Tenbosch House, Brussels

Created from two brick-and-granite-fronted nineteenth-century houses in the silk-stocking Ixelles district, far from the madding crowds around the Grand Place, the exquisitely designed seven-room Tenbosch instantly became the capital's trendiest small hotel. In the soaring all-white lobby, the walls are covered with art and photography from several of the city's leading galleries. The bar, the lounge, and the breakfast room serve up an offbeat but fabulous grand slam of sixties Scandinavian furniture and fittings, a mixture of original pieces and contemporary editions. Every room is individually decorated, and all of them are large and light with high ceilings and the same retro-groovy style, plus huge bathrooms. There's a large garden with a terrace out back, as well as an indoor pool and sauna. Tenbosch House is run by Nadia Ashdjian, a friendly local arts enthusiast, and all told, it offers a much more intimate experience than staying at a traditional hotel, no matter how luxurious.
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