Amy's guide: Brussels (and beyond)
Food and drink nearby
Restaurants and bars nearby the apartment for when you don’t want to go too far. Also included a few grocery stores. 20 minute walk or less.
Many Italian friends recommend this pizza place, but I’ve never actually been! Clicking through the photos makes me want to check it out! 9 minutes walk from the apartment.
15 locals recommend
La Piola Pizza
8 Pl. Saint-JosseMany Italian friends recommend this pizza place, but I’ve never actually been! Clicking through the photos makes me want to check it out! 9 minutes walk from the apartment.
Chez Felix
142 Av. Félix MarchalCute wine bar with good snacks, a 14 minute walk from the apartment.
Good pasta and other Italian dishes. 17 minute walk from the apartment. Close by the Chez Felix wine bar too.
6 locals recommend
Un Posto Al Sole
95 Sq. Eugène PlaskyGood pasta and other Italian dishes. 17 minute walk from the apartment. Close by the Chez Felix wine bar too.
Python - Beer Cellar
55 Av. Emile MaxSimple beer bar. 12 minute walk from the apartment.
Italian bar with a daily aperitivo. Books surround you. 8 minute walk from the apartment.
20 locals recommend
Piola Libri
66 Rue FranklinItalian bar with a daily aperitivo. Books surround you. 8 minute walk from the apartment.
I love their pizza. It’s a bit bright inside the restaurant, but I still really like it. 13 minute walk from the apartment.
7 locals recommend
Paolo's Idea
48 Av. d'AuderghemI love their pizza. It’s a bit bright inside the restaurant, but I still really like it. 13 minute walk from the apartment.
Simple Irish pub. Usually no food menu, but they allow you to order in. Guinness on the menu, of course. 6 minute walk from apartment.
9 locals recommend
James Joyce s.c.r.l.
34 Rue ArchimèdeSimple Irish pub. Usually no food menu, but they allow you to order in. Guinness on the menu, of course. 6 minute walk from apartment.
British pub with a garden in the back, popular with the EU crowd, especially during week days. 6 minute walk from apartment.
11 locals recommend
Funky monkey
65 Rue ArchimèdeBritish pub with a garden in the back, popular with the EU crowd, especially during week days. 6 minute walk from apartment.
Le Jardin du Sommelier
206 Rue StevinRestaurant. Looks very good — on my list to go. 9 minute walk from apartment.
Large bar with lots of snacks. Many people who work for the EU institutions head here after work. 14 minute walk from the apartment.
18 locals recommend
Grand Central
190 Rue BelliardLarge bar with lots of snacks. Many people who work for the EU institutions head here after work. 14 minute walk from the apartment.
Coffee shop also with bowls, salads and small cakes. Used to have soft boiled eggs too when I went, so might still! 13 minute walk from apartment.
8 locals recommend
Living Room
8 Pl. Jean ReyCoffee shop also with bowls, salads and small cakes. Used to have soft boiled eggs too when I went, so might still! 13 minute walk from apartment.
KOSMOS PLACE
35 Chau. Saint-PierreCocktail bar an 18 minute walk from the apartment.
Guinguette Maurice
Open air cafe/bar in Park du Cinquantenaire. 14 minute walk from apartment.
Small grocery store, should be every day but Sunday. 8 minute walk from apartment.
13 locals recommend
Proxy St Josse
14 Pl. Saint-JosseSmall grocery store, should be every day but Sunday. 8 minute walk from apartment.
Small grocery store, open 7 days a week until 20h00/8:00 pm. 8 minute walk from the apartment.
Carrefour express Rue Franklin
51 Rue FranklinSmall grocery store, open 7 days a week until 20h00/8:00 pm. 8 minute walk from the apartment.
Food markets
Brussels seems to have a different food market running every day of the week, many open in the evening for food and drinks
MONDAY EVENING - have a drink and grab dinner from the food trucks until about 21h00/9:00 pm on Monday evenings in Saint Gilles.
Place Maurice van Meenen
Place Maurice van MeenenMONDAY EVENING - have a drink and grab dinner from the food trucks until about 21h00/9:00 pm on Monday evenings in Saint Gilles.
WEDNESDAY EVENING - The Chatelain market is my favourite evening market for food and drinks. Seems like it is everyone else’s favourite too because there are always so many out for a mid-week drink. Must check out. There is even an oyster truck!
49 locals recommend
Marché de la Place du Châtelain
WEDNESDAY EVENING - The Chatelain market is my favourite evening market for food and drinks. Seems like it is everyone else’s favourite too because there are always so many out for a mid-week drink. Must check out. There is even an oyster truck!
