For additional information go to our website: www.visitbelgium.com
Brussels is absolutely happening! Discover the different areas: http://www.brusselscreativity.com/.
-When you arrive buy the WEEKLY magazine in ENGLISH: “The Bulletin” to find out what's happening. www.xpats.com
SHOPPING IS BACK! DISCOVER THE CHOCOLATE SQUARE ( SABLON) AND NEXT TO IT THE FASHION STORE OF JEAN PAUL KNOTT (EXP) 19 RUE Lebeau www.jeanpaulknott.com check out opening hours
My favorite chocolate is still cote d’or ( in supermarkets) , Neuhaus, leonidas for the white ones, Galler ( orangettes) and GERBAUD new store across the bozar ( on your way to Magritte museum)
For Vintage shopping/outlet www.version-originale.be rue jean stas 10, not far from conrad hotel.UPTOWN
ALMOST NEW: Magritte Museum (next to museum of fine arts), http://www.musee-magritte-museum.be/
If you are into TINTIN , ( Spielberg is making a movie) or Architecture go see the musee herge in Louvain La neuve. BUILDING incredible by French architecte.
Liege ( one hour by train from brussels) has a new station build by Spanish architect Calatrava : IMPOSING! And ron arad: Mediacite ( shopping )
And the dinosaurs at the science museum: just renovated www.sciencesnatuelles.be if you would like to see 28 huge dinosaurs!
Do not miss flee market area on Sundays> great Atmosphere: great restaurants around there. : restobier is fun in little street next to flea market. 32 rue des renards.
Sablon market place ( antiques) and store Flamand; It’s also called chocolate square now because all the chocolate stores have “pignon sur rue”. Favorite restaurant in area: orhpyse et chaussettes.
New chocolate store across concert hall Bozar: Le Chocolat Gerbaud ( le chocolat qui rend beau) http://www.chocolatsgerbaud.be/
Chocolat Galler is also very good. Buy in supermarkets!
The BEST GREEK RESTAURANT OUTSIDE OF GREECE: NOTOS: RUE DE LIVOURNE: UPTOWN
FOR CONCERTS AND HAPPENING: WWW.INFOCONCERT.COM http://www.quefaire.be/spectacles/0_1_2_1_8.html
VERY NEW RESTAURANT:
NEW, HAPPENING NOISY BUT GREAT FOOD AND HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE. LE ROYAL> RUE DE FLANDRES. DOWNTONW. THE STREET IS FULL OF NEW HAPPENING RESTAURANTS. IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.
Worth a detour for a restaurant: L’art de Vivre in SPA
For a weekend in the middle of nowhere: l’auberge du Sabotier next to st Hubert ( need a car) or in small town of Durbuy: renovated famous: sanglier des Ardennes Hotel/restaurant
Favorite Hang out in Brussels:
The bar at The Dominican hotel: just behind the opera house: http://www.thedominican.be/
THE BAR OF THE CONRAD IS ALWAYS HAPPENING ( UPTOWN)
FRENCH restaurant at the SABLON Area I loved:
Ortysse et Chaussettes, rue Charles Hanssens 5 tel 025027581. Delicious French food!
Traditional Belgian cuisine: La belle Maraichere: place ste catherine www.labellemaraichere.com closed mercredi et jeudi
NEW DELUXE HOTEL:
ODETTE www.chez-odette.com
not next to grand place, UPTOWN nice area: GREAT TRENDY RESTAURANT. BUT NOISY
NEW CLUB..YOU HAVE TO BECOME MEMBER : 10 EURO FOR LIFE: IN AN OLD CHURCH: Spirito Martini: rue stassart UPTOWN off of chaussee d’ixelles.
UPTOWN: café with terrasses but especially GOOD selection of food ( waffles) and BEERS: Le trappiste: on avenue de la toison d’or not far from SOfitel hotel and spirit Martini
FUN HOTEL NOT expensive: vintage. With collection of artifacts from 60s and 70s. www.vintagehotel.be: good location uptown
Iess expensive Lunch next to all museum: restaurant ravenstein< ravenstein 1: www.leravenstein.be
AUX armes de bruxelles is still a favorite downtown for local specialities
The staff of Aux Armes de Bruxelles moved to a NEW restaurant: la Brasserie de Bruxelles. Typical Belgian food.
Place de la vieille Halle aux bles (10 min walk from grand place to a really cute square) info@labrasseriedebruxelles.be tel 025139812. NO air Conditioning
NEXT/Across from this restaurant there is MICHEL D: ( 5 min walk from AMIGO , great little square, outside dinning in the summer: Place de la vieille halle aux Bles 31 02 512 5700
LA BRANCHE D’OLIVIER: If the weather is great…take a taxi ($20 each way) and feel like you are in the country. Eat great food with locals, 02 374 4705. Nice in the winter too!
