Review: the new Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa

This is our review of the newly opened Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa.

The tiny grand duchy of Luxembourg is located in the heart of Europe. The country is known as one of the three administrative capitals of the European Union, a financial hub and headquarters to some large corporations due to its favorable tax regime.

Luxembourg is steeped in European history, sandwiched between its far larger neighbours of France, Germany and Belgium. It has a pretty old town, remnants of astonishingly large fortifications and is close to the Mosel wine region.

It therefore doesn’t come as a surprise that Luxembourg is a popular destination for business and leisure travelers and it was about time that Marriott found a stronger foothold here than the existing Moxy at the airport.

Marriott arranged a press event for the opening ceremony, which included various events inside and outside the hotel. As this was an organised group trip, Marriott covered all of my costs including flights.

The Luxembourg Marriott Alfa website is here.

Where is Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa?

Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa is situated directly opposite the central train station. Whilst I had been told that this was not the most attractive part of town, the quarter around the station is undergoing an extensive rejuvenation. There is still a lot of building work ongoing but nothing that disturbed my stay.

Huge investments have been made including the construction of a tram line which was recently extended to the airport. It takes 23 minutes from the airport – you get off literally outside the hotel – and in Luxembourg public transport is FREE.

The hotel is a beautiful art deco building originally opened in 1932. It operated as a hotel until 2017 when it closed for several years, reopening in May 2025 as HfP reported here.

Hopping out of the tram or taxi the first thing you notice is the stunning art deco facade. It has been cleaned and restored to make a strong first impression.

I love art deco and heritage hotels but what is different here is that the designers took references from original features and lifted them into the 21st century. It is a tasteful art deco reinvention, very special and welcoming.

The ground floor is divided up into several spaces. From the reception it is just a few steps to the bar and cafe area.

It has a ‘Kaffeehaus’ feel to it and the cakes on offer matched this perception.

The lounge area in the corner is very comfortable and perfect to watch the world go by whilst having a coffee. In the corner of this space (not in the picture) is also a large round table for meetings or bigger groups.

The Brasserie Alfa with its bar and restaurant is the heart of the hotel. It apparently used to be an institution and destination in itself where Luxembourgers celebrated family events or wanted to be seen.

The large bar looks great and is beautifully lit at night.

The restaurant is the room in the hotel which has most original features preserved, for example the stunning ceiling lamps, flooring and the large painting on the back wall which was painstakingly restored. It has become a beautiful space.

Right next to it is a lounge area which also features a high table for a gathering or meetings or just pre-dinner drinks as an alternative to the bar.

My room at Luxembourg Marriott Hotel Alfa

I had a deluxe room on the fourth floor facing the front of the hotel with a large window. The design is well thought through with lots of lighting and a desk to work on.

The bed is surrounded by leather covered paneling which complements the wooden floors and rug.

Local artist Jacques Schneider was commissioned to design the coffee and tea cups for the hotel. They feature the ‘Lion of Luxembourg’ in an artful and decorative way.

In the bathroom I especially liked the granite wash stand. It was very functional for the relatively narrow space it is in.

Opposite is a walk-in shower, the tiles just giving a nod to art deco zig-zags.

Junior Suite

I also had the opportunity to see a junior suite. This one is on the seventh floor under the roof:

The design was very similar to my deluxe room but obviously provides more space. I also saw another junior suite which was, I believe, on the first floor with a large bay window. I preferred that one but couldn’t get a photograph due to my fellow writers getting in the way!

The bathroom is differently configured but otherwise the same.

Breakfast at Brasserie Alfa

I did love the breakfast. For a start it is abundant with many different items on offer. The fruit was served in small bowls so everything stays fresh and contained seasonal options such as cherries, strawberries and blackberries.

There were slices of meat pie on one platter which isn’t something you see often.

The pastry and cake section is extensive. There were mini canelé pastries and normal sized and extra large madeleines so you know where you are!

There were, of course, warm items as well. Egg dishes are made to order and porridge was also available.

Lunch and dinner at Brasserie Alfa

I had one lunch and one dinner here and the pictures below are a mix of both. The cuisine is French. Starters cost from €8 to €34, which gets you king prawns flambéed with Ricard. Main dishes usually range between €30 to €40.

The starter below was called ‘Alfa Surf and Turf’. It is vitello tonnato with large caper berries, olive powder and shrimp carpaccio. It was delicious.

This main I had for lunch and was a rabbit dish on that day’s special menu. It was very good but as you can see you require an appetite! In any case, the hotel has a gym where the extra calories can be burned off ….

The dessert was called ‘Alfa Paris-Brest’. It was a large puff pastry filled with house-made praline and almonds. Very yummy indeed!

M Club executive lounge

The Alfa includes an outpost of M Club, Marriott’s name for its executive lounges, tucked away on the first floor. It is a small but welcoming space and offers drinks, fruit and snacks during the day.

Breakfast is minimalist but perfect if you just want to grab a mini pastry and a coffee.

If you already had a big lunch then dinner with some cheese, saussison and crudités will be just right.

To get M Club access you will need to book a room which includes it or have Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite or Ambassador Elite status in Marriott Bonvoy.

Conclusion

For me the reinvention of the iconic Hotel Alfa is a success. Although sympathetically restored it feels fresh and modern with the facilities and finishes you would expect from a new-build.

My room was comfortable and I ate very well. The initial misgivings I had about the railway station location were unfounded, with so much investment being poured into the area and excellent (and free) transport links at the front door – although the city centre is an easy walk as well. The staff were very friendly too.

Luxembourg is well served from London with flights from British Airways (Heathrow T3), Luxair (City) and Ryanair (Stansted). Luxair also flies from Manchester and, as we covered last week, will be launching Edinburgh flights next summer. It is the perfect for a long weekend getaway to somewhere a little different or an extended business trip.

For a weekend break in mid August, rooms start at €200 per night, pre paid, or 38,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Prices spike sharply for midweek stays from September when business travel picks up, when you can expect to pay over €400.

The Luxembourg Marriott Alfa website is here.

PS. What did I do in Luxembourg?

Despite its small size Luxembourg is a multicultural metropolis in a place where “France kisses Germany”. In the morning I took part in a guided tour of the city centre. The highlight for me was the cathedral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg whose spires you can see below.

Although the majority of Luxembourg’s fortifications were grinded down in the 19th century to secure Luxembourg’s independence and neutrality there is still enough left to impress, including the many casemates, some of which can be visited. The Luxembourg City Museum is very well done too.

On the culinary front I ate very well in Luxembourg and I can confirm that the saying Luxembourg cuisine is “as good as French and as much as German” is actually true!

I recommend a visit to Lea Linster Delicatessen for a coffee break. Lea Linster is a well known Michelin starred chef and baker, known also for her German TV appearances, and her signature madeleines were possibly the best I ever had!

It is difficult to see in the image above, but between the walls of the former fort and the old town lies the beautiful Pfaffenthal valley. I took the funicular down from Kirchberg, went for a lovely stroll and took the panoramic elevator up to the old town on the other side.

Kirchberg is the modern business district of Luxembourg. The state-of-the-art architecture here has a real wow factor as you can see from the stunning shot above of the Mudam Museum of Modern Art.

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