FRIDAY EVENING - Evening food and drink market with many stalls, including a wine one and a beer one. You can also try Hungarian Lángos fried dough here — get the simple version with garlic, sour cream and a bit of grated cheese on top. Also recommend the place that puts mussels on the BBQ. Roi du Poulet chicken truck is also highly loved.
Place des Chasseurs Ardennais
Place des Chasseurs ArdennaisFRIDAY EVENING - Evening food and drink market with many stalls, including a wine one and a beer one. You can also try Hungarian Lángos fried dough here — get the simple version with garlic, sour cream and a bit of grated cheese on top. Also recommend the place that puts mussels on the BBQ. Roi du Poulet chicken truck is also highly loved.
Cool restaurants
These cool restaurants are fun for a date night or with friends.
OLD BOY
110 Rue de TenboschI love going here to eat Baos. Asian-fusion.
A seafood spot set in an old iron monger shop. They also have a few meat dishes but seafood wins for me here. Sit inside for the unique style.
47 locals recommend
La Quincaillerie
45 Rue du PageA seafood spot set in an old iron monger shop. They also have a few meat dishes but seafood wins for me here. Sit inside for the unique style.
Great food. Velvet chairs. Dark interior. Best for evening, cocktail bar next door.
6 locals recommend
Ma Jolie
175 Chau. de CharleroiGreat food. Velvet chairs. Dark interior. Best for evening, cocktail bar next door.
Kitchen 151
145 Chau. de WavreIsraeli restaurant. Been here a few times and liked it a lot.
Dam Sum
11 Parv. de la TrinitéSo many Chinese dumplings. Try the ones with soup inside.
Greek place. Could not get over how good it was. So many mézès.
13 locals recommend
Ouzerie Mezedopolio
235 Chau. d'IxellesGreek place. Could not get over how good it was. So many mézès.
People call it the best Japanese in Brussels. Menu in the evening or à la carts for lunch.
38 locals recommend
Yamayu Santatsu
141 Chau. d'IxellesPeople call it the best Japanese in Brussels. Menu in the evening or à la carts for lunch.
Toukoul
34 Rue de LaekenEthiopian restaurant. I loved the raw beef dish.
Can’t stop going here. Italian but not 100% traditional feeling. Plus lots of Gin. Very small restaurant. Feels homey when sitting inside. Tables outside along the street too.
8 locals recommend
Palo Alto
35 Rue Tasson-SnelCan’t stop going here. Italian but not 100% traditional feeling. Plus lots of Gin. Very small restaurant. Feels homey when sitting inside. Tables outside along the street too.
Nénu
Cool Vietnamese recently added to the 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Le Parloir
Cozy place, delicious food. One of my favourites.
Great restaurant with menu centred all around different types of mushrooms.
100 locals recommend
Café des Spores
103 Chau. d'AlsembergGreat restaurant with menu centred all around different types of mushrooms.
A great place to eat steak tartar and watch life go by. Gives a Paris feeling.
42 locals recommend
Au Vieux Saint Martin
38 Pl. du Grand SablonA great place to eat steak tartar and watch life go by. Gives a Paris feeling.
Higher-end restaurants
Restaurants on the fancier side.
High-end restaurant inside a sophisticated hotel. If you go, you need to try the beef tataki with Asian flavours.
15 locals recommend
Odette En Ville
25 Rue du ChâtelainHigh-end restaurant inside a sophisticated hotel. If you go, you need to try the beef tataki with Asian flavours.
Lola
33 Pl. du Grand SablonModern restaurant with international menu. Very good.
Great seafood place, but you can also order steak from their sister restaurant a few doors away if you have a meat-lover at the table.
15 locals recommend
Toucan Sur Mer
17 Av. Louis LepoutreGreat seafood place, but you can also order steak from their sister restaurant a few doors away if you have a meat-lover at the table.
Bars
Bars around Brussels
One of my very favourite bars, in the beautiful Sablon neighbourhood. Great cocktails, beer, wine, you name it. Cozy inside. Sit upstairs in a living room-style interior. Try their nachos and other snacks!
13 locals recommend
Vertigo
7 Rue de RollebeekOne of my very favourite bars, in the beautiful Sablon neighbourhood. Great cocktails, beer, wine, you name it. Cozy inside. Sit upstairs in a living room-style interior. Try their nachos and other snacks!
If you go to Ma Jolie restaurant, worth heading to their cocktail bar for a drink next door if you want to continue the evening.
Jolie joli cocktail club
171 Chaussée de CharleroiIf you go to Ma Jolie restaurant, worth heading to their cocktail bar for a drink next door if you want to continue the evening.
Le Dillens
11 Pl. Julien DillensGreat for a beer and hanging out inside or out. Not fancy. Good food.
If you’re looking for music and lots of people, cafe Belga is your place. A Brussels institution.
