Hosted by Studio Simons

Where Hasselt's Design Culture and Hospitality Overlap

Hasselt has spent the better part of two decades repositioning itself as a credible destination for design-conscious visitors, and Maastrichterstraat, one of the city's main commercial arteries, reflects that shift more directly than almost any other street. The address at number 80, home to Hosted by Studio Simons, is a restaurant in Hasselt serving Modern Belgian Fine Dining at the €€€ price tier. Approaching on foot from the city centre, the building signals an experience shaped by atmosphere and presentation.

Studio Simons belongs to the second category.

The Sensory Register of Maastrichterstraat 80

In cities like Hasselt, where the built environment mixes Flemish townhouse scale with mid-century commercial blocks, interior design does a significant amount of work in signalling what a space is for. At Studio Simons, the name itself is instructive: the word "studio" carries a set of associations, light, process, materiality, deliberate composition, that a bar or restaurant name would not. The atmosphere is calm and design-led.

Belgium has a long tradition of spaces that sit at the intersection of creative practice and hospitality, from the design-integrated interiors of high-end restaurants like Zilte in Antwerp to the material intelligence evident at Boury in Roeselare. Studio Simons emphasizes the hosted format itself.

Hasselt's Broader Dining and Creative Scene

The city's restaurant scene has matured considerably, with addresses like JER and Ogst anchoring the modern cuisine end of the spectrum at the €€€ tier, while 't Genoegen and Arlecchino represent different registers of the city's eating-out culture. For chocolate and artisan product, ArtChoc has established itself as a reference point.

Bozar Restaurant has long demonstrated how cultural institution and hospitality can coexist productively, or in the Flemish countryside, where addresses like Hof van Cleve in Kruishoutem and Willem Hiele in Oudenburg have shown that singular vision and a strong sense of place can build a destination out of an unlikely address. Studio Simons operates with different resources and at a different scale, but the underlying logic, that a carefully considered environment can justify a specific kind of visit, is shared.

Further afield, venues like Bartholomeus in Heist, Castor in Beveren, d'Eugénie à Emilie in Baudour, De Jonkman in Sint-Kruis, and L'air du temps in Liernu illustrate how Belgium's broader hospitality culture rewards specificity, venues that know exactly what they are tend to outlast those that try to cover more ground than their format supports. Studio Simons, with its tight address and clearly signalled identity, follows that same logic. Le Bernardin in New York City and Atomix in New York City demonstrate how format discipline and environmental intentionality translate into sustained recognition.

Planning a Visit

Maastrichterstraat 80 is within walking distance of Hasselt's central train station, which connects to Brussels, Liège, and Antwerp with direct services. The address is direct to reach on foot from the station, making it viable as part of a day visit to the city without requiring a car. Reservations are essential.