We haven’t travelled to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg since 2018 and 2019, but in January 2025 we returned to get a taste of the Alstom Coradia Stream HC which the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL) runs under the name Série 2400. The Coradia Stream HC was a candidate to become NMBS /SNCB‘s AM30, until it was (all but) decided Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from Spain would adapt its CAF Civity Duo. Although that decision is being challenged. While in the grand duchy, we also visited Schengen and Diekirch. 2025 is big year for the country, as on 3 October, Grand Duke Henri (Henry) will abdicate in favour of his son, Guillaume, who will become Grand Duke Guillaume V (or William V).
As Luxembourg is quite a long trek from our homebase of Antwerp, we decided to stay the night to have some actual time to do things. Last time we stayed at the Sofitel Luxembourg le Grand Ducal, right in between the railway station and the city centre. This time we opted to stay at the other Sofitel in town, the Sofitel Luxembourg Europe.
The Europe part of the name already gives away part of its location, on the Kirchberg plateau opposite the city centre right next to all the European institutions located there. The Kirchberg plateau was transformed from farmland into a new business district after the Second World War when the European Union was looking for a spot to locate its various institutions.
The Sofitel hotel itself is located close to the Philharmonie tram stop in a cluster of ACCOR Hotels, the Novotel and Novotel Suites located in front of it near the street side, while a a Mama Shelter was located near the back.
The building itself is a very typical 1990’s-2000’s new built business hotel with a bright and spacious atrium in the middle of the hotel with glass walled elevators giving a panoramic overview of the lobby. While the hotel was opened in 1993, a last big renovation was done in 2018 making the hotel still feeling contemporary.
Upon arrival we had a very warm welcome at the hotel, being offered a cup of warm tea to warm up after the winter storm outside during check-in. we received a room on the second floor with twin beds (as booked).
The room was nice and spacious with a big table that could be used as a desk or a dining table. The beds where heavenly and I loved the two thick firm pillows provided. Unlike the usual struggle at hotels with two pillows where one isn’t enough and two too much, with these Sofitel pillows just one was the perfect height and size for a perfect night’s sleep.
Next to the beds on both sides where 230v power plugs and two USB-A plugs, perfect for charging all your devices.
As a welcome gift two bottles of locally produced lemonades where set on the desk.
The coffee (with a proper nespresso machine) and tea facilities where located in the entry hall. The minibar located under the coffee and tea facilities had a nice offer of different drinks and all soft drinks where included in the room rate, a nice touch.
The bathroom was divided into a separate toilet located in an alcove next to the entrance, closed off by a frosted glass door. The only downside was the lack of a proper sink to wash your hands here after doing your business, forcing you to touch doors with your dirty hands.
The main part was located towards the room with big sliding doors closing it off from the hallway. It contained a nice big bath, if I was travelling with Sam this would have been the perfect spot to enjoy a romantic bath together. In the middle there was a nice big sink and to the other side the rain shower, which didn’t leak into the room.
They had nice multiple use amenities with both sets of body wash-shampoo-conditioner at both the bath and in the shower. It was unfortunate that the body lotion dispenser was almost empty however. Plenty of towels (engraved with the Sofitel logo) where provided along with very nice bathrobes and slippers.
What I also loved was that there was a proper turndown service (which has become rare after Covid) where they put the slippers ready next to the bed, and provided both sides with a cup of relaxing tea and a chocolate.
Due to the inclement weather we decided to dine in the hotel, upon check-in they offered to make reservations for us in one of the hotels restaurants with a choice between their Italian restaurant of their Luxembourg restaurant. Of course we opted for Feierwon, the Luxembourg one.
It was nicely decorated in a sort of modern log cabin design. The menu offered contained the more classic meat – vegetable – potato dishes as you would expect in this region.
We opted for the €61 three-course menu. I started with the trout on a bed of radish, which was light and refreshing. For the main I opted for the bouchée à la reine, a sort of creamy chicken stew in a flaky crust with fries (also a staple and favourite of the Belgian cuisine). While absolutely delicious, the size of a cross-channel ferry was enormous. We finished off with an apple tart, while it tasted fine it was the least exciting part of the meal for me.
As I have ALL Gold status, I received some welcome drinks coupons. Up to now I’ve always been able to redeem these in the hotel restaurant during dinner, however those was not possible in the Sofitel Luxembourg Europe. We had to redeem the coupons at the bar, where we had a nice little glass of local crémant sparkling wine.
In the morning breakfast was served in the Italian restaurant. There you had a choice of either the full breakfast buffet with a choice of made to order eggs for €36 and tea or coffee included or order some dishes a la carte with tea or coffee paid separately. We opted for the buffet which offered nice spread of the usual suspects with a nice variety in different kinds of breads, cheeses and charcuterie. I also tried a coconut yoghurt which was delicious.
For our made to order eggs we ordered some eggs benedict with salmon, and they were absolutely delicious.
All in all we had an excellent but slightly pricy breakfast.
The hotel also offered a small but well equipped gym, with bottles of water at your disposal.
Our stay at the Sofitel Luxembourg was excellent. We were lucky in that it was a very quiet period as there didn’t seem to be much people at the hotel. The meals we had where all excellent and of a high quality. With the stop of the free tram almost in front of the main entrance the bigger distance from the city centre isn’t as much of a big deal. We would certainly stay here again on a future Luxembourg visit.
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