Hotel Review: Made in Louise, Brussels

You're beside smart Avenue Louise in the Ixelles district. Central Brussels is a 30-minute walk or there are handy buses and trams - the nearest Metro is a ten-minute walk and connects directly to Gare du Midi, the main Eurostar station, in less than ten minutes.

By plane: there are direct flights from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Birmingham. The hotel is a 25-minute drive from the airport.Book flights to Brussels.

By train: the Eurostar goes direct from London St Pancras to Brussels (2 hours). The terminal is a 10-minute drive from the hotel.Book trains to Brussels.

The large and sprawling early 20th-century building, with its six-storey stairwell, has been opened up to create a series of airy and stylish spaces. Pale coloured walls, parquet or tiled flooring, bold-patterned rugs and wallpapers, and a mix of contemporary and vintage furniture create a laidback atmosphere. There's also a modern conservatory overlooking the courtyard.

Staff are warm and friendly, and happy to share tips on the best places for coffee, an aperitif or a good-value meal.

• Bar
• Garden
• Terrace
• Coffee house
• Billiards
• Free Wi-Fi

The 48 rooms have a cool, pared-down style in soft whites and greys with pale-painted furniture, Lloyd Loom chairs, shuttered windows and the occasional bold-striped or patterned feature wallpaper and vintage piece.

Room types: Cosy, Confort, Charming, Exécutive

Key amenities: bathroom with walk-in rain shower, flat-screen TV, high-speed Wi-Fi

It's breakfast-only but what a spread - as well as fresh fruit salads, mueslis and yoghurts, there's a generous selection of pastries, cakes, breads, waffles, cheeses and charcuterie as well as interesting cooked items such as ratatouille and herbed eggs.

Royal Breakfast: gourmet, classic continental breakfast. Served 7-10am weekdays, 8-11am weekends.