| WITH FRIENDS
Bar Bik
3 Pierres de Taille/Arduinkaai
Tel. 02 219 75 00
A simple spot to meet in a hip area. Order from the board: fresh fish, a classic steak or pasta. You won’t find too many frills here, but the food is simple, modern and comes at a pocket-friendly price.
ENTERTAINING A CLIENT
Nostra Culinair Huis
1 Van Ingelgomstraat
Tel. 02 751 34 84
A short taxi ride from the airport and the east-side office complexes, this restored farm is ideal for business. The young staff serve up gourmet French cuisine with the precision of a three-star restaurant so you’re guaranteed an excellent first impression.
CLOSING THE DEAL
Nonbe Daigaku
31 Avenue Adolphe Buyl
/Adolphe Buyllaan
Tel. 02 649 21 49
In a town that has many fine (and authentic) Japanese restaurants, one wouldn’t think there would be room for improvement. There is. Gourmet fans and sushi connoisseurs are flocking to try Mr Suetsugu’s fresh, graceful and delightful Japanese cuisine. |
| STYLE
Café Métropole
31 Place de Brouckère
/De Brouckèreplein
Tel. 02 217 23 00
Even as the leaves start to turn, the Café Métropole (outside the stunning Hotel Métropole) welcomes guests for a drink on its year-round heated terrace. With its downtown-street-side buzz and white linen, don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel ‘Parisian’.
RELAX
Caravan
2 rue Anneessens/Anneessensstraat
Tel. 02 512 88 20
You might mistake Caravan for someone’s home. Bright and sunny, with well-used wooden furniture, it is rustic to say the least. But that’s the idea. After a freshly squeezed juice and a chat with the owner Sylvia, you’ll be ready to face bustling Brussels again.
MUSIC
Sounds Jazz Club
28 Rue de la Tulipe/Tulpstraat
Tel. 02 512 92 50
Sounds Jazz Club has been putting Brussels on the music map since 1986. Some of the best have stopped here, but owners Rosy Merlini and Sergio Duvalloni really have an eye for new talent. Lovely Italian food and a snazzy cocktail list are an added bonus. |
| VALUE
Hotel Queen Anne
110 Boulevard Emile Jacqmain
/Emile Jacqmainlaan
Tel. 02 217 16 00
A steal if you like a downtown location and modern design. Its 60 rooms are compact and clean and the service is super-friendly, mostly due to its hostel-like atmosphere. Online booking from €25 (£17) to €73 (£49).
BUSINESS
Crowne Plaza Brussels
3 Rue Gineste/Ginestestraat
Tel. 02 203 6200
A different kind of business hotel, this 354-room beauty is the essence of modern art deco. Numerous original elements were preserved in the 2006 renovation; rooms are tasteful and boast period furniture. Check out the style of the Deco Verre bar-cum-lounge.
BESPOKE
Conrad Brussels
71 Avenue Louise/Louizalaan
Tel. 02 542 42 42
When you want an impressive address, look no further. Grand style with old-world service, the hotel’s impeccable rooms are the largest in town. Premium suites give you even more room to entertain in style. Guests can also enjoy access to one of Brussels’ finest health clubs. |
| On the road and really need a pick-meup? Why not book a Stella McCartney or YSL facial along with a relaxing massage at Synergy (www.synergy-wellness.be)? The spa caters to the busy business professional with a selection of express 30-minute facials and massages for both men and women. Give yourself a break.
Summer is over and that means it’s time for the opera season to begin. This season promises to mesmerise with Phaedra scheduled for September and a new production of Mozart’s Mitridate, Re Di Ponto for October/November. The classic theatre itself is worth the trip. Definitely book well in advance. (www.demunt.be).
With Brussels being the capital of a bi-lingual (actually tri-lingual: German is also an official language) country, you tend to get everything twice. This is good news for theatre lovers. Both the Theatre National (www.theatrenational.be) and the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg or KVS (www.kvs.be) have put together exciting multicultural seasons.
The International Centre for Urbanism, Architecture and Landscape (www.civa.be) is hosting a travelling retrospective about the Finnish architect Eero Saarinen. Following Helsinki and Brussels, the exhibition will travel to the United States and Oslo as well. |
| Don’t feel like room service again or dining out alone? Grab a quick box of fries at a ‘frituur’. It’s not the healthiest, but think of it as a cultural experience: traditional Belgian fast food. Your ‘frites’ (French) or ‘frietjes’ (Flemish) will be hand-cut, deep-fried twice and topped with a glob of sauce. Try mayonnaise, like the Belgians.
Country Code: +32 |
| Jenn Schlegel |
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