Hotel Amigo

It would be hard to be more central than this luxury hotel, opposite one side of the city's famous Hotel de Ville, and with the glorious Grand-Place stepping distance away. Part of the Rocco Forte group, it has all the hallmarks you'd expect at this five-star level: concierge service, clubby but contemporary bar with boxy sofas in warm and soothing shades, and a classy restaurant, Bocconi, with a modern Italian menu and Italian styling (even down to the glasses and china). Generous and comfortable rooms have a light contemporary-classic touch with the odd antique to give individuality, and a fun framed 'Tin-Tin and Snowy' cartoon in the bathrooms, to remind you're in the home city of the famous artist, Hergé. Dine in Bocconi, or more casually in the bar; the latter has live jazz at weekends. Service is first class, and the concierges are an invaluable source of information on both the classic and more off-beat sides of the city.