La villa Natka is happening and bar open until 2 pm: chaussee de waterloo. Ask for Nathalie (taxi about $15 each way) great in summer
BEER TIPSDuvel: Try one everywhere & anywhere. La Binchoise: This brewery in town of Binche won the bronze medal of beer with Beer Association of Americas. They do not speak English. Delirium Tremens: A great bar in Ghent. Le Cantillon: Great Brussels brewery. 10 mins by taxi. Closed on Sundays. 56 r. Gheude. Tel 02-521-49-28. MAREDSOUS BEER AND VISIT ABBEYE.COOL AREAS IN BRUSSELS: For shopping, nightlife, cafes & bars…Rue du Bailli: Located uptown next to Chatelaine Square (market on Saturday). Stores, cafes & fun stuff. Rue Antoine Dansaert At Night: Halle St Gerry Place Flagey
SHOPPING TIPS
Good shopping streets: Rue Antoine Dansaert, Rue du Bailli, Avenue Louise, and Rue Neuve (for H&M type shopping). Do not forget to ask for TVA return (VAT). Antwerp: Has the best stores for trendy fashion and is worth an afternoon trip. (40 minutes by train from Brussels.) Perfume and makeup stores, leather goods, and chocolate are good buys throughout Belgium. Good chocolate shops throughout Belgium: Leonidas, Corne Port Royal, Neuhaus Best chocolate shops in Brussels: Marcolini is the best chocolate in Brussels and is located on 39 pl. du Grand Sablon Tel: 02-514-12-06. Also Wittamer located on 12 pl. du Grand Sablon. Tel: 02-546-11-11. Avenue Louise: Shopping in generally is good on Avenue Louise although not inexpensive. SHOPPING IN BRUSSELSBags: Delvaux – another must to splurge for Belgian trendy souvenirs Clothes:Belgian designers - Rue Antoine Dansaert – behind Bourse Louise Fifty Four – 54 Avenue Louise – French, expensive – ask for Alain
Shoes : Gontier 20 Rue Marche aux Herbes and Galerie Louise Mephisto – 24 rue de Namur – most comfortable shoes with an arch – ½ price in Belgium Interesting jewelry:Baccarat Boutique – rue de la Reinette (off rue de Namur) French and crystal jewelry Sabine Herman : Original jewelry store Galeries (Covered shopping arcades): Galerie Louise Galerie de la Reine (open Sundays) Antique and Flea Market:Sablon Antique Market & Flea Market (walking distance from Sablon): Sat & Sun until 2pm Other Towns: Generally have markets on Saturdays Decoration, Design & Art:Flamand: Decoration store AND restaurant on Sablon Ribambelle: 39 rue du Bailli - Comic strip including old TINTIN and funny objects (not for kids) Discount Art Bookstore located on1 0 rue du Tabellion. Closed Mondays.
Children’s:
Rue du Tabellion : Beautiful Store for kids located off rue du Bailli.
Musems:Musical Instrument Museum – One of a kind museum with instruments dating back to 1400 & interactive Beer Museum – Grand’ Place NEW Magritte Museum- rue de la Régence 3 next to Fine Arts museum Van Buuren Museum- 41, avenue Lo Errera, Tel: 02 343 48 51 (open everyday except Tuesdays)
WALLONIA – ARDENNES TIPS*For a guide/driver in Wallonia, Pierre Yves: Get-to-Belgium, http://www.get-to-belgium.be/ 04 98 033 091
GREAT NEW CASTLE TO STAY OR JUST STOP FOR A MEAL ( EXP) WWW.CHATEAUDELAPOSTE.BEGet a gps to get there!NAMUR:
Hotels:
Hotel Les Tanneurs, rue des Tanneries, 13 Tel: 02 81 24 00 24Villa Garcia, castle/hotel http://home.scarlet.be/~castels/indexeng.html
Jewelry:Biernaux: Jeweler/Designer. Bring your own gold and stuff. Great prices. Rue de la Halle 3; Tel (081) 22-1836.Restaurants:De la Plage D'Amée: Has a terrace. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Tel 081/30.93.39. TRENDYLe D’arville: Rue D'Arville 94 | B-5100 Wierde | Tél : 081 / 46 23 65 OUT OF TOWNLa Petite Fugue: Place Chanoine Descamps, 5 Tel: 081/23.13.20Shopping:16eme Sens: Nice objects for the home. 16 Rue St Jean.Brussels Street and Fer Street
Chocolate:Galler: Best chocolate and cakes. Rue de l'Ange 17; Tel (081) 22-9147.
