A grand five-star luxury hotel in central Brussels, built in the 1870s and operating continuously for 125 years until 2020. Currently closed pending restoration.
At a glance
The Hotel Métropole stands in the heart of Brussels at place de Brouckère, a prestigious commercial district anchored by shopping streets and transport hubs. Once the city’s last surviving 19th-century hotel in operation, it housed 251 rooms and 22 suites across its ornate facade.
History
Construction took place from 1872 to 1874, with the hotel opening its doors in 1895. It remained in continuous operation for 125 years, becoming a landmark of Brussels’s Belle Époque hospitality landscape. The hotel closed in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, new owners acquired the property and announced restoration plans targeting a 2026 reopening.
What you see
The hotel displays an eclectic architectural vocabulary combining neo-Renaissance and Louis XVI influences. Its five-star design reflects the grand hotel aesthetic of the late 19th century, with proportions and ornamentation befitting Brussels’s role as a major European capital.
Cultural significance
The Hotel Métropole represented the pinnacle of Brussels hospitality for over a century. Its longevity as the city’s only operational 19th-century hotel made it a tangible link to the Belle Époque and a witness to modern European history.
Key facts
- Country: Belgium
- City: Brussels
- Coordinates: 50.85138889, 4.35361111
- Built: 1872–1874
- Opened: 1895
- Rooms: 251, plus 22 suites
- Status: Currently closed; restoration planned for 2026 reopening
Practical information & getting there
The Hotel Métropole is located at 31, place de Brouckère, adjacent to Boulevard Adolphe Max and the Northern Gallery shopping arcade. The nearest public transport is De Brouckère station (lines 1, 4, 5, and 10), serving metro and premetro (underground tram) services. The hotel is currently closed to visitors. Check official sources for updates on the planned 2026 reopening.
Sources & resources
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