Juliana Hotel Brussels – a residence behind two MICHELIN Keys

Facing Place des Martyrs — laid out in 1776 as Place Saint-Michel and consecrated anew in the Belgian Revolution of 1830, when the uprising's first victims were buried beneath what is now the Martyrs' Monument — Juliana Hotel Brussels occupies a building whose scale is civic but whose character is entirely private. Restored to its original neoclassical glory, it stands, as Small Luxury Hotels describes it, on Brussels' most noble and atmospheric square. Inside, forty-three rooms and suites surround a private collection of contemporary art, its centrepiece a bronze bas-relief by Emanuele Luzzati that greets arriving guests before reappearing, in another form, behind the bar. The MICHELIN Guide awards the house two Keys — a distinction unique among Brussels hotels — recognising a stay built on quiet, residential luxury rather than scale.

01The house

Place des Martyrs was designed in 1776 by the architect Claude Fisco under the name Place Saint-Michel, one of the purest expressions of neoclassicism in Brussels. It took on a second identity in 1830, when the first fighters to die in the Belgian Revolution were buried on the square and the Martyrs' Monument was raised in their memory — a history the hotel's own rooms still face across the cobbles.

Behind the restored façade, corridors run past a mirror by Philippe Starck and a passage styled after Hermès, part of a declared dialogue between neoclassical bones and contemporary flourish. Restored to its former neo-classical glory, it's now a bolthole in Place des Martyrs, Brussels' most noble – and atmospheric – square. A private art collection, said to belong to the house's owner, Eric Cleton, fills the public rooms with sculpture, painting and decorative objects, giving every alcove its own character. This refined retreat is further enhanced by a remarkable private art collection owned by Mr. Eric Cleton, featuring unique sculptures, paintings, and decorative pieces that infuse each space with distinctive character.

02Rooms and suites

The 43 rooms and suites were designed individually by the Italian designer Eugenio Manzoni. Each room, meticulously crafted by Italian designer Eugenio Manzoni, showcases a unique combination of neo-classical art, contemporary colors, and exclusive wallpapers. Premium Rooms run from 20 to 33 square metres with a 200x200cm bed and views over the square or the interior garden; Prestige Rooms extend to 36–38 square metres on the same scale of bed.

Insider tip

Reserve the restaurant and spa directly online; the square is pedestrian-only.

Higher up, under the building's mansard roof, the Signature Suite opens into a more private, intimate register, while the Juliana Suite — the house's largest — spreads behind tall bay windows with the option of one or two bedrooms, a study and a reception room, hung throughout with pieces from the hotel's own collection.

03Where to eat

The hotel's restaurant, Influence, builds its menu around the Belgian culinary tradition, pairing local ingredients with the chef's own ideas in a register the kitchen describes as the ground between grandmothers' cooking and modern technique. The card changes with the seasons, and the chef will visit the table for guests with specific dietary requests.

Afternoon tea, served in the restaurant, the lounge or on the terrace overlooking Place des Martyrs, follows a seasonal menu of sweet and savoury Belgian specialities. Restaurant, lounge, or on the terrace looking out onto the Place des Martyrs; wherever you sit to enjoy Juliana's Afternoon Delights you'll feel like you're in the most elegant residence, with a beautifully balanced menu of sweet and savoury Belgian delicacies that changes every season – expertly prepared with artistic precision.

04The bar

The bar is built around a rare bronze bas-relief, Theseus and the Minotaur, by the Italian sculptor and illustrator Emanuele Luzzati — reason enough on its own to order a drink there. Around it, an Orientalist decor by Kelvin and Philippe Laverne runs through gold and copper wallpaper on the walls and gilded leaf motifs on the ceiling, and a bartender-sommelier builds the cocktail list to match the mood of the room.

05Spa, pool and wellbeing

The spa sits a floor below ground, reached in a bathrobe directly from the room. Its centrepiece is an indoor pool lined with a Murano glass mosaic mural inspired by Le Corbusier, its turquoise water lit beneath the coloured glass. A traditional sauna and hammam complete the wet area, while a small, Technogym-equipped fitness room covers the rest. Treatments — massage, beauty and hairdressing among them — are arranged through independent partners via the concierge.

06The neighbourhood

Place des Martyrs sits within Brussels' pedestrianised centre, close to Rue Neuve and La Monnaie opera house. Petite and exclusive Juliana Hotel is situated on Place de Martyrs plaza, a 10-minute walk north of Grand Place. Place de Martyrs is a lesser-known plaza, off the usual tourist route, but within Brussels' pedestrian-only zone, all of which makes it a particularly peaceful, quiet area.

07Making the most of a stay

Juliana Hotel Brussels belongs to a small, family-run group whose only other address is the Juliana in Cannes, and it keeps company with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Serandipians and the Affluent Traveler Collection. Reserve a table at Influence or a spa slot directly through the hotel's own booking pages, and ask on arrival about the seasonal afternoon tea — a quieter way to take in the Luzzati relief and the square beyond the terrace.

For a weekend. For a lifetime.