-Cool museum- Felician Rops, in the center of Namur, Rue Fumal, 12, Tél. 081/77 67 55-Great B&B, close to downtown with two restaurants -Also -Nearby Maresdous Abbey (ask for Christian as a guide), Rue de Maredsous, 11
B-5537 Denée, Tel: +32 (0)82 69 82 11 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +32 (0)82 69 82 11 end_of_the_skype_highlighting,http://www.maredsous.be/ -Chateau d’HassonvilleDURBUY:
Hotels :
Jean de Bohème : Place aux Foires 2, Tel : 32(0)86-21.28.82 : owners adorableHotel Victoria: rue des Récollectines 4, Tel : (0)86 21 23 00Le Saint-Amour : Place aux Foires, 18, Tel : (0)86 21 25 92Au Milieu de Nulle Part : Rue des Recollectines, 5, Tel : 04 76 41 88 21
Restaurants :
Le clos des récollets : rue de la Prévôté, 9, Tel : 086 212969
LIEGE:
New Liege-Guillemins train station: (You enter the station coming from Brussels) , designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava- very cool and futuristic style Grand Curtius Museum complex: (just renovated), Féronstrée 136, Tel: 04 221 68 17- includes Arms museum Church of St. Jacques: Pl. St-Jacques B, Tel: 04 222 14 41
Prince Bishop’s Palace La Batte: 2 mile long flea market every Sunday morningSHOPPING: plurielle, rue des dominicains: Nice Fashion. Nice area for shopping
Restaurants:
As Ouhes: Le bistrot d’en face : Tchantches et Nanesse :
MONS:
35 min. by train from BrusselsMuseum: Grand Hornu Museum (MAC): Modern art museum ( 2 star Michelin guide, 10 Mins by taxi)Restaurant: La 5eme Saison. Tel: 065 728262 (Closed Sun & Mon). 25 rue de la Coupe. Shopping: Baroc is great for presents. 32 rue des Fripiers.
SPA:Grand Casino of Spa: Oldest casino in the world, Rue Duquesnoy 14
Francofolies de Spa: Yearly summer music festival
Spa-Francorchamps: Annual Formula 1 race in September
Hotels:
La Manoir de Lébioles : domaine de Lébioles 1/5, tel : 32 (0)87 79 19 00 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 32 (0)87 79 19 00 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Boutique Hotel Dufays : (in Stavelot), rue Neuve 115, tel : Tel : 080548008
La Vigie (B&B): 129, avenue Professeur Henrijean, 0 32 495 38 62 21
HOTEL DES FLEURS: BEST WESTERN. NICE GARDEN
Restaurants:
Entre Terre & Mere: Radisson Hotel, Tel: (328) 779-2141Le Grande Maure L’Auberge.Shopping is good in SPA+ formula 1 francorchamps and stavelot in the area
WWII – BASTOGNE AREA:
Hotels: La Grande Cure, located in Marcourt next to La Roche. http://www.lagrandecure.be/ Hotel Collin-In the center of Bastogne, Place Mac Auliffe, 8-9, tel: 061/21 43 58Car Rental: Hertz or Avis. It is best to travel in this area by car.
Mardasson Memorial: Tribute to Americans, Place McAuliffe, - Tel: 061/21 27 11
Museum of the Battle of the Bulge: 120 mannequins of American English, German and even Scottish soldiers, Rue Chamont, 5 (in La Roche, next to Bastogne), Tel: (0)84 / 41 17 25
*Good guide of Bastogne and WWII sites: Henri Mignon, Tel: (0) 473 59 24 95
USEFUL WEBSITES & ADDRESSES
Travel :www.brusselscreativity.com www.manneken-pis.comwww.timeout.com/brusselswww.connections.be www.etapes-nouvelles.com (For last min trip outside of Belgium to Morocco, Egypt & Turkey)Culture & Nightlife:www.recyclart.behttp://noctis.comwww.brusselslife.be/index.php?Ingcod=E www.salsaweb.be www.salsa.bewww.brusselsmania.comhttp://www.visitbelgium.com/nightlife.htm
Private Car with Driver:Pierre Yves, http://www.get-to-belgium.be/, 04 98 033 091www.avislimousine.be (At Hilton, ask for George.)http://www.moderncar.com/en/coaches.html; Tel: 32-2-420-10-00 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 32-2-420-10-00 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
NB: BRUGES IS ONE HOUR BY TRAIN FROM DOWNTOWN BRUSSELS.
WWW.VISITBELGIUM.COM
