• stylish travellers
• On April 7, 2015

Brussels will make you feel obliged to see its history, architecture and design. Is it then possible to feel in the centre of this city like in a personal, intimate paradise? Yes, it is – thanks to The Dominican Brussels.

The hotel is located in the historic heart of the city, only a five-minute walk from the Grande Place, marketplace of considerable historical significance. The Dominican is housed where a fifteenth-century Dominican Abbey used to be and where nineteenth-century neoclassical painter Jacques-Louis David used to live. What makes the place outstanding is the perfect combination of medieval mystery and current design in their purest forms. Already at our arrival we can notice a metal entrance gate, which reminds us of the monastic architecture. Additionally, Belgian architects “Lens Ass” have merged the original façade designed by Jacques Loius David into the modern construction of the building. Stone floor, large windows facing the courtyard, metal structures, soothing fire and monastic music played in the lift – everything is planned down to the last detail.

The hotel perfectly reflects the character of the city in which history meets modernity, the old meets the new, and classicism and modernism merge in a natural way. The Dominican is light and airy with a cool sophistication and, in spite of being chic, it feels like home.

The Dominican offers 150 rooms of 3 different standards overlooking the inner courtyard. Additionally, guests can relax in hotel spa, which we, unfortunately, were not able to test because of limited time we had. Anyway, we managed to relax and enjoy ourselves.

The first pleasure the hotel provides you with right at the beginning of your day is breakfast. The spacious hotel interior with beautiful ceiling as well as round tables located along comfortable soft-coated couches make you unwilling to eat in rush. Not only can you indulge yourself with foods and drinks from generous breakfast buffet but also with dishes offered in à la carte menu, e.g. Parma ham, a wide selection of egg-based dishes or Belgian waffles.

What we also appreciated is that you can perceive the Grand Lounge either as a bar and restaurant or an architectural invitation to rest and celebrate the original hotel interior. Sipping cocktails made from alcohols of best quality, you will be encouraged to stare into courtyard through curtainless, floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Dominican belongs to Carlton Hotel Collection, a group of luxurious hotels, which, apart from Brussels has their property in the Netherlands and the UK.

What we enjoyed most:

– architecture dating back to the fifteenth-century monastery naturally merging with modern solutions;

– great music performed by Gregorian choires;

– Nespresso coffee maker in our room;

– special attention to detail – ranging from romantic fireplaces, candles and fresh flowers to rubber bath-duck, which you can purchase as a souvenir;

– service provided by the hotel reception staff was of outstanding quality – attentive but not nagging or pushy, giving tips and information not only about the city but also about the hotel.

(We also enjoyed being greeted by a Polish intern, who studies tourism and hospitality management in Hague. He was highly professional as for spending only a week in Brussels – congrats for the training workshops!)

Translation: Agnieszka Dziuba

See also: PERFECT DAY IN BRUSSELS