Where you stay in Brussels matters because the city’s strengths are central rather than panoramic. For most men, the best base is in or near the historic center, close enough to Grand-Place and Saint-Jacques that the city’s cultural and gay layers stay within walking reach. That gives you convenience in the morning and social ease at night. Brussels is not a destination where remote elegance pays off much. It works better when the hotel is central, comfortable, and quietly assured rather than grand for its own sake.