Hostel Review: Latroupe Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium
Grand Place
Brussels, Belgium is known for: chocolate, waffles, beautiful parks and museums, and bustling squares for people watching and eating delicious cuisine.
We encountered no shortage of the above while visiting the architecturally dazzling city. With three days to explore, we were able to take a day trip to Bruges - a nearby quaint Belgian village - home to a picturesque canal and many holy places.
Funny enough, we managed to catch the heat wave while in Brussels so we were extremely relieved to find out when our hostel Latroupe Grand Place was not only air conditioned, but had plenty of communal relaxation areas to enjoy a local brew and rest up from walking several miles each day.
We were also pleased to know that our hostel was located a quick five minute walk to the Grand Place, one of our top highlights and the main cultural attraction in the city of Brussels. We recommend visiting Grand Place both during the daytime and at night, as the vibe of the square completely changes and all of the buildings are illuminated differently in the sunlight and the moonlight.
We spent a long time marvelling at the beautiful sculptures and paintings on each building in Grand Place and couldn’t get enough pictures truly capturing its beauty!
Running on a habit that we picked up a few days prior in Amsterdam, we decided to begin using the Lime electric scooters to give our feet a break and travel across the city each day. We welcomed the natural breeze that came our way while zipping across the streets!
Caroline was also very pleased to begin using her French for the trip in Belgium, as they speak both French and Dutch in the country. It came in handy many times and we were welcomed with open arms to speak in the language.
Our “Favorites” of Brussels:
Moules-frites
Delirium pint glass, so cute!
Snack: Fries, Fritland
Dessert food (or breakfast!): Waffle with maple syrup + strawberries, Le Roi de la Gaufre
Landmark: Grand Place
Fritland french fries
Strawberries on waffles, yum!
Our Latroupe Grand Place hostel ratings:
View from center lobby at the hostel
Overall: 9.3/10
Comfort: 9.6/10 Our private double room with an ensuite bathroom was incredibly spacious and comfortable. With A/C, bathroom soaps, and blackout curtains, we slept extremely well. The room was tidy, well taken care of, and the bed was super comfortable. Our friend stayed in a mixed 6-bed dorm and had great things to say about the privacy curtains, personal outlets, and ensuite bathroom.
Location: 10/10 With a five minute walk to Grand Place, and 10 minutes to the main train station, we award this hostel with a 10/10 for location. Its proximity to restaurants, bars, and the major landmarks in the city was incredible.
Price: 8.5/10 With all travel accommodations, you should always try to book as early as possible, but even when last minute travel occurs, Latroupe Grand Place had pretty sweet prices for its location, comfort, and amenities, and was great value for the money.
Facilities/Amenities: 8.9/10 Air conditioning, clean bathrooms, spacious tables to do work, read, or relax with friends, cheap beer, and an endless chalkboard updated regularly with free and local activities for hostel visitors, we’d say that there was no shortage of resources and amenities at the hostel. We would love it if they had a communal fridge & laundry!
Staff: 9.8/10 Extremely welcoming, knowledgeable, and helpful, the staff at the hostel were incredibly nice and gave us a great plan for how to see the city!
Noise level: 9/10 We thought the hostel was in a great area and well insulated from outside noise, though some hallway noise gets in. But it’s definitely not bad! Visitors were very respectful of each other’s schedules.
Security: 9.4/10 Given the 24/7 front desk reception and open lobby space we felt pretty safe and taken care of each night. Each room is accessible by key card and check-in/check-out is simple and can be done in person on site.
Cleanliness: 9.5/10 The community bathrooms on the ground floor were cleaned regularly and the ensuite facilities were in pristine condition!
Vibes: 9.1/10 Although we weren’t at the hostel for a weekend bar crawl or party, we thought that the vibes of the co-working/lounge areas were great. There was a family, groups of friends, and solo travelers alike, enjoying a pint, eating a pizza, or just having a great time together.
Caroline successfully beating Joe at a game of foosball in the lobby!
Overall, we definitely agree that Latroupe’s Grand Place hostel location in Brussels, Belgium is a fantastic find.
If you find yourself planning a trip to Brussels and want a centrally located place that offers several local activities, has a welcoming atmosphere, and won’t break the bank, we absolutely recommend Latroupe.
They have locations across Europe and we can’t wait to check them out in the future!
Happy travels :)
Caroline and Joe
