural hotspot, all abuzz with markets, vintage boutiques and a lovely park.

Warm brick walls and exposed beams lend a cosy feel to this business-traveller-friendly B&B – once a convent – steps from the Manneken Pis statue. Some rooms overlook the pretty courtyard garden, while a separate modern apartment has the advantage of a kitchen and a living room with a sofa bed. Head to the roof terrace for swooning views of this photogenic city, and pick out where to head for that clean Belgian beer before dinner. Breakfast gets you off to a good start before sightseeing with strong coffee and melt-in-your-mouth pastries.

Relax: you’ll sleep like a baby in these modern-minimal apartments – all dreamy-white with orange accents – in a peaceful part of Brussels. Fully equipped kitchens encourage the whipping-up of meals inspired by produce hauled back from the local market. You can sip your coffee or cold lager in the sunny, leafy garden with its furnished patio while the kids play. But do make use of the complimentary bicycles to discover Brussels’ best bits including the revered Saint Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, a 10-minute pedal away.

Check in to one of these smartly styled apartments in the European Quarter and whether you’re on corporate or cultural travels, you’re well positioned: Thon Residence is close to both serious EU institutions and historic sights. All accommodations are open-plan and go big on space, with gleaming white kitchens. Dine on European dishes at the onsite restaurant although buzzy boutiques and restaurants are an easy stroll away.

The Atomium is Brussels’ unique, unmissable sight: a steel landmark that functions as an exhibition space, museum and restaurant. Nearby, these design-led, sleekly-styled studios and one- and two-bed apartments have razor-sharp kitchens and hotel-smart bathrooms. From here, stretch your legs with a short stroll to the nearby Parc de Laeken, with its chestnut and magnolia trees.

Near the Schaerbeek district of Brussels, renowned for its Instagrammable Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture, these smart black-and-grey-toned studios and apartments clearly mean business, matching the building’s exterior for cool, calm modernity. They’re excellent value, too. You can organise breakfast (which costs extra) after you’ve hit the onsite gym and before you go craning your neck sightseeing. Don’t miss Les Ecuries Bio Van De Tram, an unusual foodie market and cocktail venue.