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Belgium : Brussels - May 2009

Country Code: Dial for Belgium

May kicks off the festival season in Brussels. Get carried away as the capital’s streets fill with musicians and acrobats during Iris weekend (9-10 May), listen to live jazz inside the Brussels parliament or mingle with the world’s best creative minds as they hit town for the month-long Festival of the Arts (until 23 May). Nina Lamparski soaks up a bit of culture

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.

BOURSE

The area around the stock market is a vibrant hive of cafés, designer boutiques and concert venues.

Sleep soundly – The luxurious Brussels Marriott Hotel (3-7 Rue Auguste Orts, tel. , marriott.com, rates from €129) is just minutes away from Grand’Place and surrounded by bars and restaurants. For those in search of something more intimate, The Phileas Fogg (6 Rue Van Bemmel, tel. , phileasfogg.be, rates from €140) is a lovely boutique hotel with themed rooms.

Culture vultures – From 9-10 May, the city erupts for Fête de l’Iris (fetedeliris. be), which includes live music, street entertainment and an open day at the Brussels parliament, with live jazz on the premises.

Must eat – Lovers of French cuisine should head to Bonsoir Clara (22-26 Rue Antoine Dansaert, tel. ), famous for its original colouredpanel light installation. Au Suisse (73 Boulevard Anspach) does the best sandwiches in town, while retro fans will love the interior of Italian eatery Kika (177 Boulevard Anspach, tel. ).

Must drink – Place Saint-Géry and its many cafés are bursting with crowds and live music during summer. Some of the best bars with outdoor terraces are Zebra (33 Place Saint-Géry), PP (28 Rue Jules Van Praet) and Halles Saint-Géry (23 Place Saint-Géry).

Dance the night away – Le Corbeau (18 Rue Saint-Michel) is a great party place, where people dance on tables. Don’t be scared of the bouncer who seems to fill the entire doorway. Or catch Lily Allen at Ancienne Belgique (110 Boulevard Anspach) on 8 May. See abconcerts.be for details.

Shop til you drop – Visit the boutique of high-end brand I.K.K.S (29 Rue Antoine Dansaert), then redress the balance at second-hand shop Foxhole (4 Rue des Riches-Claires), which sells cool heels and leather jackets. Vinyl heads should make their way to The Collector (26 Rue de la Bourse).

WATERMAEL-BOITSFORT

Hidden behind the university quarter, this leafy municipality epitomises l’art de vivre. It’s perfect for a day trip when you want to enjoy peace and quiet without leaving the city.

Culture vultures – Admire the cherry blossoms outside the cottages of Le Logis and Floréal (both on Boulevard du Souverain), two early 20th-century English-style garden-city estates. Le Vénerie cultural centre (Espace Delvaux, 3 Rue Gratès) is renowned for its outstanding arts shows and exhibitions. Visit lavenerie.be to find out what’s on in May.

Must eat – On Sundays, indulge in a gourmet breakfast at the lovely market on Place Wiener, which runs from 8am to 1pm, where you’ll also find fresh flowers, fabrics and cute deco items. For a lunch, try Les Pêcheries (97 Rue des Pêcheries, tel. ) next to a pond inside Héronnière eco-park.

Must drink – The area is home to many great wine cellars. Tout est Vin (60 Rue Middelbourg), set in an old bakery, specialises in French drops from the Vallée du Rhône and also does some fine cheeses.

Dance the night away – Sometimes the best parties happen outside the city centre. Sip sundowners and blame it on the boogie at cocktail bar-cumclub Countabalet (182 Chaussée de la Hulpe).

Shop til you drop – Stop at L’Atelier de Gepetto (58 Rue Middelbourg), a gorgeous children’s store selling toys and gifts mostly made in wood.

SCHUMAN

Featuring a mix of skyscrapers and residential townhouses, Schuman is home to the European Commission’s infamous Berlaymont complex. On the upside, there’s also a beautiful park. Come here to see what Europe’s bureaucratic heart looks like and for nightly entertainment.

Sleep soundly – Spend the night in style at the four-star Hotel Silken Berlaymont Brussels (11-19 Boulevard Charlemagne, tel. , hoteles-silken.com, rooms from €89), four metro stops from Grand’Place. A favourite with EU officials and airline crews, the address combines effortless sophistication with artful design. Make sure to have a drink at the hotel bar, where customers often break out in song after one too many cocktails.

Culture vultures – Square Ambiorix has several gorgeous examples of art nouveau architecture, including Maison Saint-Cyr (11 Square Ambiorix), built by a student of the famous architect Victor Horta, and Maison des Quakers (50 Square Ambiorix). Stroll through the superb Parc du Cinquantenaire and admire its beautiful triumphal arch.

Must eat – Wake up slowly at Mi-Figue Mi-Raisin (71 Rue Archimède), a cute café-bakery serving sweet pastries and coffee. There are many good Italian restaurants around, but carnivores should head straight to Meet Meat (124 Rue Stevin, tel. ), a fantastic steak place in a slick modern setting with a beautiful back yard. Try the filet – it melts like butter.

Must drink – A short skip from the Commission lies Rue Archimède, dotted with pubs. Victorian-style The Hairy Canary (12 Rue Archimède) is arguably the nicest looking, while Coolock (55 Rue Archimède) attracts sports fans and has a big garden. Night owls finish their evenings at James Joyce (34 Rue Archimède).

Shop til you drop – Browse through great literature while sipping Italian wine at Piola Libri (66-68 Rue Franklin), a cute international book store that also serves little snacks.

PLACE DU CHÂTELAIN

This square is Brussels’ commercial and culinary epicentre. If you’ve got money to burn and people to impress, take them to this neighbourhood. From designer boutiques and exclusive spas to plush wine bars and slick party hotspots, it’s a safe choice for business lunches, afternoon shopping and late-night extravaganzas.

Sleep soundly – Find maximum comfort and cutting-edge decor at The White Hotel (212 Avenue Louise, tel. , thewhitehotel.be, rooms from €85). Every room’s interior has been created by a different young Belgian designer, making each one unique.

Culture vultures – Catch a few performances at the city’s Festival des Arts (until 23 May), which brings together the best of the local and international arts scene at various venues around Brussels. See kfda.be for more details.

Must eat – You have to eat at Raconte-moi des Salades (19 Place du Châtelain, tel. ). The restaurant is famous for its deluxe salad creations and beautiful garden, perfect for a lovely summer dinner. The goat’s cheese and honey salad with pine nuts is divine. Meanwhile, Ô-Chinoise-riz (94 Rue de l’Aqueduc, tel. ) serves Chinese food at cheap prices. The spicy chicken on a sizzling hot plate is a must.

Must drink – For a modern take on wine tasting, visit Oeno TK (31 Rue Africaine).

Dance the night away – A definite itplace at the moment, Louise Gallery Night Club (Level -1 Galerie Louise, Avenue Louise) is a beehive of young and beautiful socialites. Don’t arrive after midnight, though, or expect to queue for at least half an hour. Thirtysomethings get elegantly wasted at Beli Bar (33 Place du Châtelain).

Shop til you drop – Find Gucci and Miu Miu designer heels for bargain prices at Chez Degriff (47 Rue Simonis), where hundreds of pairs are stacked up in white boxes. Don’t come here on a Saturday afternoon, though, unless you want to lose your sanity. Belgian label Mais il est Où le Soleil (38 Place du Châtelain) is currently one of the hottest on the market.

Compiled by Nina Lamparski