The Alfa Louise Hotel is in a modern mid-rise along the famed Avenue Louise, which branches off in a southeasterly direction from central Brussels. You can walk to the hotel from Gare Centrale, but it will be a substantial half-hour walk. I made the error of thinking that the hotel was about two blocks from the beginning of Avenue Louise, with addresses rolling to the next hundred after every new block. Not so! The numbers increase gradually in Brussels and seemingly every number is used along the way, so it was many blocks before the 212 address popped up. A steady Brussels drizzle did not make the walk seem any shorter. It is more advisable to hop on one of the modern trams that go down Avenue Louise.

The lobby area is small, similar to one that might belong to a small condominium building. There are some newspapers and brochures if you are killing some time here. The hotel has only a total of 40 rooms on its ten floors, so there are only four rooms per floor. Therefore the hallways are very short and minimally decorated so no endless walks to your room. Each guest room feels like a small apartment or condominium. My spacious and comfortable room had two double beds with amenities like a minibar, cable TV, and a safe. Business travelers will enjoy working at the large writing desk in the rooms. The balcony allowed me to feel like the king of Avenue Louise.

My breakfast buffet was included during my stay. The hotel has a bar with a pool table and piano music on the main level. There are three conference rooms that are available for business meetings.

If this hotel could be magically transported to within a few blocks of the Grand Place, I would give a big yes vote to the Alfa Louise. As it is, the hotel is a pleasant property and you are within lots of upscale shopping and little Art Nouveau gems.