Image by Wouter Spitters

If you’re not interested in the spots where you have to be hip and trendy and you want something more ‘underground’, then Recyclart is the place to be for you.

Literally because of its location beneath the railway track, and even more because this former railway station is an alternative artistic hotspot. Meet your cultural soulmates in the bar, or have a look at the art exhibitions, photography expositions or architecture projects.

Wanna move your feet? Go the the frequently organised parties or concerts and shake your body on the rhythms of dubstep, electro, worldbeat or guitar noise.

Disko disko partizani!

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Recyclart | Art & culture, Bars, Music
Rue des Ursulines 25 | Center | +3225025734
Tue – Fri 11:00 – 17:00 (bar) & 12:00 – 15:00 (food)

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 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

This is my place to be on Wednesdays nights, for their concerts. But this small bar in the fresh renewed neighborhood of Place de Londres, organizes events every week from Wednesday to Saturday.

I remember that the only time I did organize a party was here and it was a great success!

During the day, I do not go very often, but it’s also a nice bar to spend an afternoon: the place is cosy, the design is modern and the bartenders very friendly.

Also: I must notice that the place has a certain energy which makes the talk with other people you don’t know yet easy: very soon, you make new friends in town. So don’t hesitate to come to have drink and enjoy the music and the company!

And I’m adding you a tip; they have an extra room in the basement, so after a certain hour, the bar only seems close in order to keep peace with neighbors. So, just knock on the door if you see some light and one or two people hanging at the bar and they’ll show you the way to the stairs…

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London Calling | Bars, Music
rue de Dublin, 46 | Ixelles | +3228888347
12:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

You must know it already if you have been reading my articles, I like jazz music (and soul, funky, groovy, hip-hop music, …): so I can’t keep this legendary place in Brussels for myself and the very few who like Jazz. It’s located in a little street near the city hall of Ixelles : The Sounds.

The name itself sounds like this is the place were things happen. And things have been happening for more than 20 years now at the Sounds!

I can’t explain more than that. It’s not something you have to read, it’s something you should hear and experience by yourself. It’s warm, cosy, friendly and the sound in the air is one of the best in town.

Every Monday, you’ll enjoy the Master Sessions (with very good Belgian jazzmen), every Wednesday the sound is more latino, I’m sure none of us will complain.

And there’s a concert every other day, so you must find what you’re looking for (and even be well surprised).

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The Sounds | Bars, Music, Snacks
Rue de la Tulipe, 28 | Ixelles
Mon – Sat 20:00 – 04:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Michael De Plaen

The first time I went to a Strictly Niceness party was the beginning of a new era.

I like to funk, I like to groove, I like to hip and to hop, I like to shake my body all night long. If you could say the same, we should meet on the dance floor of the Strictly Niceness parties.

How to explain the feeling?

The music: the DJ set (DJ Kwak and Dobbs) is a non stop pleasure for your ears. And your brain will not understand why the rest of the body is no longer under your control.

This year a new floor is welcoming 2 other DJ’s who will mix only Vinyls!

The people, looking at them is pleasure for your eyes. And your mouth will not understand why you have this endless smile on your face.

The combination of energy of everything (music, atmosphere, good DJ, nice people, nice location La Bodega) is a pleasure for your heart. And your soul will not understand why you feel so full of energy for the rest of the week.

I can add much more. But if you don’t experience it, you won’t believe me.

You can have an idea of the music at the parties, if you listen the radio show Back To Niceness.

See you on the dance floor!

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Strictly Niceness | Bars, Music | Before midnight € 6
La Bodega – rue de Birmingham 30 | The West
Monthly (2nd Sat of the month) from 22:00

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!!

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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

Image by Sean Kerrigan

We have sadly witnessed the death of many a record shop in the last decade, from memory I can count 9 in central Bruxelles alone. Yet there remains one invaluable source of media in Bruxelles ; ‘La Mediatheque’. A multimedia library founded in the 50′s and supported by local government, the Mediatheque easily has the biggest choice of music and film (over a million titles) in the city, all available to rent for about 1 Euro a week.

There is also an extensive selection of computer programmes and games. When I first discovered this Mecca of music I was amazed it could exist, similar public libraries in other cities just didn’t compare.

The Mediatheque carries nearly any title you can think of, from obscure 1920′s folk recordings to the latest small label releases or Beethoven on vinyl. For those who still find the thrill of browsing the racks preferable to the quick download, this treasure trove of tunes is a must visit. Inscription will require a local ID card, so this is not really a tip for the visitor but is invaluable for the thousands of newcomers Brussels welcomes every year.

Just a note to add that the Mediatheque has recently undergone an extensive revamp and started a fair few initiatives. They include even cheaper ways to rent multimedia material (€20 for 40 CDs a month? Yes please!), new exhibitions, concerts and collaborations with other cultural centres. We hope they help in keeping this cherished spot a muso magnet. 

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La Mediatheque | Art & culture, Music | Rental fee € 1.00
Passage 44 | Center | +3222182599
Tue – Sat 10:00 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Informatique flickr.com

A variety of flowers, plants and trees decorate this spacious garden. There is a little lake and a labyrinth of bushes for you to get quiet and inhale a little piece of paradise.

This small patch of bliss lies between a major four lane traffic road which makes the opposition nature versus construction even more apparent. Still, wandering there makes you forget the stressed out people caught there in traffic. The whole park is built on a steep hill, there are entrances to it at various places.

When the Botanique was built it was a major scientific research temple with a very large variety of exotic plants, flowers and trees. To acquire money for maintenance they used to sell vegetables and other crops from the garden. At this place they created Belgian endive.

At present times the Botanique serves as a known cultural venue. It has different concert halls, exposition rooms and a museum. There is also a large bar and restaurant with a splendid terrace from where you have an amazing view of the botanical garden. They serve great lunches and dinner. The expositions held there are open from twelve until eight.

Their concert programming is worth checking out and during `Les nuits Botanique’ large crowds gather there to see indoor and outdoor concerts from a large variety of groups.

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Botanique | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing
Entrance Koningsstraat 236 | Center | +3222183732
10:00 – 18:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels