Historic Hotel Astoria reopens to the public

The historic Hotel Astoria in Brussels has reopened after extensive renovations under five stars and a new name - Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria.

Culinary and cultural events are planned to welcome the first guests at the hotel in Rue Royale this week, Bruzz reports.

The 1909 landmark had been closed for 17 years, but a new owner from Malta wants the carefully-refurbished hotel wants to "rediscover and redefine luxury".

“This project goes beyond restoring a hotel – it’s about redefining luxury hospitality,” said Corinthia Hotels chief executive Simon Casson.

“Together with some of Belgium's most innovative experts and culinary talents, we are creating an experience unlike any other.”

The hotel now has 90 rooms, 31 suites and five signature suites such as the "grand deluxe suite" (pictured), "royal heritage suite" and the "presidential suite".

A night at the hotel runs to at least €650, but the price could be as much as €10,000. One major international star has reportedly already booked an entire floor and the month of December is reportedly completely booked.

The luxury clientele are promised their money’s worth: “We have 250 employees here in the hotel and that's twice as many as in other hotels in Brussels – there are two people for every room,” said Sophe Clarke, marketing director of the palace.

The renovation took four years and was led by architect Francis Metzger of Brussels-based firm MA², with the aim of paying as much respect as possible to the original design, not least because the Belle Époque façade and parts of the hotel are classified as Brussels heritage.

The lobby has been refurbished with its large glass doors and columns, and the highlight of the show is the rectangular glass roof designed by Henri Van Dievoet.

“When I entered the hotel for the first time, one of my first reactions to the period photos was to say that this glass roof was part of the work – the whole job was to reconstitute an essential element,” architect Francis Metzge said.

On the first floor, some of the original stained glass windows have stood the test of time: “These were still in place and are in relatively good condition,” noted architect Monica Marteaux.

“They didn't suffer that much from the work. However, the upper window was in danger of collapsing. We dismantled these windows in 2013 and stored them in large wooden boxes so that we could restore them later. We reconstructed exactly the same colour, the same stained glass and the same type of glass.”

Hotel Astoria was built in 1909 to welcome visitors to the World Fair a year later, with architect Henri Van Dievoet commissioned to build a palace for guests of the then-king Albert I, and later Leopold II.

Many celebrities have slept there over the years, including Winston Churchill, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol, but the building has been abandoned since 2007.

A Saudi real estate group bought the landmark with the goal of renovating it, but failed to deliver. Maltese luxury real estate chain Corinthia Hotels bought the property from them in 2016.

“The reopening of Corinthia Brussels marks a new and exciting chapter for our brand as well as for the city,” said Casson.

“We look forward to welcoming our guests, giving them a taste of this new chapter and discovering a place where heritage and innovation go hand in hand.”

The investment group has been around since the 1960s, buying and operating luxury hotels from London to Saint Petersburg and Doha.

The newly christened Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria has two restaurants, Le Petit Bon Bon and Palais Royal, both with a Belgian Michelin-starred chef at the helm and exclusive dinners planned for this opening week, promising "a journey through Belgian gastronomy".

The hotel also boasts a wellness centre and a concept store. The spa does not open until next week, but the shop has been open since Monday, featuring Belgian design, craftsmanship and fashion.

A third hospitality outlet will open in the building in February - a cocktail bar called Under The Stairs with mixologist Hannah Van Ongevalle at the helm.

Photos: Corinthia Brussels; Verriere Serge Brison