Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Belgium : Brussels - September 2009

Country Code: Dial for Belgium

September is one of the most creative periods on Brussels’ cultural calendar. Design September (10 September to 2 October, designseptember.be) is a three-week event during which local and international artists showcase their work in exhibitions, private viewings, multimedia projections, workshops and much more. Also worth noting are the heritage days (monument. irisnet.be), when visitors can peak behind historical façades and monuments usually closed to the public. Nina Lamparski finds out what else is hot

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 DE LONDRES

Since its renovation this summer, this charming spot has become a bustling hub of restaurants where Eurocrats, journalists and young entrepreneurs mingle after work.

Sleep soundly – Voluptuous serenity never came cheaper than at the dropdead gorgeous Chambres en Ville (19 Rue de Londres, tel. , chambresenville.be, rooms from €70). Each of the guest rooms here has been decorated with unique pieces of furniture and sumptuous fabrics.

Culture vultures – Leave Europe behind as you stroll down Chaussée de Wavre into the heart of the city’s Matongé district, where you’ll find African food, beauty and clothes stores, as well as numerous little restaurants serving exotic African delicacies such as fried bananas.

Must eat – The fancy and slick Place de Londres resto-bar (13 Place de Londres, tel. ) is set inside a loft-style warehouse and offers fusion food and an international wine list. Whatever main you pick, be sure to finish with naughty Le Salopard chocolate cake. The address also hosts arts expos. For traditionalists, there’s the gorgeous art nouveau L’Ancienne Poissonnerie (65 Rue du Trône, tel. ), an Italian restaurant famous for its fresh pasta and fish dishes. Chou (4 Place de Londres, tel. ), run by French chef Dominique Aubry, serves excellent French cuisine at steep prices.

Must drink – The Grapevine (11 Place du Luxembourg) is a typical Belgian drinking spot selling cheap beer and generous servings of spirits, while Ralph’s Bar (13 Place du Luxembourg) attracts a rather posh crowd (at least that’s what they like to think). For latenight chats and a moody ambience, try cool Phoolan (43 Rue du Luxembourg).

Shop til you drop – Even if you swear by your own hairdresser, it’s worth paying a visit to the funky Kings & Queens (14 Place de Londres). The staff are renowned for their ability to actually listen to customers’ wishes rather than imposing the latest styles. They’re also known to serve the occasional glass of chilled wine…

UCCLE

Home to many well-off diplomats and some of Brussels’ nicest streets, this leafy suburb is known for its serene vibe and pretty boutiques.

Sleep soundly – A closely kept secret, the sumptuous Hotel Manos Premier (100 Chaussée de Charleroi, tel. , manoshotel.com, rooms from €315) is an art lover’s paradise. Check out the hotel’s website for great deals on weekend packages.

Culture vultures – Head to the lovely Musée Van Buuren (41 Avenue Léo Errera), an art-deco house that once belonged to banker and patron David van Buuren. It’s now filled with rare furniture, stained-glass windows and pieces of sculpture.

Must eat – For delicious mezze and grilled Moroccan specialities, book a table at Welcome to Youssef (905 Chaussée de Waterloo, tel. ). Located inside a tiny farmhouse, the funky establishment was designed by Brussels nightlife guru Frédéric Nicolay. It’s perfect for an intimate rendezvous or meal with close friends.

Dance the night away – Hop into a cab and visit the recently opened Wood (3-4 Avenue de Flore), inside the beautiful La Cambre forest. Have dinner first at the restaurant here (tel. ).

Shop til you drop – Unbeknownst to many visitors, who head straight for epic shopping strips such as Avenue Louise, Uccle actually houses some of the best French and Belgian labels around. Just past the massive urban park Bois de la Cambre and only minutes away from Ecole Européenne lies a row of funky designer shops at 950 Chaussée de Waterloo. After visiting legendary Antwerp fashion label Essentiel, pop into Clair de Femme, a boudoir selling jewellery, candles and rare perfumes. Next door is Belgium’s only Maje boutique, a Parisian store selling slinky dresses and beautiful sweaters. A bit further up the road is the store of famous French brand Comptoir des Cotonniers (1310 Chaussée de Waterloo).

GALERIES ROYALES

Dating back to the early 19th century, Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert behind Grand’Place were among Europe’s first covered shopping arcades. Their stunning architecture alone is worth a detour, and they’re a must-visit for bookworms and art lovers.

Sleep soundly – Part of the famous Café de Vaudeville restaurant, the recently opened Vaudeville Chambres d’Hôtes (11 Galerie de la Reine, tel. , chambresdhotesduvaudeville. be, rooms from €115) offers you the opportunity to spend the night inside the arcade in gorgeous art-deco rooms.

Culture vultures – The idea behind the beautiful Galeries Royales Saint- Hubert (Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes), which opened in June 1847, was to cover up a haze of dodgy, ill-lit alleys and provide the bourgeoisie with a prestigious shopping space. Designed by Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer, the building is made up of three parts: Galerie du Roi, Galerie de la Reine and Galerie des Princes. It also hosts one of Brussels’ royal theatres.

Must drink – You can’t visit the galleries without a visit to the illustrious Taverne du Passage (30 Galerie de la Reine), once a favourite hangout of Charles Baudelaire and Victor Hugo. The café is particularly famous for its wine list.

Shop til you drop – Switch off your mobile before entering Tropismes (11 Galerie des Princes), one of the city’s best bookshops, where time is not of the essence. Its smaller sibling, Tropismes L’Appartement (4 Galerie du Roi), specialises in children’s and comic books. Tourists in search for fine leather accessories will go straight to the legendary Delvaux (31 Galerie de la Reine), but locals get their gloves from the less expensive Ganterie Italienne (3 Galerie de la Reine). The current owner inherited the tiny store from his great-grandfather and still uses authentic machines to craft his pieces.

CRUPET

If you have time for a day trip, rent a car, take the E411 (direction Namur), leave at exit 18 and follow the signs to Courrière. From here it’s only a short drive to Crupet, crowned one of Wallonia’s most beautiful villages. Lapped by a pretty river, it’s a breathtaking spot to see during an Indian summer.

Sleep soundly – Only reachable by a small winding road, Le Moulin des Ramiers (31 Basse, Crupet, 02 40, lemoulindesramiers.be, rooms from €125). is a four-star hotel set inside an 18th-century mill. The idyllic countryside provides the perfect backdrop for the romantic rooms featuring traditional baroque furniture. There’s also a beautiful private garden where you can take your breakfast – September weather permitting..

Culture vultures – Tiny Crupet (beauxvillages.be) looks more like a gem in the south of France rather than a Belgian village – think sandstone and whitewashed limestone farmhouses, windmills, salt works, a forge and a brewery. Crupet castle, which is more than 600 years old, is renowned for its beauty and trout farm. The grottoes here were constructed in 1900 by a local abbot, Gerard, and feature a statue of the devil.

Must eat – For an utterly romantic experience, eat at Les Ramiers (32 Rue Basse, 9070) which focuses on fine French cuisine and is set on the edge of a small river.

Compiled by Nina Lamparski