Hotel is centrally located. Yes there is extensive construction & some areas that are a bit smelly but in London - this is common for alot of stations so it's not unique to Brussels Midi/Zuid. As a female didnt find the area sketchy. I think some people have confused sketchy with the demography.
Walk is 5 - 7 mins (TIP closest exit Haagen Daaz / Pokawa one, through bus station cross over a couple of roads, then turn right where the Espace market is).
Hotel itself is mostly fine. 25 min walk to the more famous downtown area with Manneken, Grand Palace etc.
Had a couple of weird instances though -
1. Had Do Not Disturb sign on the door. Called at 1045am after my 1st night saying they wanted to clean room. Queried the call as had DND & also was only there for 2 nights. First time I've been disturbed after DND on door.
2. On arrival at 12.45pm, told "NO rooms were ready, check in is at 2pm". Asked her to confirm absolutely NO rooms were available & she confirmed this. Advised that my friend had checked in at 11.15am (90 mins ago). She then proceeded to quiz me about my friend - room no, name. Once confirmed that I wasnt lying (WTH?!) she suddenly found a room & let me check in. Only difference between me & friend is our backgrounds. All other members of staff were pleasant but one lady needs a refresh on her customer service training. It's one thing to say "check in is at 2" & you apply that universally but she lied to my face & backtracked when I called her bluff. Odd!