The Hoxton has planted its flag in Belgium for the first time, opening its doors in the capital’s Northern Quarter. The Hoxton, Brussels will bring a 1970s brutalism-meets-botany aesthetic to the city, in a 198-room property designed by AIME Studios.
The hotel’s interiors reimagine classic 1970s design, underpinned by Brutalist silhouettes and motifs. Polished plaster walls and bold geometric forms offer a striking backdrop to an eclectic collection of vintage furniture sourced predominantly from Belgian brocantes and antique stores. Saturated pops of green, midnight blue and yellow, as well as bespoke murals commissioned from Brussels-based artists Madeleine Schilling and Claire de Quenetain add vibrancy to the layered design narrative, while lush planting throughout references the heritage of the hotel’s neighbouring Botanical Gardens.
The hotel’s 198 guestrooms bring together high lacquered finishes, velvet upholstery, pink marble accents, walnut cabinetry and graphic rugs, framed by the building’s original concrete window architraves. A colour palette of pinks, blues and ochre can be found in guestrooms, while bathrooms feature striking putty-pink washbasins contrast with deep blue metro tiles and oversized terrazzo flooring.
Outside of guestrooms, the hotel’s lobby is home to a retro-inspired coffee bar that transforms into a cocktail spot by night, and is dotted with vintage-style chairs and sofas. The Hox Gallery, a Hoxton classic, is located on the lower ground floor and will debut with the works of Bieke Buckinx. As for food and beverage, Cantina Valentina is the hotel’s Peruvian-inspired restaurant, open all day with a menu from chef Adam Rawson. Evoking the atmosphere of a traditional picanteria in a Peruvian village, the space combines mixed tableware with heirlooms and family photos on the wall, alongside artisan glassware, eccentric vases and colourful bouquets. Accompanying Cantina Valentina in The Hoxton, Brussels’ F&B offerings is Tope, the hotel’s rooftop taqueria and terrace, which draws inspiration from all corners of Mexico.
The new Hoxton also comprises an array of the brand’s signature concepts, including The Apartment, with its Pantry, Dining Room, Living Room and Play Room, while Working From_Brussels, set to open in summer 2023, will be the third outpost of the hybrid co-working brand.
