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Belgium : Brussels - August 2009
Country Code: Dial for BelgiumThe living is easy in Brussels come August. Play Ultimate Frisbee on the urban beach until 23 August, experience electronic poetry inside an ancient abbey (atelierdolcevita. be), watch movies under the stars (driveinmovies.be) or rock out on Grand’Place during the 10-day Brussels Summer Festival (14-23 August). Nina Lamparski enjoys summer in the city
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.
GARE DU MIDI
Once dilapidated and somewhat forgotten, the multicultural artery around the city’s south train station has mushroomed into an investors’ hub, attracting big brand names, new bars and a boho-chic crowd. Come here for the fantastic food market on Sunday mornings.
Sleep soundly – Inspired after a trip to New York, Sven Usé and Erik Verstreken decided to open their home to travellers and create a stunning loftstyle B&B for short overnight stays. Launched five years ago, Le White Room (45 Rue Locquenghien, tel. , lewhiteroom.be, rooms from €60) has since become a hot insider tip for those who like to sojourn in style. The best bit? There are no set check-in or check-out times.
Culture vultures – Top up your tan at the annual Bruxelles les Bains (Place Sainctelette/Rue de la Dyle), when the canal area is transformed into an urban Copacabana until August 23. Catch metro 2 or 6 from Gare du Midi towards Simonis and get off at Yser.
Must eat – Opened earlier this year, the extraordinary brasserie Midi Station (26 Place Victor Horta, tel. ) is the brainchild of famous Belgian interior architect Antoine Pinto. The huge restaurant, which is just across the plaza from the train station itself, seats up to 400 guests and features an oyster bar, super-sized art and a separate VIP area. As the latest hot spot in town, it tends to fill up early, so make sure you book ahead. The menu includes fusion food and the house speciality is meat.
Must drink – Experience a charming slice of old Brussels at Le Laboureur (3 Place de la Constitution), which draws an interesting mix of blue-collar workers, locals, students and travellers. The big corner terrace is anything but quiet owing to the surrounding traffic, but it’s probably one of the best spots in Brussels to have a beer.
RUE VAN ARTEVELDE
Just off the famous Rue Antoine Dansaert fashion strip in downtown Brussels lies this historical gem. Home to eco-stores and designer labels, it’s just a skip away from China Town and Grand’Place – perfect for an afternoon of shopping and culture.
Sleep soundly – To coincide with the recent opening of Musée Magritte, the five-star Royal Windsor Hotel Grand Place (5 Rue Duquesnoy, tel. , royalwindsorbrussels.com) offers a Magritte summer package for €89 per person, which includes a night in a Superior Room, full breakfast and free entrance to the museum. Add an extra €40 and stay in one of the famous Fashion Suites, designed by some of Belgium’s best designers.
Must eat – Often bursting at the seams with punters, Neuf et Voisin (1 Rue Van Artevelde) is a gorgeous establishment serving tasty down-toearth dishes. The atmosphere is jovial and the Argentinean entrecôte to die for. There’s no phone number for reservations, but luckily the waiting times are surprisingly short.
Must drink – The best place to be during hot summer nights is on the lively Place Saint-Géry, where you’ll find plenty of bars with concerts and street entertainment. Le Roi des Belges (35 Rue Jules Van Praet) has a fantastic sunny terrace and non-smoking area. Try the Eddy Merckx cocktail, a refreshing homemade apero with white wine. If it rains, head to the cosy arts café Lord Byron (8 Rue des Chartreux).
Dance the night away – Summer weekends see local DJs spinning house music at the Made in Brussels evenings at Halles Saint-Géry (23 Place Saint-Gery).
Shop til you drop – Valérie Berckman’s new concept store Super Green Me (10 Rue Van Artevelde) sells eco-friendly fashion, cosmetics, underwear and accessories, all in the name of saving the planet. Meanwhile, Norden (46 Rue Van Artevelde) is a mecca for all things Scandinavian, including fashion labels, interior design objects and jewellery. Wine aficionados will find everything from corkscrews to storage solutions at Girbal (127-133 Rue Van Artevelde).
PLACE GEORGES BRUGMANN
This art-deco square is where old money mingles with young dynamic businesses. Nestled in the heart of the residential Uccle neighbourhood, this charming area is surrounded by elegant avenues lined with designer boutiques and delicatessens.
Culture vultures – The square itself is named after Belgian philanthropic financier Georges Brugmann, whose generous investments have provided Brussels with some of its finest streets. Meander along the tree-lined Avenue Molière and Avenue Louis Lepoutre for a trip down memory lane and to marvel at the majestic maisons de maître (high-ceilinged townhouses).
Must eat – Go back to school at Le Bonnet d’Ane (518 Avenue Brugmann, tel. ). This cute-as-pie restaurant is furnished with old school benches and blackboards, and has a sunny terrace at the back. Menus come in the shape of exercise books and there are class photos all over the walls, too. It may be a bit on the pricey side, but it’s worth it. Another original establishment is the eccentric Les Deux Frères (2 Avenue Vanderaey, tel. ). Run by a former maths teacher, the restaurant serves inspired French cooking in a gorgeous theatrical setting.
Dance the night away – Mingle with locals in the pretty back yard of Barabar (862 Chaussée de Waterloo), which has kept night owls happily liquored up for three decades. Get there early to score a comfy reclining chair on the terrace, then climb on a table and party like it’s 2009.
Shop til you drop – After a visit to Belgian couture label Mademoiselle Lucien (90 Rue de la Mutualité), you may well feel the need to write your own confessions of a shopaholic. Bookworms, on the other hand, can find a wealth of great literature at Place Voltaire Librairie (101 Rue de l’Aqueduc). After flexing your credit card, stretch yourself at Yael Pilates & Studios (82 Avenue de Fré), just off Place Brugmann.
SPA
When in Brussels, do as the locals do and head to Spa. A two-hour train ride away (visit b-rail.be for train timetables), it’s one of the most exciting places to visit in Europe this month, as the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix takes place.
Sleep soundly – Check into the beautifully serene La Vigie (129 Avenue Professeur Henrijean, tel. , lavigie.be, rooms from €105, but expect prices to rise during the grand prix). Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it’s decked out with antique furniture and has a gorgeous garden. Hot tip: opt for one of the package deals, from €350, which offer either free entrance to the thermal baths or an in-house massage and champagne.
Culture vultures – Watch the world’s best racing drivers set the track on fire at the incredible Formula One Belgian Grand Prix (28-30 August) at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Last-minute tickets can be purchased from spa-francorchamps.be. Then recover from all the excitement in the alkaline- and iron-infused mineral springs at Thermes de Spa (Colline d’Annette et Lubin), and finish the day with an evening walk around Lac de Warfa.
Must eat – Housed inside a former cinema, Le Lido de Spa (3 Rue Albin Body, 1720) mixes Belgo- French cooking at very democratic prices with live entertainment such as cabaret shows and concerts – it’s fun but not tacky.
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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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