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It’s the first place I’ve ever eaten in Brussels, so it’s a very special place to me. 5 years, and not much has changed!

Getting more popular by the minute l’Ultime Atome is a typical café restaurant in the heart of Ixelles, squeezed between the shopping street of chaussee d’Ixelles and the African neighbourhood in chaussee de Wavre.

It’s a great place to rest after shopping or drink before clubbing. It offers food all day long, and has a very good beer list (seasonal beers, Trappist beers, regional beers,…). They also serve breakfast daily, but unfortunately only ’till 12:00!

I like the pot of fresh mint tea (with liquid sugar!) a lot. One of the specialities is the “chocolat chaud”, the hot chocolate which is served as hot milk and separate chocolate pearls which you mix at your taste. Not to miss is the “molleaux au chocolat” served with custard and the cakes in display on the left of the main entrance.

It has a dozen tables on the terrace, a bit squeezed but great on one of those few warm sunny day. The staff is friendly, prices are average but you’ve got to pay for the loo.

Belgium is the cradle of the 20th century comics, called BD (Bande dessinée) in Brussels. It’s an important part of the culture of this country; nowhere in the world can you find so many comics shops.

The Smurfs, Tintin, Lucky Luke are only few of the comics created by Belgian authors which are famous all around the world.

Brussels has a “Museum de la Bande Dessinée” but what has always fascinated me is the open air tribute to comics.

All through the city center you will see plenty (36 and growing) of murals showing your favourite characters. Some of them interact with Brussels landmarks (i.e. the Manneken Pis), others perfectly fit the wall they are painted on (Boulevard d’Anspach, close to La Bourse). You will be surprised by seeing them around many corners in the center!

There are walking and biking guided tours which explain the history of Belgian comics while showing you many of the walls.

But if you prefer discovering these beauties yourself, then check this website. It makes it easier to understand which comics are where in town.

It’s worth checking out the tours or walking on your own, there are some which are so well integrated with the city that you do not even realize they are there.

Have a good walk, and let me know!

I’m always surprised to discover that Brussels has hundreds of small parks, hidden behind buildings, or around the corner of a busy street. Even locals do not know them, as the entrance is often a small door, with an opening timetable posted on it.

The other day I saw a gate and a sign “Parc Public, entree libre 09:00 – 18:00″. As a Brussels Spotter I can’t miss out on this! And… what a surprise. Nobody around, and music coming from a workshop nearby.

Quietness, this is the feeling I got from this Park. You need to think? You need to relax after walking around and shopping in Matonge (see the Matonge article)? This is the place to go!

In Brussels you can find cafes on every corner. Typical, busy, good or bad: you have plenty of choice!

However only few serve something local, something typically Bruxelloise. One of them is “Het Warme Water”, near Place du Jeu de Balle in Marolles.

They have a few wooden tables, some old pictures, and an interesting menu. Breakfasts, brunches, meals, drinks, buffet on Sundays, all biological! You just have to choose. Everything is prepared in front of you in the kitchen open to the room. What I like about this spot is the opportunity to taste some Brussels food, like cheese, salami, beer… and to spend there hours chatting without being asked to leave!

The first detail I discovered about the neighborhood I was going to live in: a step away I could find the best frites in the whole of Brussels.

Maison Antoine is widely known as one of the best places for French fries made from fresh potatoes, and although I can’t be the best judge on this typical Belgian food, I admit they are very good, just perfect when you add any of those dozen of sauces available.

What I also find very attractive is the deal they made with the pubs around the square. If you see in display on the windows of the pubs a “happy cone”, you are sure that they are happy to serve you a beer while you eat your “cone” of frites: very convenient!