The Hoxton has made its first Belgian debut. Located in the Victoria Tower and adjacent to the botanical gardens, The Hoxton, Brussels brings something completely new to the capital’s hospitality landscape with an open-house mindset, unique dining and drinking concepts, and a striking blend of 1970s brutalism and botany. The lobby, with its high ceilings and retro-style bar, welcomes guests to the 198-room hotel and serves as home to the Peruvian-inspired restaurant Cantina Valentina and Tope, a rooftop bar and taqueria with stunning views of the city. As if that’s not enough, the iconic 22-story building – formerly the European headquarters of IBM – will also house the latest location of Working From_, our innovative co-working brand that has locations in London and Chicago.

DESIGN

With the hotel interior designed by AIME Studios, you’ll feel transported to the classic 1970s era with a selection of brutalist silhouettes and motifs. Smooth plastered walls and bold geometric shapes provide a striking backdrop for a collection of vintage furniture, mainly sourced from Belgian flea markets and antique shops. Natural accents of green, evening blue, and yellow, along with custom murals by Brussels-based artists Madeleine Schilling and Claire de Quenetain, add vibrancy to the layered design narrative. Lush plantings throughout the hotel pay homage to the neighboring Botanical Gardens, providing an additional touch of natural serenity.

LOBBY

The spacious lobby features a retro-inspired coffee bar that transforms into a cocktail spot in the evening. It’s filled with vintage-style chairs and sofas, creating cozy corners for working, meeting, drinking, or simply hanging out in Brussels’ coziest communal living room. The Hox Gallery, a staple of The Hoxton, serves as a platform for local artists and creatives and is located on the lower floor. In The Hoxton Brussels, it will showcase the work of Bieke Buckinx. Buckinx, a Brussels-based visual artist, is known for her colorful figurative style, highlighted by a touch of playfulness and humor. She seeks to find beauty in the banality of everyday objects and themes.

ROOMS

The 198 guest rooms are divided into three distinct Hox room categories – Cosy, Roomy, and Biggy. The rooms blend retro tones and raw materials, featuring high-gloss finishes, velvet upholstery, accents of pink marble, walnut wood cabinets, and graphic carpets framed by original concrete window frames. A refined color palette of pink, blue, and ochre creates a dark, atmospheric ambiance, while the bathrooms themselves make a statement, with soft pink sinks boldly contrasting with deep blue metro tiles and oversized terrazzo floors.

CANTINA VALENTINA

Cantina Valentina is a restaurant inspired by Peruvian cuisine, open from early morning until late at night, serving breakfast, colorful and flavorful lunches, and leisurely dinners. Curated by chef Adam Rawson, formerly of Pachamama, one of London’s leading Peruvian restaurants, Cantina Valentina caters to early birds with freshly pressed exotic juices and superfruit smoothies, or a spicy Bloody Maria for those looking for something stronger. Breakfast options include eggs on toast with jalapeño salsa or quinoa pancakes with banana and berries, served with the finest Peruvian coffee in vintage ceramicware.

From the afternoon, Cantina Valentina serves colorful and flavorful dishes, including Chicharron Cheeseburgers, Chicken Anticucho – grilled chicken skewers with aji limon, Lime Ceviche – sea bass, sweet potato, cancha, and tiger’s milk, Pollo A La Brasa – half-glazed chicken with aji Amarillo mayo, served with fries and a fresh salad of leafy greens, and Quinoto – quinoa with avocado, coriander, and lime.

As the evening falls, the Peruvian flavors at Cantina Valentina are enhanced with dishes such as Tequeño – crispy cheese wontons, and Pata con arroz waltz – a classic Peruvian rice dish, along with more traditional Belgian classics with a Peruvian twist, including Beef Tartate with aji panca, miso coriander, and fries. For something sweet, you can choose the Alfajor with coconut dulce de leche and popped amaranth.

