Restaurants

If you are ever wandering around in the area of the lovely Brugmann square (and I bet you will be) you will be delighted to find the brunch and lunch bar called ‘Ici’ (means ‘here‘ in English). In a classy and stylish interior you’ll enjoy fresh and organic products ranging from tasty risottos and quinoa dishes to soup and juices.

Ici works ‘in full transparency’ as the kitchen is open so people can see how their dishes are being prepared. All tables are nicely decorated and are close to each other so locals can socialise with each other while having brunch or a healthy lunch.

Prices are not super cheap but reasonable based on the location; the whole Brugmann area is known for its beautiful houses and rather rich inhabitants. For a soup you pay € 6 to € 8.50 and for a normal dish around € 13 to € 15.

Come in and enjoy this New York style (br)(l)unch place.

The contemporary art centre Wiels was entirely renovated a couple of years ago after the brewery Wielemans-Ceuppens went bankrupt. The industrial building was transformed into an art centre which has minimum 6 expositions a year. Various renowned international and national contemporary artist exhibit their art pieces at Wiels.

This greatness of this former brewery is particularly impressive and the architect has perfectly shown how to redevelop an abandoned industrial building into a flourishing museum and meeting place. Certainly the left-overs of the brewing machines provide an additional value to the entrance hall and building as such.

The food provided by a local neighbourhood project is delicious and very reasonable. You can choose from bio dishes like quinoa, pasta or quiche to pie and cake. It’s a great place to have something to eat after or before a museum visit.

The book shop also sells international magazines, art catalogs and specialised books.

Make sure to pay a visit, you will not be disappointed!

In Brussels’ greenest area, on the intersection between the Duden Parc and Parc de Forest, you’ll be able to find La Boule d’Or. It looks like a typical café for the locals, and it also tastes, smells and feels like it.

La Boule d’Or opened only at the end of 2012 and became an instant hit for hipsters and Belgian food lovers. Nice to know: La Boule d’Or used to be a very famous cigarette brand back in the days when smoking was still healthy. It also looks like the vintage interior was inspired by that same period, and so are the prices of the food and drinks!

For around € 10 you can have an amazing tomates-crevettes, Vol-Au-Vent or meatballs with Sauce Liégeois, and there are also vegetarian dishes available. During lunch there is only one ‘plat du jour’ (daily platter), while you can have breakfast from 07:30. La Boule d’Or also offers a wide variety of (local) beers, so please don’t order a Jupiler. 

It is worth checking out the area by bike. And don’t worry if you’re too stuffed after dinner because the ride to the city centre is downhill!

Please do book a table in advance! 

A restaurant that only has dishes containing mushrooms, cool isn’t it? At least if you’re a mushroom lover!

One of the nicest discoveries in the area where I live is certainly Café des Spores. This little and very intimate restaurant provides the perfect alternative to regular all-around restaurants. From starter to dessert, every dish contains a mushroom touch.

The chef prepares the dishes in an open kitchen and has new suggestions every day, depending on the season and availability of course. It is a pleasure to see how the chef conjures with the fresh mushrooms and how certain combinations with other vegetables can taste fascinatingly well.

If you want to try as much mushrooms as possible then you should definitely try the Tapas Menu, which contest of several dishes for a fixed price of € 30. Some mushrooms are mixed with fish or meat while others have their own strong taste by combining them with other additives. 

The mushroom experience is complete in combination with a nice local beer or a well-chosen wine. Enjoy!

Rue du Page is definitely one of my favourite streets in Ixelles and the whole Brussels Region in general. Certainly during summertime this street is so lively with numerous cafés, restaurants and shops. My favourite restaurants are for example the Basque ‘Le Fils de Jules‘, the Italian ‘Gusto’ or the French La Quincaillerie. 

Amongst the nice little clothing and accessory shops, you can also find numerous vintage shops in rue du Page and of course a cupcake bar! What would a hipster area be without cupcakes… Make sure to enter the shop ‘Septante Sept’ (number 77). There you will find clothes, but also toys and accessories made by Belgian designers and manufacturers. Definitely a good occasion for some gift shopping.

I absolutely encourage people to pay a visit to this street and the entire area on an afternoon. If you want to feel really lucky then it is recommended to go there on Wednesdays, as the delicious Chatelain market is just at the end of the street.