Sarah Van Parys (1988)

Situated in the elegant Passage du Nord gallery, just off the rowdy Rue Neuve, this place has a great selection of vintage and new jewelry. Carefully selected by the owner, the vintage selection tends to date from the 1950′s.

The collection changes from one year to the next however, as she tries to offer colors and motifs that are currently popular. Therefore, in order to make room for the new collection, the shop organizes a sale, as most shops do, during the month of July!

Prices are reasonable, and though I’m not a big fan of their modern collection, I just love the vintage earrings, which are original, sophisticated and sometimes beautifully eccentric!

There’s not much to say about this place other than that their hummus is delicious!
 This unpretentious Lebanese snack, with a modern interior, is a good alternative to the garish pitta places in the perpendicular streets.

It’s located right off the Grand-Place, the service is fast, and if you don’t want to spend too much on your lunch or dinner, this is a good stop-over. I just really enjoy coming here after a couple drinks in the center…Their haloumi pitta is yummy, as is, according to my sources, the chicken one.

They don’t serve a huge variety of dishes, but they have the essentials. They also make fresh juices if you just feel like stopping by for a drink after admiring the city center…

Located on a pleasant pedestrian street just off the place Jourdan, this cultural center hosts a number of interesting festivals, concerts and debates. Among other things, I’ve seen a friend act in a play, danced to a Cheikh Lô concert and cried to Jaffa, a film projected during a Jewish film festival. Named after the Senegalese poet and politician, the Espace Senghor, despite its rather drab exterior, has a beautiful room dating from the early 20th century, with moldings on the ceilings, stained glass and a sweet mezzanine running along the side of the room.

There aren’t always things on, so you should take a look at their online program if you’re in town, as the events are varied, the space is quite intimate and the prices generally reasonable. Plus, you can also enjoy a packet of frites (check the Maison Antoine article) or an excellent slice of pizza (check the Mamma Roma article) afterwards.

Anyone you mention the Corbeau to in Brussels will say “Ah, is that the place where everyone dances on tables?”.

If you want to dance till sunrise (at least during the summer), without a worry in the world, the Corbeau is fantastic. The crowd is varied, the music is popular, the place isn’t particularly sophisticated, but everyone’s out there to have fun, and I’ve never been disappointed so far!

The place is a restaurant during the day and in the evenings, but at some point they’ll just push the tables to one side, turn on the volume, and get the party started!Note that this only happens on Fridays and Saturdays, as the place closes much earlier on weekdays, when you can simply go to have a (quiet) beer.

This area of Saint Gilles is evolving fast. Every time I walk around in the area, it seems as if a new café, restaurant or shop has opened up. A quick note on the area: Saint Gilles commune is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful in Brussels. It’s dominated by two large late 19th/early 20th century buildings (the fort-like prison and the grandiose Hôtel de Ville) at the top, there are plenty of elegant maisons de maître and the Parc de Forêt is nearby. The streets are full of cars and people, and it’s great! It’s dynamic, sometimes chaotic.

APDM (short for: “Au Pays des Merveilles”) serves up various sorts of bagels with a wide range of toppings to choose from. There are veggie, meaty, cheesy and fishy toppings – enough for anyone’s taste! They have many desserts and they sell lots of fresh juices and milkshakes. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. They also show works of art on the walls from a different artist every month.They have a terrace at the front and the back if the sun’s out!