Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Belgium : Brussels - February 2010

Country Code: Dial for Belgium

In February, lovers can hop on a tandem bicycle (provelo.be) and visit some of Brussels’ most romantic vista points. If you’re in a less intimate mood, catch Tokio Hotel playing at Forest National (forestnational.be), or the El Greco exhibition at the Bozar (bozar.be). As Nina Lamparski discovers, there’s no such thing as boredom in this 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.

RUE DES MINIMES

Art galleries and restaurants rub shoulders on this pretty street, which links the pompous Justice Palace to the Sablon Square and was once inhabited by former mayor Jules Anspach. Come here if you want to experience Brussels from a more unconventional angle – without suffering people overload.

Culture vultures – Stretched across three floors, the intriguing Jewish Museum of Belgium (21 Rue des Minimes) showcases rare religious objects from the 16th century, as well as documents illustrating traditional Jewish home life. Until 21 February it also features an exhibition of the works of painter Arno Stern. The Schana B. Gallery (7 Rue des Minimes), meanwhile, is the permanent home of seven glass sculptures by artist Corneille, co-founder of the CoBrA movement launched in 1948. And don’t miss the amazing Huelgas Ensemble & Bl!ndman concert inside the beautiful Minimes church (62 Rue des Minimes) on 10 February.

Must eat – Cheap and fresh, sushi at the L’Herbe Rouge (34 Rue des Minimes, tel. ) is among the best in downtown Brussels. For something more substantial, try L’Arrière-Pays (60 Rue des Minimes, tel. ), which serves hearty Belgo-French fare. A highlight is the chicory gratin with ham – a must unless you’re not a fan of the herb’s slightly bitter taste.

Must drink – Neither slick nor fancy, Chez Richard (2 Rue des Minimes) is the Sablon’s legendary ‘local’. This ain’t a joint for posh cocktails: people come here to sip Ricard, eat a few oysters, tell jokes and make peace with the world. Hot tip: come here on a Friday night around 11pm to get drunk with old-school Brusseleirs.

Shop til you drop – There are a wealth of antique vendors here. For ancient artefacts, visit Gallery Drees Archeo (22 Rue des Minimes), specialising in Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations.

MANNEKEN PIS

Use Brussels’ infamous landmark of the silly peeing boy as a starting point to get away from the Grand’Place and its tourist traps. Forget lace and chocolate – the capital’s true essence unravels in narrow alleys where underground and mainstream styles collide.

Sleep soundly – Its amenities might not be the most modern, but no other hotel in Brussels can offer the views you’ll enjoy at the Saint Michel (15 Grand’Place, tel. , atgp.be, rates for rooms with Grand’Place view from €105). Set right on the Grand’Place, certain rooms look directly over the stunning square. But make sure you ask, or you could find yourself faced with bleak house fronts on the other side of the building.

Must eat – The charming corner bistro Les Gens Qui s’Aiment (corner Rue du Midi/ Rue de Lombard, no booking) is perfect for an intimate but laid-back Valentine’s date, especially given that its name translates as ‘the people who love each other’.

Must drink – Easy to miss in passing, Nüetnigenough (25 Rue du Lombard) is simply too good a place to not be shared with fellow bar flies. A bit art nouveau, a bit Bauhaus, a bit 1940s, this curious modern-day brasserie celebrates an insatiable lust for the good life. From monk beers to proper Italian espresso, everything tastes better here. Open every day till late, the address also has soups and tapas. A serious favourite.

Dance the night away – Pull your loved one close and carve up the dance floor to Cuban rhythms at Montecristo (25 Rue Henri Maus). Saturday nights can be jam-packed and a great laugh, if you’re not scared of human contact. Alternatively, Café Central (14 Borgval) has a solid DJ line-up playing soul and electro house – visit lecafecentral.com to find on what’s on now.

Shop til you drop – So hip it hurts, the fashion at Matinée (11 Rue du Lombard) targets urbanists who care about how they look without caring what others think. The winter collection includes red ankle boots, thick mohair scarves, Miss Sixty jeans and Desigual diaries. Hard up? Run to the second-hand clothes store at 64 Rue du Midi for original 1950s stuff. There’s no sign above the door but the display window features a wall covered in black and white photographs. Record fans, meanwhile, will want to take a spin to the Arlequin record store (7 Rue du Chêne). The facade’s graffiti features music icons such as Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Dylan.

MOLENBEEK-SAINT-JEAN

A short hop across Brussels’ canal, this multicultural neighbourhood has become a hotspot for contemporary cultural events, cheap exotic food and some of the best furniture stores to be found in Brussels.

Sleep soundly – Sensual, playful and simply gorgeous, boutique hotel Café Pacific (57 Rue Antoine Dansaert, tel. , hotelcafepacific.com, rates from €119) is the perfect Valentine’s hideaway. Located just across the canal, it features 13 themed rooms decorated by designer Valérie Barkowski. While the Deluxe Room lures with a naked woman’s body floating across the wall, the Duplex offers a more minimalist approach and has a fantastic bath.

Culture vultures – Rivalling the underground arts culture of Berlin, the Event Brewery (58 Rue Delaunoy) is one of the city’s best kept secrets. Once an old bottling plant, the huge building now hosts contemporary theatre groups, a film school, music production companies and the insanely talented designer collective Addictlab. Call or email info@event brewery.com to visit. Also nearby is the superb Kaaitheater (20 Place Sainctelette), showcasing innovative theatre, dance and concerts.

Must eat – Renowned for its warm atmosphere, good service and yummy food, the New Queue de Vache (198 Rue Osseghem, tel. ) is a master of traditional Belgian cooking. Those who prefer a great piece of meat over glamorous décor will love it.

Dance the night away – Although you need to get a cab to get there, the parties at Recyclart (21 Rue des Ursulines) are among the best in town. While the warehouse is not an official club per se, the venue hosts weekly events open to the general public. Visit recyclart.be to see what’s on in February.

Shop til you drop – A visit on a Sunday to the street market on Rue de Brabant is a fun and vibrant affair. The whole area turns into a noisy, bustling bazaar where you can buy anything from silk underwear and handbags to make-up, brooms and DVDs. Be sure to try the delicious Moroccan deserts on offer.

WOLUWE-SAINT-LAMBERT

Although the general vibe is a tad posh and ‘suburban’, this commune also claims one of Brussels’ best swimming pools, great shopping and a unique bookstore. Grab a metro in central Brussels and, after a 10-minute ride, get off at the Tomberg stop.

Culture vultures – Seek shelter from the howling wind inside the heated pools of the Poseidon swimming complex (2 Avenue des Vaillants), which boasts Jacuzzis, a ‘water playground’ for toddlers and a solarium. By the way, the same building also hosts an ice rink.

Must eat – Food and literature are combined in most unexpected ways at Cook & Book (251 Avenue Paul Hymans, tel. ). This concept restaurant, launched in 2006, features outrageously decorated library spaces dedicated to different themes, such as travel, music, art de vivre or comics. Browse through books while you indulge in some delicious Italian food.

Dance the night away – Don a glam outfit and grab a cab to the recently opened Martini Spirito Bar (18 Rue Stassart), located inside a converted church. The latest hotspot in town, it attracts the city’s beautiful people – expect to rub shoulders with PR girls and media professionals.

Shop til you drop – With more than 130 stores, the Woluwe Shopping Centre (200 Rue Saint-Lambert) is a retail paradise. Alongside the usual suspects such as fashion stores Zara and Petit Bateau or furniture haven Habitat, you’ll also find underwear label Princess Tam Tam and shoe mecca 1001 Pattes.

Compiled by Nina Lamparski