Image by Wouter Spitters

You’re hungry as a bear or eager to score a meat overdose? Head for the best rib thing in town, Amadeo.

To tell you a little secret, I personally don’t like spare ribs at all, but when asked to accompany friends or family to this charming all-you-can-eat rib place I don’t have to hesitate a single second. It’s a pleasure already only to sit and absorb the unique atmosphere created by the walls made out of books and jazzy thirties music. I usually go for a steak or grilled shrimps and wait for my friends when order again and again and even more.

Also worth mentioning are the boiled potatoes delivered with a delicious sauce and the enjoyable house wine that gets billed per consumed finger. There is a big bottle on the table and they just measure how much you drank.

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Amadeo | Restaurants (Spareribs) | All you can eat ribs € 13.50
Sint-Katelijnestraat 26 – 28 | Center | +3225025137
Mon – Thu 18:30 – 23:00, Fri – Sun 18:00 – 23:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

One of my favorite ways to relax is seeing how others tire themselves. Especially when they do it in a spectacular way.

Take your drinks with you and climb the steps of the skate-ramp. There you can sit and relax on the bench, enjoying the sun while the youth is giving away a free stunt show, right at the place where the trains disappear a few meters below into the Brussels underground.

Looking for some action? Bring your own skateboard or bmx and be an acrobat yourself. The place is free and accessible to everyone.

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Skatepark | Relaxing | Free
Ursulinenplein | Center
Daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

There are many good Italian restaurants in Brussels, one that I can recommend in the city centre is Rugantino. Whether you are looking for a pizza, pasta, risotto or carne, Rugantino has it all.

But it’s not only the food that counts, the reason why I fancy this place is more than the food the setting itself. The furniture, the big light, the inside balcony that gives a patio feeling, the waiters, the talkative boss… if you truly like Italian charm, you’re going to love this place.

One thing is true, you might have to wait a bit for your food to appear on your table, but who cares if you’re in good company…

Buon appetito!

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Rugantino | Restaurants (Italian)
Anspachlaan 184 | Center | +3225112195
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 15:00 & 18:00 – 23:00, Sat 18:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

This must be Walhalla for movie addicts like me. Founded in the thirties last century, the Royal Movie Archive started to build one of the most important quality movie collections in the world. The good thing for us? They are more than happy to show’n'share their treasure with us, via recently renovated Cinematek.

With classics, rare cult movies, experimental cinema, directors/actors or genres in the spotlight they provide us a nice mix of very old to more recent highlights of movie history.

Subtitles often are in Dutch/French, so you may be limited to English spoken movies. Don’t worry, we don’t ‘dub’ those in our languages.

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Cinematek | Cinemas | Ticket € 3.00
Baron Hortastraat 9 | Center | +32025511919
Sat – Wed 14:30, Thu 12:30, Fri 16:30 – until end of last show

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”, Pablo Picasso once said. Well, this shop is your washing machine.

Fashion magazines, art-house movies, exhibition catalogs, gifts, children books, T-shirts with fancy slogans and the widest range of national and international art books you can imagine, you can find it all in one place… the fine Bozar arts shop near the fine arts museum.

It’s an ideal place to buy birthday presents you cannot find elsewhere and I bet you won’t be surprised if I tell you this is one of my favorite places to hang out around Christmas time.

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Bozar Shop | Art & culture, Shopping
Rue Ravensteinstraat 15 | Center | +3225141505
10:00 – 19:00 (or till after concert) daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

Looking for a tasty crêpe and don’t have time to go to Brittany or Normandy? We Belgians like pancakes too. The sweet ones are the most popular and widespread, most brasseries offer sweet pancakes as a dessert and it is a typical treat at children’s birthday parties.

Pancakes with savory fillings are a little harder to find however. Maison des Crêpes is one of those places that offers both sweet and savory fillings.

Enjoy your lunch/dinner or ‘in between’ in this cosy place with over-friendly service…and don’t forget to order your apple Cider… ;)

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La maison des Crêpes | Snacks, Restaurants (Crepes)
Zuidstraat 13 | Center | +322475957368
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

Together with Gecko (see the Gecko article) this cosy place is definitely one of my favorite bars in Brussels.

In wintertime or during rainy days you can admire the wooden interior and mirrored walls. Music is always good, and the volume is often limited so you still can have a decent conversation with your friends.

In summertime, if the weather permits, you also can sit outside at the lovely terrace. Since it’s located in a pedestrian area you’re not attacked by exhaust fumes, making it an ideal spot to relax, read a book or to do some people-watching while you are sipping your cocktail.

Coke lovers, be warned, you won’t find any Coca or Pepsi in here. Other softdrinks are present, a wide range of beers as well. Cherry beer lovers, surprise yourself and ask the waiter if they have the special acid one.

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Au Soleil | Bars, Snacks
Rue du Marché au Charbon 86 | Center | +3225123430
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Wouter Spitters

Alright, it’s Saturday evening and you’re going out with a group of friends, you are hungry and longing for great food…but no one thought about making a reservation… Only a couple of steps away from the Grand Place there is already a solution to your problem, in Tapas Locas you simply cannot make reservations at all. Order the excellent sangria while waiting for a free table or go and sit right away if there are seats available.

Meat lovers, veggies, lot of appetite or only looking for a nice dessert, all of you can come along in this charming place. The menu isn’t limited to Spanish classics as costillas, chorizo frito, manchego and albondigas, there is also a variety of common Mediterranean food like Bruschettina, keftedes with tzatziki, spinache ricotta lasagna and with witlof and mussels they even have some Belgian specialities. No better way to finish the evening ordering one of the dessert tapas. The heavenly crepes, chocolate mousse or the pear-almond cake may start a fiesta in your mouth.

Each tapa costs 3.50 euro, the only thing that is mandatory is that they ask you to take at least three portions per person.

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Tapas Locas | Restaurants (Tapas) | Per tapa € 3.50
Rue du Marché au Charbon 74 | Center | +3225021268
Wed – Thu 19:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 19:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

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 Renata Riva

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!

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Brussels & the comics | Art & culture | Free
All around town | Center
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels