A front-row seat to winter in Brussels

Words: Lucy Shaw

Brussels is a charming place to visit at any time of year, but it’s particularly magical during the festive season, when its cobbled streets, cosy cafés and artisan chocolatiers come into their own. The city is best explored on foot and, with its prime position just 56 steps from the ravishing Unesco-listed Grand-Place, Hotel Amigo is the perfect starting point. Situated at the crossroads between the historic Îlot Sacré area and the antiques district of Le Sablon, the site where the hotel stands dates back to the early 16th century.

In 1957, the Blaton family breathed new life into the space, turning it into a six-storey hotel in time for the Brussels World’s Fair. Acquired by Rocco Forte Hotels in 2000, its latest incarnation – a luxury hotel designed by Olga Polizzi – is a place where Italian hospitality and Belgian culture naturally meet. Not only is its newly reimagined restaurant, Bocconi, Italian-inspired, but hotel manager Carlo Ferrigno was recently honoured by the Italian republic in recognition of his longstanding commitment to promoting Italian culture, hospitality and savoir-faire in Belgium.

Every room tells a story. For a stay to remember, book the daring Diane von Furstenberg Suite, featuring a pair of silk scarves emblazoned with Andy Warhol’s iconic portrait of the designer. Both a global cultural ambassador and Belgium’s celebrated native daughter, DVF said designing the suite “felt like coming home again”. Guests looking for something extra special can treat themselves to a stay in the recently renovated Grand-Place Suite and Blaton Suite. These latter two overlook the Baroque buildings within Brussels’ central square, whose façades light up with colourful LED projections each winter. During the festive season, the city’s historic centre is transformed into an enchanting Christmas market filled with wooden chalets, an ice rink and a Ferris wheel. Sweet-toothed travellers can discover why Brussels is the chocolate capital of the world at a private chocolate-making masterclass run by Laurent Gerbaud – one of Hotel Amigo’s local chocolate partners – at his atelier close to the hotel.

If you’re keen to unearth Brussels’ hidden gems, you can make the most of Hotel Amigo’s concierge service and follow one of the bespoke itineraries on offer. With the highest number of Clefs d'Or concierges in Belgium, the team are true custodians of Brussels' heritage and are keen to share their expertise. Having worked at Hotel Amigo for more than 40 years, Marc, known as ‘Mister Belgium’, is a font of knowledge when it comes to exploring the city. He suggests starting your day with a coffee and a pastry at Aksum Coffee House inside the stunning, glass-covered Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, where Jean Neuhaus Jr invented the famous Belgian praline.

Other bespoke guest itineraries include a private visit to the Magritte Museum, a guided walking tour of the city’s Art Nouveau architectural splendours, and access to the new Kanal-Centre Pompidou in Square Sainctelette, which opens on 28 November. For the fashion-forward, an exploration of the boutiques showcasing the best in Belgian design within the Quartier Dansaert – just a ten-minute stroll from the hotel – is a must.

Another unmissable landmark is the opulent Royal Palace of Brussels, while the cobbled streets of the Sablon district, close to the hotel, offer the perfect mix of old-world charm and upscale sophistication. Expect Gothic architecture, some of Belgium’s best chocolatiers, art galleries galore and a weekend antiques market. Whether you’re seeking a steaming bowl of moules frites or an afternoon admiring the Old Masters at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Hotel Amigo is the ultimate gateway to Brussels where you can unlock the city’s secrets.

Party like it’s 1926

This festive season, Hotel Amigo is turning the clock back to the Roaring Twenties, celebrating a time when art, music and hospitality collided in exciting and unexpected ways. At Bar Magritte, you can enjoy live jazz performances and fully immerse yourself in Belgian-born Surrealist artist René Magritte’s world. Bringing his whimsical works to life in liquid form, celebrated mixologist Salvatore Calabrese has reimagined some of his most famous paintings. Presented in Magritte’s playful style, the ‘Good Faith’ comes in a glass shaped like a pipe billowing with dry ice, while the ‘Magritte’ is served in a black bowler hat. Guests staying over the holidays can take in live music and bespoke four- and eight-course menus at Ristorante Bocconi on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and a festive lunch on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Expect a seafood and charcuterie buffet, freshly prepared tortellini in brodo, and pillowy panettone.

Book your stay

Win a luxury stay at Hotel Amigo, Brussels

British Airways High Life readers have the chance to enjoy a festive two-night stay for two guests at Hotel Amigo, where you’ll be made to feel like royalty in the Grand-Place Suite and will be treated to a lavish breakfast each morning. To be in with a chance to win, you need to be a member of The British Airways Club. Not yet a member? You can join here. For more information and to enter the prize draw, go here.
Terms and conditions apply. Promoter: Rocco Forte Hotels

Enter now

Terms and conditions
Open to UK residents who are British Airways Club members, aged 18 or over.
Only one entry per person. Winner selected at random.
No cash alternative.
Subject to availability.
Travel expenses not included.
The closing date for receipt of all prize draw entries is 23:59 GMT on 7 December 2026.