Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Belgium : Brussels - March 2008

Country Code: Dial for Belgium

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.

CITY CENTRE

Brussels’ compact centre is a good place from which to start exploring the city. Begin at the Grand’Place – one of Europe’s most imposing town squares – and work your way outwards. And, of course, don’t forget to stop for a Belgian beer or two along the way.

Sleep soundly – All clean lines, pale drapes and splashes of bold colour, The White Hotel is one of Brussels’ sleekest new boltholes. Check out the vast rooms – the last word in utilitarian chic.

Culture vultures – There’s so much to see here. Don’t miss the legendary bronze Manneken Pis statue (follow the signs from the Grand’Place), the 11th-century Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule (Treurenberg Hill), the Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Tower (44 Avenue Van Praet) and the imposing Place Royale (Coudenberg).

Must eat – Rouge Tomate (190 Avenue Louise, tel. ) is an elegant restaurant offering good Belgian food and delicious juices.

Must drink – Délirium Café (4a Impasse de la Fidélité) is possibly the best bar in Brussels. It stocks more than 2,000 different beers from around the world, including some of Belgium’s best Trappist varieties. Across the alleyway is Floris Bar (12 Impasse de la Fidélité). Try its Apple Floris beer. Both bars stay open until the early hours.

Dance the night away – By day, Le Corbeau (18 Rue St-Michel) is a popular brasserie. By night, it’s transformed into a packed-to-the-rafters nightclub. Head here around midnight on Fridays and Saturdays for contemporary tunes with a couple of old favourites thrown in for good measure.

Shop til you drop – The best shopping can be found on Avenue Louise and Boulevard de Waterloo. Avenue Louise is lined with grand townhouses and home to designers such as Natan Couture (no.158). Nearby Boulevard de Waterloo is equally upmarket. Here you can find some of fashion’s biggest names, including Gucci (no.49), Chanel (no.63), Christian Dior (no.61), Hermes (no.50), Louis Vuitton (no.59), Hugo Boss (no.43), Versace (nos.63-64) and Ralph Lauren (no.52).

DANSAERT

The ultimate fashion maven’s haunt, this district is home to some of the city’s most avant-garde designers. Dansaert is also the nerve centre of Brussels’ creative life, and offers a cultural and culinary experience to rival any other European capital.

Sleep soundly – Hotel Orts is a classy boutique hotel decked out in muted shades of grey and beige.

Culture vultures – On nearby Rue des Chartreux, the adorable tea room AM Sweet (4 Rue des Chartreux) sells typical Belgian specialities, including designer chocolates. While you’re in the area, be sure to take a look at the lace at Musée du Costume et de la Dentelle (12 Rue de la Violette).

Must eat – For excellent Mediterranean food, try Bonsoir Clara (22 Rue Antoine Dansaert, tel. ), which pulls in a vibrant arty crowd.

Must drink – Start your evening at Archiduc (6 Rue Antoine Dansaert) for live jazz in an art deco setting. The bar is frequented by famous musicians, and impromptu jam sessions aren’t that unusual.

Dance the night away – If you’re serious about dancing, head to Los Romanticos (5-7 Quai au Bois à Brûler), an energetic salsa bar and nightclub serving a good selection of cocktails.

Shop til you drop – Rue Antoine Dansaert is high-end clothing heaven, with boutiques crammed into every conceivable space. Check out the elegant collections at Annemie Verbeke (no.64), vintage at Idiz Bogam (no.76) and Nicolas Woit (no.80), and numerous designers at Sonja Noël (no.74). As the name suggests, Hatshoe (no.89) stocks designer shoes, while Natan XIII (no.101) is a new concept store selling gorgeous fashion accessories.

SAINT-JACQUES

This district is best described as lively and spontaneous. Murals fill the district with colour, and the streets throng with collectors and street vendors sparring good-naturedly. There’s a little of everything here: high fashion and vintage clothing, sophisticated gadgets and secondhand books, comic strips and music all comfortably co-exist.

Sleep soundly – Hôtel D’Alcantara is an intimate little hotel, with gorgeous decor and a distinct boutique feel.

Culture vultures – Fans of bande dessinée (comic strips) should head to Boulevard Anspach and Rue du Midi for the best albums and accessories. If you’re in the area, a trip to Arlequin (7 Rue du Chêne) is a must – the shop is a monument to music. Make time to visit La Maison de la Bande Dessinée (1 Boulevard de l’Impératrice) and Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée (20 Rue des Sables).

Must eat – In’t Spinnekopke (1 Place Jardin aux Fleurs, tel. ) pulls in a lively local crowd. Make sure you try the excellent mussel casserole.

Must drink – For the traveller seeking something new, there’s Le Cercle des Voyageurs (18 Rue des Grands Carmes), part tearoom, part tourist office.

Dance the night away – Latino club Canoa Quebrada (53 Rue Marché au Charbon) has a lively atmosphere and really starts heating up after midnight.

Shop til you drop – Start at Place de la Vieille Halle aux Blés and work your way down. Be sure to take in Emery & Cie (27 Rue de l’Hôpital), as well as quirky little shops such as Rosalie Pompon (1 Rue de l’Hôpital) for curios and collectables – look for the sweet little porcelain cows here. For clothes on the cutting edge of fashion, try Privé Joke (76-78 Rue Marché au Charbon) or Mr Ego (29 Rue des Pierres). For more sophisticated garments, go to Putiikki (9 Rue de l’Hôpital). There are also some great vintage clothing boutiques in the area. One such store is Bernard Gavilan (27 Rue des Pierres), which specialises in items from the 50s and 60s. Otherwise, there’s Ramon & Valy (19 Rue des Teinturiers), a real gem – especially if you’re looking for big names such as Courrèges or Chanel.

IXELLES

Situated to the south of the city, Ixelles is bisected by Avenue Louise and bordered by the woodland districts close to Bois de la Cambre.

Sleep soundly – The five-star Renaissance Brussels Hotel does a nice line in laidback elegance.

Culture vultures – The ambience of Ixelles is intoxicating. Colourful stalls line Chaussée d’Ixelles – or take a detour to witness the fading elegance of the exciting Congolese district. Go for a walk through the market stalls that sell African fruit and vegetables and textiles inspired by Javanese batik.

Must eat – Volle Gas (21 Place Fernand Cocq, tel. ) does great Belgian cuisine – try traditional dishes such as the delicious rabbit cooked in beer.

Must drink – The Guru Bar (8 Chaussée de Boondael) is always good for a spot of weekend drinking.

Dance the night away – Jeux d’Hiver (1 Chemin du Croquet) is an ever-popular yuppie nightclub with a huge terrace area. If it’s glamour you want, head to the often star-studded Louise Gallery (Avenue Louise).

Shop til you drop – You’ll find design store Nina Meert (1 Rue Saint-Boniface) and nearby Cocoon (41 Rue de la Paix) in the heart of the art nouveau district, across from St Boniface church.

Compiled by Cindy-Lou Dale