Cantina Valentina’s cocktail menu honors the Peruvian classic drink Pisco, along with other classic cocktails. Some highlights include the CV Pisco Sour with Barsol Peruvian pisco blend, citrus fruits, orange blossom water, egg white, lemon sorbet, and Amargo Chuncho bitters, and the Banana Spider with Barsol Peruvian pisco blend, citrus fruits, banana liqueur, egg white, and Amargo Chuncho bitters.

The restaurant evokes the atmosphere of a traditional picanteria in a Peruvian village, combining different tableware with heirlooms and family photos on the walls. At the same time, it also reflects the rich traditions and flamboyant style of Peru, with artisanal glassware, lush fabrics, and eccentric vases with colorful bouquets.

TOPE

Tope is the rooftop taqueria and terrace of the hotel, inspired by every corner of Mexico, from the vibrant streets of Mexico City to the green, colorful alleys of Oaxaca, and the soothing serenity of Tulum. The menu features freshly prepared dishes such as aguachile, carnitas, al pastor, pollo a la plancha, calabaza frito, and carne asada, along with a regularly changing list of homemade meat, fish, or vegetable tacos, including the Chicken Valentine – pulled chicken with spicy Valentina sauce, pickled onions, and avocado, and the Calabacin – grilled zucchini, Tajin pickle, and salsa roja. The bar offers an extensive list of tequila and mezcal-based cocktails, Margaritas, and Frozen Daiquiris, as well as a selection of wines and Mexican and Belgian craft beers. To provide the perfect atmosphere for sunset, a resident DJ will perform every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening.

THE APARTMENT

The Hoxton’s signature events and meeting concept, called The Apartment, is located on the ground floor and can be reached via an impressive mirrored staircase, creating a grand entrance. Surrounding the central kitchen island, the flexible space consists of the Dining Room, Living Room, and Games Room, which can be rented individually for intimate dinners, workshops, and meetings, or rented as a whole for unique parties that extend onto the private terrace.

LOCAL PARTNERS

Every Hox is intricately connected to its own neighborhood, and through collaborations with like-minded local brands, guests can experience the streets and scenes around the hotel with a fresh perspective. In Brussels, The Hox partners with the urban electric bike specialists at Cowboy for a more sustainable way to explore the city, while regular city runs are also offered by Carbon Atheltics for those who prefer to explore the streets on foot. A taste of the city’s culinary culture is served through collaborations with Rish Kombucha from Saint Josse, among others, who have brewed an exclusive Hox blend called Tiger Tears, inspired by the distinctive flavors of the Peruvian classic, leche de tigre.

The Hoxton collaborates with L’llot, a charity organization that provides support and practical assistance to people who are homeless or facing inadequate housing. This partnership aims to provide meaningful and long-lasting support to those in the community who need it most. In addition to financial support and facilitating donations of essential beds, towels, and equipment, hotel staff also regularly volunteer to support the center on the ground through established volunteer services.

BEST OF

The ‘Best Of’ shop is a carefully curated collection of products from some of the city’s best independent craftsmen, creatives, and brands, available for purchase in the hotel. The Hox Shop in Brussels will feature natural skincare products from KLASK, bags and socks from Belgian fashion brand Bellerose, porcelain from the artist-run Frizbee Ceramics studio, and a special edition of Swet x Tope hot sauce.

WORKING FROM

With four floors in the tower, Working From_ Brussels is the third location of the hybrid co-working brand and is scheduled to open in late summer 2023. With open desks, studios, relaxation areas, and communal pantries on each floor, and regular events focused on professional and personal development, Working From_ is a key pillar in The Hoxton’s sustainable hospitality approach.

SURROUNDINGS

Located in the northern part of the capital, The Hoxton, Brussels has some interesting neighbors, including KIOSK Radio, an independent radio station that regularly hosts open DJ sets from its iconic wooden hut in Parc Royal, and the city’s cultural center, Le Botanique. For lovers of Belgium’s emerging fashion scene, Rue Antoine Dansaert, the capital’s most popular shopping destination, is just a fifteen-minute walk away. Thanks to its favorable location in one of the most accessible cities in Europe, the hotel is also ideal for exploring the surrounding area and beyond, especially since the city has direct international train connections to other Hox cities like Paris, Amsterdam, and London.