Sir Rocco Forte spared no expense in order to breathe new life into Hotel Amigo. Under the direction of designer Olga Polizzi, the clean-lined interiors are a confluence of elegant Flemish tradition, with refined Belgian linens, embroidered silk curtains, and contemporary Italian sensibility. Belgian touches include Pierre Marcolini chocolates, and Marcel Broodthaers and René Magritte prints. As for the curious name, it dates back to the early 16th century when the then-ruling Spanish mistook the Flemish word for "prison," which the building served as for centuries, to mean "friend." Located on a charming cobblestone street adjacent to the Grand Place, Brussels’ historic central square, the Amigo also has an award-winning restaurant and martini bar, fitness and business centers and a ballroom.