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An Autumn Weekend in Brussels

Planning a weekend escape to Brussels? This beautiful city is an easy hop on the Eurostar from London and a favourite city break. It’s a place of breathtaking architecture and fascinating history. Here are my top suggestions for a weekend break from a sibling duo whose priorities lay firmly in the realms of food, culture and relaxation.

First of all, it’s Bruxelles to the locals (a very popular WiFi password in the centre of the city as well!) and it’s best to arrive in style. Take with you comfy tennis shoes and moccasins or driving shoes, as the streets are cobbled and sadly not conducive to heels. Bring shirts, jeans and versatile dresses to second-guess the European weather and always try to channel that wonderful effortless chic. Headphones, sunglasses and a book for reading in the many parks will also help to get your trip off to a flying start.

Sleep

Stay at the gorgeous five-star Hotel Metropole. This place has old-school glamour written all over it. Enter into a treasure-trove of baroque wallpaper and architecture and take the vintage, clear-glass elevator up to your room. We were welcomed with a complimentary bottle of wine and a hand written note, a lovely personal touch. Our baroque balcony and the chandelier above our beds were simply magical – and the birds-eye view of the plaza certainly helped.

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Waffles

Belgian waffles are internationally renowned for their quality, and I can’t say we were disappointed. Get them from local vendors with classic favorite toppings – strawberries, bananas, nutella, cherries, pears, cream and anything else you can imagine. I would highly recommend the small crispy waffles sold at the Elisabeth stores in the Central Grand Place area to keep in your bag and nibble on as you walk through the town.

 

Mussels


When they’re in season, they’re spectacular. Moules Frites is a national dish and there are about 10 different varieties of dishes with them in, so be sure to try at least one. Chez Leon is a top spot! Mussels are prepared in a pot, à la plancha, or in foil, and although it is in the top list, it has become somewhat of a tourist spot. Next up, try Le Zinneke which remains one of the best restaurants in Belgium, with typical local dishes and is completely transparent on the origins of the meat, fish and ingredients it uses. Le Zinneke is known to not only serve organic food but also respect the slow food movement. When mussels are in-season, the restaurant offers a daily supply of fresh shellfish from Zeeland, and prides itself on preparing mussels in 69 ways. If visiting during the summer, guests should ask to sit on the cozy terrace. If you want stylish dining, head to La Quincaillerie, in the expat-dominated area around Place Chatelain.

Chutney’s


Chutney’s
at the Warwick Hotel was our favorite restaurant of the trip (so brilliant that we actually went twice!) Demonstrating effortless class in its menu, it has the most divine chèvre salad and a salmon with a broccoli puree that is worth the visit. But, if you’re looking for something a little more casual, try the pizza at Drug Opera. Just be sure to order the sauce on the side if you go for the salad, as they are not so good on salad dressing measurements!

Reservations by phone: +32 2 505 53 00

Drink

#1 Delirium is the best place to try flights of beers with over 3000 varieties. It’s famous within the city for its high-quality range Belgium beer and for good reason; there are so many to choose from, you could spend your whole holiday sampling in this bar.

#2 Le Roy d’Espagne lets you enjoy some al fresco wining and dining with their beautiful terrace, or sit inside what is one of the grand old guildhouses of the Grand Place and take in the glory of the historic setting, while sipping a fine Belgian beer. The former headquarters of the Guild of Bakers, dating from 1697, takes its name from Charles II of Spain, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands at the time.

#3 L’Archiduc – A lively place for an evening drink and some live jazz piano, this spot is just north of the Grand Place which is famed for its cutting-edge fashion boutiques. A cool Art Deco spot, its a good place to drop by on Saturday after 5pm for “Jazz after Shopping”.

#4 A La Mort Subite – Ok, with a name like “Sudden Death”, you may be put off from the cocktails, but it in fact refers to a dice game played by clients of an earlier bar. Built in 1928 with a grandeur reminiscent of the Belle Époque, this is a good place to sample a full range of Brussels and Belgian beers, as well as wines, coffee and “petite restauration” (bar snacks and light meals).

See

Grand Place, Brussels

Grand Place, Brussels

Must-sees in this city include Atomium, Mannequin Pis, the Grand Place (the Central Square in Brussels) and at least one if not more of the perfectly presented parks. The best way to get around on the time-budget of a weekend break is to get the city’s red bus. There are two buses, red and blue, with different routes, and the cost for a bus pass is 25 euros per person. It might seem trite but it’s the quickest way to see and learn about the city all in one go – the audio-guide teaches you everything you would never even think to ask, like how Avenue Louis is the city’s equivalent of New York’s 5th Avenue. In the southern part of Brussels, this is a thoroughfare named after King Leopold II’s eldest daughter, which crosses one of the most expensive and elegant quarters in the capital. Besides hosting a number of embassies and ambassadors’ residences, prestigious law firms and expensive boutique hotels, this area also offers a wide range of possibilities for those looking for a good bar to meet friends. The 170 Art Nouveau buildings in Brussels make it the capital of art nouveau style in the world, the highlights of which this bus takes you around both quickly and easily. If you’d like a preview, just look up Victor Horter, Church of the Holy Cross, Place de Chatelain Justice Palace, and the Church of the Salon Lady to see the best that Brussels has to offer.

After this, my personal must-do is to get one of the fabulous Brussels massages. Brussels isn’t known for it’s massages, I admit, but I am – and I think it’s the perfect way to transform your vacation into a relaxing break. Massages are one of life’s greatest pleasures to me and I try to get a local-style massage in every new city I go to. There isn’t a Belgian style massage, sadly – it’s more like Chinese stores dotted around the grand place central area, but it’s still worth doing. I loved my Meridian and Chinese points massage – the perfect way to indulge on your time off!

So, now you can take to the streets of Brussels with your eyes wide open and your head well-informed on the best ways to experience this wonderful city in just two or three short days. Just relax and enjoy yourself, the ancient cobbled streets await.

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