Hotel Amigo is located in the heart of Brussels right behind the main square, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a couple of minute walk from Manneken-Pis, the urinating fountain sculpture of a boy. The hotel is owned by the Rocco Forte group, and the hotel has two unique themed suites suite. One of these is dedicated to fashion designer Diana von Furstenberg, and the other to Belgian comic TinTin. Apparently, the TinTin room contains a drawing by Steven Speilberg, who stayed at the hotel for the premiere of the 2011 film about the comic. I stayed in the hotel for two long weekends - February and April, respectively - and enjoyed my stay both times.
The hotel building is over 500 years old, and it was used as a prison in the 1500s. Spanish prisoners were held there, and the name of the hotel stems from its days in prison where the term for prison was confused with "friend" by the Spanish, so the name "amigo" stuck. Karl Marx was a prisoner in the mid-1800s. The prison was used until 1930 when it was destroyed by fire, but in 1957, it became a hotel for the Brussels World Fair. Rocco Forte took over the hotel in 2000.
Fresh flowers and a small box of chocolates awaited me on the first night on both visits, and throughout my stay, I received free sample items - a day cream, night cream, a card for a free box of Maison Dandoy specaloos, and so on.
The rooms (I stayed in the Deluxe Rooms) are also spacious and bright. On my first visit, I was stayed in a room with red bedspread and red marble touches in the bathroom. Both of my rooms had a small framed TinTin character in a frame in the bathroom as a nod to comics and paintings or artwork by surrealist artwork from Rene Magritte in the bedroom.
On my February visit, I did not pay for the breakfast buffet option. I did order the room service breakfast and enjoyed a selection of fruit, cereals, toast, eggs, French Toast, or waffles. I was not keen on the waffle as it was very dry, but the French Toast with fruit and syrup tasted delicious.
My April visit was at the front side of the hotel with the view of the famous Grand Palace in front of the room with views into the historical rooms that I saw in February; the top of tower was in view too. I preferred this room out of the two as the marble and bedspread used green tones, and the room felt brighter and was on the street instead of at the back of the building. I always prefer to hear the noise and the bustle.
On this visit, I paid for the breakfast buffet and enjoyed a range of fruit, toast, pastries, cereals, cold and cooked items, and I ordered the French Toast. At the buffet, they also offered Belgian food items, such as chocolate and specaloos. There is also bottomless Prosecco at the breakfast buffet to make Mimosa cocktails, so I got a fair usage out of that.
The hotel also has a nice bar, which is styled in Art Deco. On my visit in February, I came back to the hotel with a full party in swing with a jazz musician, and the music was brilliant. I was hoping that this same musician would be back in April, but he wasn't. However, there was a pianoist, but it was not as good. I only wish I'd known about the jazz musician beforehand as I missed the majority of it.
The cocktails were good but expensive. My favourite was the top one, which was sweet and tart. I loved the way that the cocktails were served. One other was served on a block of marble. The glass just rested on this marble block, and they used dry ice to make some bubbles.
Another one was served out of an intricate glass with a coloured flower on the stem.
Along with the drink, they brought nuts, olives, and crisps (potato chips).
I enjoyed my stay in this hotel, and it was an excellent base for exploring Brussels.
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