Hidden design hotel with a secret garden in central Brussels
Jardin Secret / Brussels / Belgium
I will be completely honest. Brussels have never been my favorite out of the European capitals but I have realized that is all my own fault. I have not done proper research before going there. So I decided to turn things around and get to the core of the Belgian capital, beyond all the official EU buildings. I started with trying to find a really good hotel, and I did. I found Jardin Secret.
Jardin Secret Hotel is located in the buzzing shopping district of Saint-Boniface. The hotel almost has something of a Narnia quality to it. You leave the busy shopping street and walk down an alley. You enter the hotel through what looks like a flower shop and then you step into the jardin secret, the hidden garden which is the courtyard that the hotel is built around.
In the courtyard there is a terrace built like a grand staircase with plenty of outdoor seating and there is a pool which feels unique for inner city hotels like this one. Feels great to have a place to refresh after sightseeing in the Belgian capital.
Our room was airy and the first thing that hit me when entering was that it felt warm. Warm and homey. Natural materials such as wood, leather, linen textiles are the corner stones of the design with some added quirks like an old type writer and plants which is something I love. Always so amazed how few hotels that have real plants in their rooms. The favorite thing in our room was the huge bay window where we both could sit (at the same time) and read while peaking out into the lush, green garden.
So, what happened with by relation with Brussels? It has done a 180, where this hotel played a huge part in my change of mindset. Trust me, I will come back.
Welcome to Jardin Secret, located on a quiet side street.
A very stylish entrance with a creative use of rope.
This is what meets you when you enter the hidden garden after leaving busy Saint-Boniface behind you.
The hotel is modern looking with clean lines.
Our room was situated in this house in the courtyard, which was separated from the main building, covered in greenery.
The color scheme in our room was neutral and tactile materials. A warm feeling.
Wood, micro concrete and rugged looking textiles.
The favorite corner of our room. This bay window was a great place to sit and read, surrounded by greenery. Like sitting in painting.
Wood, worn leather and green plants. Love this!
M sitting in the window planning how he will take over the world.
Our room from the outside. No better word to describe this than lush.
Brussels has so many cute streets, alleys, back streets so a perfect city to get lost in.
Found a cute, local Italian trattoria, Gazzetta a short walk from the hotel.
The best way to finish off any Italian meal, with a proper piece of tiramisu.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are looking for a hotel that is located right in the middle of things but still feels like it might as well be somewhere in the countryside as soon as you enter the courtyard. The buzz and the sounds of the city stay on the outside and you can kick back and relax.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the garden. So rare and great to have a city hotel that is so green where plants play central stage. Feels like a place you can breath after returning from exploring the Belgian capital.
The quality booster…
…a courtyard pool in a downtown hotel in a European capital. I don’t know how common that is (my guess is that it isn’t) and I love it. A real quality booster.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…to bring comfy shoes. Brussels is a perfect city to explore on foot and there are plenty of great watering holes to get something good to eat and drink. Like cute little corner restaurant Gazzetta, just a 10 min walk from the hotel where we stoped for a drink but ended up having dinner.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
La Maison, Saarlouis, Germany
Pulitzer, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Julien, Antwerp, Belgium