355 locals recommend
Café Belga
18 Pl. Eugène FlageyIf you’re looking for music and lots of people, cafe Belga is your place. A Brussels institution.
Wine bar, located right next to the wine shop “Jane”. Natural wines and small snack dishes.
20 locals recommend
Tarzan
59 Rue WashingtonWine bar, located right next to the wine shop “Jane”. Natural wines and small snack dishes.
Brunch
Brussels has many good brunch spots but for some reason brunch places fill up in Brussels, so it is usually important to reserve in advance.
Buffet brunch in a park, nestled behind “The Hotel”. They make omelettes and crepes ‘a la minute’, to your taste, too.
37 locals recommend
La Fabrique en Ville
44 Bd de WaterlooBuffet brunch in a park, nestled behind “The Hotel”. They make omelettes and crepes ‘a la minute’, to your taste, too.
Crème Brussels
30 Rue de RollebeekVery good pancakes and poached eggs.
Les Filles
46 Rue du Vieux Marché aux GrainsA yummy brunch spot in the centre of town. Buffet style.
Pretty interior and terrace in the back. A place for brunch with avocado toast but also burgers. Health food store attached to the restaurant.
36 locals recommend
Chyl
62 Rue de Belle-VuePretty interior and terrace in the back. A place for brunch with avocado toast but also burgers. Health food store attached to the restaurant.
Belgian must-tastes
Eating fries in Belgium is a must. Everyone claims to know the best frites truck. Most important to me is ordering multiple dipping sauces. Also a couple suggestions for mussels. And of course waffles. And chocolate shops! And finally, beer.
Some say the best fries in Brussels — you can grab take out from Maison Antoine then you can sit down at one of the bars of the square, grab a drink and eat your food! Closest friterie to the apartment.
154 locals recommend
Maison Antoine
1 Pl. JourdanSome say the best fries in Brussels — you can grab take out from Maison Antoine then you can sit down at one of the bars of the square, grab a drink and eat your food! Closest friterie to the apartment.
Frit Flagey is well loved, especially after dark. Crispy fries and very yummy
66 locals recommend
Frit Flagey
Place Eugène FlageyFrit Flagey is well loved, especially after dark. Crispy fries and very yummy
Fancy fries in the center of town… there is even truffle mayo!! Unlike other places, there is space to sit down inside.
13 locals recommend
Frites Atelier
20 GroentenmarktFancy fries in the center of town… there is even truffle mayo!! Unlike other places, there is space to sit down inside.
Le Zinneke
26 Place de la PatrieHuge selection of mussels and Belgian cuisine.
Been here a few times for mussels and other Belgian food. Informal spot!
34 locals recommend
Le Chou de Bruxelles
26 Rue de FlorenceBeen here a few times for mussels and other Belgian food. Informal spot!
Chez Léon is not a bad place to try mussels, especially if you are walking around the centre of Brussels. Convenient location and they seem to have continuous service from lunch time.
52 locals recommend
Chez Léon
18 Rue des BouchersChez Léon is not a bad place to try mussels, especially if you are walking around the centre of Brussels. Convenient location and they seem to have continuous service from lunch time.
Cool spot with standing outdoor tables and seafood. Grab oysters and a glass of white wine or else try the shrimp croquettes!
208 locals recommend
Mer du Nord
45 Pl. Sainte-CatherineCool spot with standing outdoor tables and seafood. Grab oysters and a glass of white wine or else try the shrimp croquettes!
This is a good brasserie located in Bois de la Cambre. In the afternoon I like having waffles here, but they also have good food. Nice to head there on a sunny summer day.
19 locals recommend
Brasserie de la Patinoire
1A Chem. du GymnaseThis is a good brasserie located in Bois de la Cambre. In the afternoon I like having waffles here, but they also have good food. Nice to head there on a sunny summer day.
You’ve probably heard of Delirium. If not, it’s a spot with over 2000 beers on the menu. Definitely a tourist spot, but fun to check out for a drink.
368 locals recommend
Delirium Café
4 Impasse de la FidélitéYou’ve probably heard of Delirium. If not, it’s a spot with over 2000 beers on the menu. Definitely a tourist spot, but fun to check out for a drink.
Fancy, refined chocolate shop. Quite expensive, but my favourite one. The macarons are also wonderful. Great for gifts.
116 locals recommend
Pierre Marcolini
1 Rue des MinimesFancy, refined chocolate shop. Quite expensive, but my favourite one. The macarons are also wonderful. Great for gifts.
Another one of my favourite chocolate shops. This Mary shop is located in the beautiful Galerie de la Reine, which is very much worth a visit on its own.
Mary Galerie de la Reine Store
36 Galerie de la ReineAnother one of my favourite chocolate shops. This Mary shop is located in the beautiful Galerie de la Reine, which is very much worth a visit on its own.