When you are at it, go browsing the fish market
When Eva (diageva) advised me that she was staying in Brussels for the week-end and that she was looking for an accomodation tip, this one and a B&B came to my mind.
Hotel Welcome is a family-run hotel on Place du Marché aux Poissons. For living in Brussels, I've never stayed there but I understood it was a good deal: not expensive, located in the center. I would think that for it being located in the center, nights would have been noisy, but seems not.
Then, I could visit the hotel interior while putting down Eva's luggage. The interior appeared refurbished, was clean. Eva's room was a single bed one. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the bed in the attic (Shame on me! I did so while the staff member was showing us the room. I was still thinking of the labyrinth-like corridor and now, this bedroom). One had to climb the ladder to reach the bed. And yes, as Eva said, one shouldn't be drunk if was occupying this room. Apart from that, it was nicely decorated, clean. Each room at Welcome hotel has a specific theme: Eva's room was the Japan room. That was for the single room I could see. There are Indian, Tibet, Egypt, Congo rooms that are decorated according to their theme.
Another con's: without the help of the staff, one wouldn't find the rooms by oneself though. The corridors were a kind of labyrinth. To reach the bedrooms at upper storeys, one has to browse the corridors that, even in the same storey, seem to be located on many levels then, you have to turn left and right many times before finding the lift (1st floor). We were not drunk but we had some trouble finding our way in the "smallest hotel in Brussels" (used to be so before refurbishment & extension, that is). I think that this is due to the merge of some parts and the extension of the property to provide with more rooms (10 rooms now).
All in all, I would still recommend it. See why in below paragraphs.... **cont'd**
Unique Quality: ... Description: - part 2
I could talk with the caring staff member there. She told me about the forthcoming works that will be done to have the property fit. She said that since La Truite d'Argent (restaurant of the hotel) is closing, its surface will be added to the hotel's. So, one would be able to take the lift at basement level (located in the surface of La truite d'Argent, seemingly) to reach the upper storeys and then, no need to go through the "labyrinth" anymore. Also, this extension will allow them to change the entrance door. It will look then on Place du Marché aux poissons, not on Rue du peuplier anymore. I guess I will check when they finish the works (or maybe not).
Unique Qualities:
Its first asset, for me, is its location on the Fish Market place, and neighbouring Ste-Catherine place. It grants you with the possibility to browse the Fish market in the morning. Lively neighbourhood.
Also, it is not far from Grand-Place and from there is a good connection with metro net. So, even if you are returning late at night, you wouldn't walk that far from the metro station to reach the hotel.
On Fish market place are the fish & seafood restaurants of Brussels. The Fish market place itself is worth the glance in summer with the blooming tree lines, the quays that are opened. And well, I have told it, it uses to house the Christmas market in December (see General tips section). Quite atmospheric with the carrousels, the stalls, the ice skating rink, the eerie.
Also, the St-Géry, Dansaert & Ste-Catherine area provide you with cozy summer terraces where to sip beer and catch a bit of sun.
I haven't been in the restaurant La truite d'Argent but seems to have an interesting setting. An Art Déco style where used to go Jacques Brel and other VIP (politicians, gvt members of the past)
Price on their website:
Single 85
Double Standard 95
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The red awnings is the Brussels Welcome Hotel
