Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Belgium : Brussels - January 2008

Country Code: Dial for Belgium

Wintertime in Brussels is a great time of year – although some of the festive attractions and Christmas markets will have packed up there is more than enough left to occupy visitors. These include the sales which, under Belgian law, are held only once a year, so prepare for some real bargains. If you fancy venturing along the city limits why not take a trip to the wonderful Ardennes which really comes into its own in winter. Martin Banks braves the cold and goes exploring

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.

PLACE BRUGMAN

The lovely Place Brugman is packed with good things, including a cake shop with a small pavement terrace and a flower shop that turns out beautiful bouquets

Sleep soundly – A stay at Best Western County (2-4 Square des Héros, tel. , bestwestern. be, rooms from €93) has a relaxed atmosphere and an elegant setting south of the city centre. Conveniently located 30 minutes from the Brussels International Airport and near Central train station, guests also have easy access to the Museum of Modern and Ancient Art, the Forest National Concert Hall and MonnaieMunt Opera House.

Must eat – The Venice in Les Beaumes de Venise (62 Rue Darwin, tel. ) is not in Italy. It’s on the banks of the Rhone, where two wines are produced but neither of which, like this restaurant, are particularly well known. The menu’s emphasis, meanwhile, is firmly on simple French food.

Shop til you drop – Probably the best kept secret in Brussels, Axl (16 Place Brugman) is a tiny, impeccable shop full of stunning, affordable jewellery. Grey Flannel’s (199 Rue Berkendael) menswear collections are full of fashionable pieces and sophisticated patterns. But what keeps the customers coming back is the clothes’ combination of elegance and wearability.

MA CAMPAGNE

There is precious little green to be found here, but a dense district of shops and restaurants – some stylish, some traditional. This is a district where chefs like to experiment – sometimes producing astonishing results.

Culture vultures – The Horta Museum (23-25 Rue Americaine) has been established in the private house and studio of the famous architect, Victor Horta. Built between 1898 and 1901, the two buildings are a fine example of the Art Nouveau style that Horta became renowned for. The architect’s personal archives and a collection of blueprints for his buildings are open to the public.

Must eat – Raconte-Moi Des Salades (559 Chaussee de Waterloo, tel. ) does pasta, steak and lots of good salads. The sparse decoration verges on whimsical at Sale Pepe Rosmarino (98 Rue Berckmans, tel. ), which perhaps explains why the restaurant appeals to both connoisseurs and fashion mavens alike. When you get bored of eyeing up your neighbour’s haircut, there are delicious thin crust pizzas and luscious plates of pasta steeped in cuttlefish or wild mushroom sauce.

Must drink – Monkey Business’s (30 Rue Defacqz) interior may have been spruced up, but attention remains focused on the bar’s long-established virtues – for this read sport, darts and food. It’s a tried and tested formula that makes the venue a favourite with sports fans.

Shop til you drop – Casse Noisettes (76 Chaussee d’Alsemberg) is spread over two floors, and stacked with hand-puppets, toy theatres, wooden train circuits and board games. The owner also invents toys, and there is even a place to sample the games.

PLACE LUXEMBOURG

The Place du Luxembourg used to be surrounded by melancholy cafés where travellers sat with a Stella waiting for the train to Namur. Now that the European Parliament has arrived in the quarter it’s a very different story – the square is surrounded by bars where EU interns discuss the latest directive.

Sleep soundly – Situated in the heart of the European quarter Hotel Leopold (35 Rue du Luxembourg, tel. , hotel-leopold.be, rooms from €160) has 111 luxurious bedrooms, as well as a sauna and a solarium. It’s also within easy walking distance of the chic Avenue Louise, and is particularly noted for its restaurants, which include the Salon les Anges.

Must eat – Of the city’s many Italian restaurants, Il Pasticcio (3 Rue Marie de Bourgogne, tel. ) is among the best. As a result, it is one of the few places in the area that stays open on occasional evenings. At the much-loved Japanese café Hinodeya (37 Rue Caroly, tel. ) the décor is scuffed and nondescript, but that only adds to the establishment’s unpretentious charm. With a welcoming atmosphere, it feels more like a neighbourhood favourite than a café in the heart of the business district.

Must drink – A relatively new kid on the block, Ralph’s Bar (13 Place du Luxembourg) attracts a young and chic crowd. Located opposite the European Parliament, it’s the perfect place for a warming glass of red wine on a cold winter’s evening.

Shop til you drop – Crush (39 Rue Caroly) is a simple, sober gem of a store with well-designed wine racks that are imported from Australia. The shop’s owner aims to become the first port of call in Europe for anyone after Australian wines.

CINQUANTENAIRE

Despite its rapidly growing popularity, the Cinquantenaire still has a couple of peaceful pockets placed around the edges of the park, such as Place Jourdan and the streets radiating from Merode metro station. This is where to go if you are looking for a decent restaurant or a couple of interesting boutiques.

Sleep soundly – Even though The Montgomery (Avenue de Tervueren, tel. , slh.com, rooms from €120) is only a few minutes from Brussels’ centre, it manages to be secluded enough to offer some much needed respite from the metropolitan dash of the city. It also enjoys a thoroughly deserved reputation as somewhere that serves excellent food, not least in its acclaimed La Duchesse restaurant. And as an added bonus, it’s just 10km from Brussels airport.

Culture vultures – People often forget that the motor car was one of the brightest stars of Belgian industry prior to World War II. The Autoworld (Parc du Cinquantenaire) museum’s metal structure was designed in 1880 and was the venue for Belgium’s motor show from 1902 to 1934. The museum is rightly considered to be one of the most prestigious of its kind in Europe.

Must eat – La Sublime Porte (18 Rue Franklin, tel. ) serves tasty dishes from Turkey, in an attractive town house setting. The format is traditional but the meze dishes are imaginative.

Must drink – If you prefer cosiness to sunshine, cross Avenue de Tervuren to sit down under the tarpaulin at La Terrasse (1 Avenue des Celtes), and sink a jar of Maredsou. The vine-covered outdoor area feels summery all year round, but if a chill does set in, it’s got outdoor heaters.

Dance the night away – Popular night spot Le Strong (155 Rue de la Loire) regularly plays host to some of Belgium’s best DJs. It’s also well known for its gay nights..

Shop til you drop – Beaumonde (22 Avenue des Celtes) is a small store near Merode metro which stocks cashmere sweaters from Ballantyne and ties by artisan Italian labels. Mirror manufacturer Cobelver (44 Rue Gray) is one of the oldest in Brussels. Established in 1922, it produces beautiful stained glass.

Compiled by Nina Lamparski