Hotel Métropole's renovated facade unveiled

The facade of the historic Hotel Métropole on Place de Brouckère in Brussels is once again free of scaffolding. 

“The renovation of the facade has been completed, but inside the hotel, work is still in full swing,” said Brussels state secretary for heritage Ans Persoons (Vooruit). 

While the facade - which is listed as part of Brussels’ urban heritage - became visible again at the end of last week, the ornate metal canopy has not yet been fitted and is still being reconstructed based on historical photographs.

The Brussels region listed various parts of the building and its interior in 1994, in 2002 and during the preparatory phase of this renovation in 2023. 

In addition to the facade (pictured before the renovations began), the lower floors, the stairwell and the Art Deco furniture designed by architect Adrien Blomme are also listed. 

The building combines various architectural styles, such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco, and, with its majestic facade and opulent interiors, has become an iconic example of Brussels architecture. 

All the listed features of the communal reception areas, including the famous Café Métropole, were to be preserved and restored. 

A grant application was therefore submitted to secure funding for the renovation of the heritage elements, but Persoons said that this was still pending.

Technical improvements were also made during the renovation to make the hotel more sustainable and energy-efficient, including insulation and window replacements. 

The hotel has been a fixture in Brussels for more than a century. Its legacy began in 1890 when the Wielemans-Ceuppens family of brewers opened the Café Métropole. Five years later, the iconic cafe was expanded to include a luxury hotel. 

The hotel has hosted many famous figures throughout history, including Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and the American presidents Herbert Hoover and Dwight Eisenhower.

The hotel closed its doors in April 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. 

The building was purchased at the end of 2022 by Lone Star Funds, an American investment fund based in Texas. 

The fund unveiled plans to thoroughly renovate the hotel. In addition to the facade renovation and technical upgrades, the hotel will feature a new wellness area with a swimming pool in the basement and a new fitness centre. The number of rooms will be increased from 253 to 267.

The French group Centaurus, which specialises in luxury hotels, was due to manage the refurbished hotel, but a year ago the two parties parted ways. 

At the time, the French-language business newspaper L’Echo reported that Centaurus had taken the owner to court for breach of contract.

The French hotel group speculated that the Texans were seeking to save money through this manoeuvre, and that they would sell the hotel once the renovation was complete. L’Echo wrote at the time that, despite the legal dispute, the hotel was due to open in late 2026 or early 2027. 

Bruzz reports that Centaurus’s plans for the hotel have been shelved for good and no new opening date for the refurbished hotel has been communicated yet.