Image by Wouter Spitters

Therese et Dominique is one of those places where ordering the regular would be a true crime.

Although this is ‘just’ a sandwich bar, it would be a pity to go for the baguette with tuna fish you always eat. Apart from the usual stuff they have a bunch of specialties worth to be discovered. Try for instance an adapted ciccio bello, mozzarella-tomato with sweet peppers and fried aubergine slices, divine.

When the weather is nice I like to take-away my treasure and eat it sitting in the sun of the Poelaert square while doing some tourist watching, but it’s also possible to eat at the place itself, inside or in the cute garden.

Measured by the queues that might appear at the entrance it seems I’m not the only fan of the place, make sure you’re in it. Don’t worry, they work fast, you never have to wait too long.

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Therese et Dominique | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Baguette € 3.50
Dejonckerstraat 23 | Ixelles
Mon – Sat

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

Do you know this feeling? You want to eat this particular dish that you use to eat when you were still living at your parents’ place… but you know the preparation takes long, you’re not sure about the recipe and you don’t see yourself calling your mum (who’s not living in the same town by the way) to ask her to prepare it…

Fortunately, I found out in my neighborhood a snack offering salads, soups and… traditional Moroccan food! And I found exactly what I was looking for: the taste from my childhood.

Obviously, I’m not the only one: many Moroccans eat there as well. It’s true that in the neighborhood there’s a Moroccan community: and some of them use to go there to drink the traditional tea, have a chat altogether, listening to the traditional music…

Sometimes, I have the feeling I’m in one of the many snacks in Casablanca… and it’s even true, when the waiter starts to sing an Arabic song while serving everyone!

I’ve tried nearly everything and was not disappointed, but I especially recommend the “Tagine Kefta” (ask for ‘la totale’ with potatoes and eggs), the “Soupes de lentilles”, or for dessert the “Raïb” (a home made yogourt).

Oh, and did I tell you? Yes, they have Couscous, of course!!!

Bsaha (Arabic word to say ‘bon appetit’)

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Perle D’Orient | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Moroccan)
rue Malibran, 23 | Ixelles | +32483422401
11:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Renata Riva

In Brussels you can find cafés 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. 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!

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Het Warme Water | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Bruxelloise) | Breakfast € 10
25, Rue des Renards | Center | +3225139159
Thu – Sun 09:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

In the middle of the Marolles on the border of Het Vossenplein you can find this cosy bar. Sit on the terrace, enjoy the sun &  try one of their great beers while you are watching the flea market activity.

On every Thursday evening from 20:00 to 00:00 Chaff is the epicenter of the Brussels board games world. Dozens of people gather together. The concept is simple: go sit at a table and you wait for one of the sympathetic organising dudes to pass by, you pay 3 euro and in return you can a name tag and you can choose from dozens of often less known but fun games. The organizers can help you choose the games depending on your preferences, well known or less known, with a lot of strategy or based on a lot of luck, speed or concentration and group size.

If you’re looking for game companions or when you think it’s fun to meet new people the tables might get mixed and you end your evening playing with complete strangers. Too lazy to read the game rules (or game rules in another language)? No need to worry, you get an almost professional live explanation of everything you need to know. 

Oh yeah, before I forget to tell you, they have great food too ;)

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Chaff | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Restaurants | Boardgame evening € 3
Vossenplein 21 | Center | +3225025848
08:30 – 00:00 daily (closed Mon evening & Sun lunchtime)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

As many other bars in town, this one is famous for its good location, big space and lots of activities but not for it’s charm and singularity.

However, as a local there’s always a moment I’ll end up here: for a DJ set, a drink with a friend who had no other idea, a rest after a walk in the area,… So it’s not really possible to avoid speaking about this place, as you may hear of it after a very short while in our city and noticing that we do not mention it, will probably disappoint you.

So I can’t say that I love the place and will pick it as a first choice, but it’s one of the “Giant” bars of the Capital, and you always know why you end up here, what you’re looking for and you find it easily.

I also remember that I met a girl here while dancing who shortly became my “partner in crime” in the Brussel’s nights fever and other funky dance floors!

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Café de la Maison du Peuple | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music
39, Parvis de Saint-Gilles | The South | +3228500908
Sun – Thu 08:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 08:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

When I do some shopping the moment I am looking forward to is the time to relax and take a cup of tea… and if there are some delicious pastries, it’s even better!

One of my favourite shopping place is in the neighbourhood of Place du Châtelain. In this area, you may also be interested to visit the Horta Museum.

