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Belgium : Brussels - October 2007
Country Code: Dial for BelgiumThe capital of Belgium and the European Union, Brussels is a lively place with a bustling, cosmopolitan feel. Although it’s not as celebrated as Paris, this town of about one million residents offers all the cultural advantages of a much bigger city, as well as some of Europe’s finest cuisine. Renée Cordes offers insider tips on what to see and do
Getting around
Brussels Airport
Bus: The No 12 bus runs every 30 minutes between the airport and Rond-Point Schuman. The journey takes about 30 minutes. A oneway ticket costs €3.
Train: Trains from the airport run every 20 minutes at peak times. The journey takes 15 minutes and trains go to Brussels’ three mainline stations. Tickets cost approximately €2,80
Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the city centre will cost around €25-35. The journey should take about 25 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office can be found on Grand’Place in the city centre (tel. , www.brussels.
L’Îlot Sacré
Just north of the Grand’Place is a cluster of bustling, pedestrian-friendly streets known as the Îlot Sacré (the ‘sacred islet’) – perfect for absorbing Brussels’ unique atmosphere.
Culture vultures – Named for Brussels’ patron saints, the Saint Michel and Sainte Gudule Cathedral (Parvis SainteGudule) is a Brabant Gothic masterpiece and the site of Belgian royal weddings.
Must eat – For lunch, enjoy an elegant salad – or a cone of frîtes if you’re not on a diet – at Café du Vaudeville (11 Galerie de la Reine, tel. ). Dinner is always a treat at the lively Aux Armes de Bruxelles (13 Rue des Bouchers, tel. ), which specialises in hearty Belgian classics. Ask for one of the booths in the front room when booking.
Must drink – For a real dose of local culture, quaff a Belgian brew in the cramped-but-cosy bar of the Théâtre Royal de Toone (6 Petite Rue des Bouchers), a family-run marionette theatre which also stages occasional performances in English.
Dance the night away – Jazz fans will love the all-red Athanor Studio (17-19 Rue de la Fourche). Located inside the Arlequin Hotel, it stays open until the small hours.
Shop til you drop – Stock up on chocolates, designer hats, Delvaux luggage and other goodies at the chi-chi Galeries Royales de Saint-Hubert. Europe’s oldest covered shopping gallery, it dates from the mid 19th century. The Grasshopper (39-43 Rue Marché aux Herbes) is a treasure trove of cuddly animals, games and other unique toys. Head back to the Grand’Place for fine chocolates at Neuhaus (27 Grand’Place), which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary this October.
Le Châtelain
Strategically located between the upmarket Avenue Louise and the lively Chaussée de Charleroi, the Châtelain neighbourhood is bursting with unique shops, cafés and restaurants.
Sleep soundly – (17 Rue du Châtelain, tel. , le-chatelain.net, rooms from €200) combines modern comforts with personal service. Unwind at the top-floor fitness centre or just take a cup of tea on the terrace.
Culture vultures – Architecture aficionados shouldn’t miss the Musée Horta (25 Rue Américaine), in what was the home and studio of art nouveau master Victor Horta.
Must eat – Breakfast is always pleasant at Le Passiflore (97 Rue du Bailli, tel. ), a cheerful corner café where customers often linger long after finishing a plate of eggs or fruit. For dinner, Parachute Parc (151-153 Rue Washington, tel. ) is a trendy wine bar/restaurant where you can enjoy fine wine and innovative food (prepared by chef Gaëtan de Couve) in romantic, candlelit surroundings.
Shop til you drop – Stock up on gourmet delights at the open-air market held on Wednesday afternoons and evenings on the Place de Châtelain. Mais Il Est Ou Le Soleil? (48 Place du Châtelain), which also has a shop in Antwerp, sells chic yet affordable women’s clothes, as does Blackberry (1 Parvis de la Trinité). Get discounted designer clothes at DOD (64, 86, and 89-91 Rue de Bailli) which has outlets for men, women and children. Pick up a handcrafted bag or jewellery at l’Atelier (99 Rue de l’Aqueduc) and gifts at Rose (56-58 Rue de l’Aqueduc). Eva Luna (41 Rue du Bailli) sells the most exquisite lingerie.
Jette and Koekelberg
Located in north-western Brussels, near the city centre, Jette and Koekelberg are a bit off the beaten path but do have gems worth visiting.
Sleep soundly – Feel right at home at Bed & Breakfast 76 (76 Avenue Seghers, tel. , 76.be, rooms from €75), a pleasant bed and breakfast in a lovely maison du maître on a quiet street near the Koekelberg.
Culture vultures – The massive Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Koekelberg is an interesting mix of architectural styles as a result of start-and-stop construction finished in the late 1960s. Fans of surrealist painter René Magritte will love the Magritte Museum (135 Rue Esseghem), housed in the building where he lived and worked for more than two decades.
Must eat – If money is no object, celebrate a special occasion at Bruneau (73-75 Avenue Broustin, tel. ). Jean-Pierre Bruneau’s temple of haute cuisine is in Ganshoren, but it’s an easy walk from the Koekelberg.
Shop til you drop – Jette’s Quartier du Miroir (the ‘mirrors quarter’) is full of stores. One of the city’s largest markets is held here every Sunday.
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
Located near Brussels’ European quarter, the bourgeois communes of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert offer respite from the fast-paced city centre.
Culture vultures – Take a breather at one of several parks, including the appropriately named Parc du Woluwe, which has no less than 180 species of trees and lots of winding paths, and the Parc des Sources, whose lake is a refuge for herons and kingfishers.
Must eat – (1 Place du Temps-Libre, tel. ) is a cluster of bookshops and restaurants that are open daily. It’s adjacent to the Wolubilis Performing Arts Complex, which is just outside the Roodebeek metro station. Dinner at Phenicia (155 Avenue des Cerisiers, tel. ), a delightful family-run Lebanese restaurant, feels almost as if you’re in someone’s home. Le Coq en Pâte (259 Tomberg, tel. ), one of few eateries open on Sundays, serves simple but elegant French, Mediterranean and Italian food.
Shop til you drop – You’ll be able to find pretty much anything at the Woluwe Shopping Centre, and it’s often much more pleasant and less crowded than shopping in town.
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Previous issues for Brussels
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| Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please confirm event/venue details in advance. |
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