So, imagine me having a ‘hard’ time shopping…. and then after few hours of seeing such wonderful things… having a nice sweet rest in a ‘salon de thé’.

I can do it at Lilicup…. it’s fresh, pop, English style, and yummie! It’s Also a very nice place to go with the kids, as they will have their own table.

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Lilicup | Coffee & tea
Rue du Page, 65 | Ixelles | +3225380268
Tue – Fri 10:00 – 17:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by L'Agence photographique

Everybody loves l’Amour fou. During years, long time before Brussels was even hype, it was one of the place to be. Then, year after year, it lost its charm… and one day : closed. We were all sad, but realized that no one we know were even still going there. End of the story.

Then, few months ago, L’Amour fou reopened. We had a party during a long week-end and more than thousand people showed up. It seems to everyone that l’Amour fou still had a place in our heart.

The new team running the place did a good job : it’s still has this brasserie style we love, in more hype. During the day: you can have a nice afternoon, you can plug your computer and benefit from free wifi. Evenings are more crowded : people coming for dinner, or just for a drink, for a concert, spend some good time with friends.

What a like the most is the spirit of the new owners : they know they have to handle with an institution and everyone has a word to say about the food, the drinks, …. Those guys are just willing to listen to it and to make the necessaries changes in order to please everyone. It’s hard to deal with a place everyone is crazy in love with, but they do it great!

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L’Amour Fou | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Relaxing
185, chaussée d’Ixelles | Ixelles | +3223257353
Tue – Thu & Sun 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

As I don’t live in the neighborhood of this bar, I don’t go often for breakfast or to enjoy the tea time, but I’ve heard it’s a nice place to be at any moment.

I used to go to the nice events they organized during evenings quite often. If it’s raining and cold, the music keeps us warm, and if the weather is good, the big terrace is welcoming us and the many friends who had the same idea.

Thursdays nights are my favourites, all year round : a concert and a DJ set in a jazzy, funky, colourful style.

Friday and Saturday nights can also be a good place to meet some friends to warm up before a huge party in the city or going back home early but after having a good musical moment on the Bar du Matin’s dancefloor.

From September to April, I also like to discover some live bands playing rock, folk, indie music every Monday (starting at 20:00) or I go there to finish the week-end while watching some pictures or short movies at the Photomatic event (every Sunday from 19:00).

For the Summertime (from June to September) : every Wednesday afternoon, you’ll think you’re on the beach: music, chill atmosphere and DJ set, the kids and their parents seems very happy to enjoy their fruit juices or some sodas !

Despite it’s name (matin means “morning”), any moment is a good one to have a drink or more at this bar.

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Bar du Matin | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks
172, Chaussée d’Alsembergsesteenweg | The South | +3225377159
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 08:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

You would like to buy some creative items made by an artisan?

Want to discover some local talents off the beaten path?

Want to have a drink in a place which connects travellers and a certain way of discovering the world?

Here you’ll find a market (every Saturday and Sunday – 11.00 – 19.00), a place to drink and eat for a decent price (Via Via Travellers Café), an exhibition, a show yet to begin, a workshop for kids, people having a seat and talking, some travel books, friendly faces, an organised chaos, a new way to live the world without having long and boring argumentation but just by acting differently.

Spending some time in this place make me feel being in an other part of the world and not in the center of the city I live in. The spirit of the place and the bright patio may be an important part of that feeling!

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Micro Marché | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
9, Quai de la Houille | Center
11:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

I used to love this place few months ago. I don’t go there that often anymore and I was really thinking : should I leave this article online or not?

I decided to leave it online (but to change the content) as, if you want to act as a local, you should know this place and have an opinion about it.

In Brussels, there’s always a place that everyone loves to hate.

A place that everyone agreed (a) year(s) ago that it’s the hippest one, but it’s not anymore.

A place where everyone will still go but with excuses : “I don’t like it, but I’m meeting people there before going to a party” or “I hate it on Saturday night when it’s crowded, but it’s decent on Sunday afternoon as it’s the last terrace of the neighborhood in the sun” (which is true).

But then they make some renovation (the place is twice bigger now) and you like it again or you hate it because it’s not like it used to be… !

For the moment, the place you’ll love to hate for many other reasons is Bar du Marché. You can’t miss this opportunity to have an opinion about it as any other local…

Please leave me a comment and explain why YOU hate it!!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bar du Marché | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music
Rue Alphonse de Witte, 12 | Ixelles
Mon – Fri 16:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 02:00 | Happy Hour Sun – Thu 23:00 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 00:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels