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!

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Maison Antoine | Snacks | Fries € 2.00
Pl. Jourdan, Etterbeek | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
Sun – Thu 11:30 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:30 – 02:00

It’s quiet, it’s small, it’s hidden in between place Jourdan, the Parliament and rue Belliard. It has a pond, a few nice buildings, a long history, a few paths to walk around it, benches to rest and nobody will complain if you lay down with your picnic basket (as long as you take your trash home!).

It was created as zoological garden back in 1851, and at that time even giraffes were living there. Now you can see rare trees and animals, students passing by (there’s a high school, a bit falling apart I’ve been told, but it still fascinates me) and the Solvay Library which is now a conference centre.

Up the hill you can play basketball, and in winter I’ve seen the pond completely frozen… poor swans living there!

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Parc Leopold | Relaxing
Rue Belliard 133 | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
24 hours daily

Opened few years ago, Mamma Roma is already one of the meeting points for quick and healthy food in town for any time of the day. 3 shops are located near 3 of the main apero squares in town (Chatelain, Flagey, Jourdan), 1 (Bondael) in the university area and 1 soon to open right in the center in St. Gery. They serve sliced pizza  (pizza al taglio) in 10 or more different flavors.

You choose which one, you choose how much and there you are: your quick dinner is ready. It’s good, really, I’m Italian and I have some knowledge about pizza. It’s cheap too. The “lunch” (anytime) is 2 slices plus a drink, and it’s just € 7! Also for take away it’s the same price.

The only downside… it’s always crowded. I prefer the one in pl. Jourdan: it’s bigger and has a nice terrace.

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Mamma Roma | Snacks, Restaurants (Pizza) | Lunch € 7.00
Pl. Jourdan 37 | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
12:00 – 23:00 daily

One of the things I missed as soon as I left my Torino was the ritual of the aperitif. After work we used to meet in bars in the town center, and enjoy some drinks accompanied by free food, this is the concept.

And one day, walking around Brussels, I heard someone speaking my dialect, I turned around and saw “La Piola” aperitif bar in Brussels. I almost cried while ordering a glass of white Moscato wine and picking some of the food.

A few years have passed since that day, and the Piola is still running. There are 2 even.

La Piola Libri is a bookstore, wine bar, apero bar, concert/conference place for Italians or Italy lovers. The evenings with Guccini and Vinicio Capossela were unforgettable.

It’s nested in the European Quarter not far from Schuman.

The second branch, La Piola is just off pl. Chatelain (rue du page 2, Ixelles). It’s an apero bar, a wine bar and also a good simple Italian restaurant with a nice front terrace and a backyard garden.

Do not expect the variety of food you can get in Torino, but still I feel at home (you can even read La Stampa, the Turin newspaper).

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Piola Libri | Bars, Music, Shopping, Restaurants (Italian) | Daily special € 10.00
Rue Franklin 66-68 | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
Mon – Fri 10:30 – 20:00, Sat 12:00 – 20:00

Working late? Dancing all night long? Having met this handsome guy and talked to him for hours? Your train was on strike and it took you 3 hours instead of 30 minutes? The meeting was long and your Japanese customers (who never heard about Spotted by locals) asked you for some tips about Brussels? Back in town in the middle of the night after 3 weeks of holiday?

You got the idea… we’ve all faced those situation who find us hungry after the opening hours of any decent shop. And certainly if you want some real bread and not some substitute they’re trying to sell us at the night shop.

Since years now, Au Vatel, a bakery in Etterbeek, had this smart idea to open its atelier while the bakers are busy preparing bread for the next morning. So you’ll be welcome to enter via the General Leman street after the bakery shop (and tea room) closes its door.

I can’t tell it’s the best bread in town, but when it’s 4 o’clock in the morning and you are starving… it sure is!

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L’Atelier Au Vatel | Snacks
8, rue Général Leman | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
19:00 – 07:00 daily

Jubilee Park (JubelPark/Parc du Cinquantenaire) is not my favourite place when I want to sit and relax in a green area. But then why am I talking about this park today? Because it has so much to offer!

In this article I would like to share with you how to get to the nice panorama we can see from its arcades: when you visit Brussels, you can not miss those arcades at the end of rue de la Loi (Wetstraat). I have viewed those arcades myself for so many years now, and I didn’t even know it was possible to walk up the stairs to stand on the roof for a nice view!

How to get there? Enter the Royal Museum of the Army during its opening hours (Tuesday until Sunday from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 16:00). When you are inside you’ll easily find your way to the stairs for the Arcades, then start to climb them. You will arrive at the top floor, and from there you can access one of the two terraces.

The good news: it’s all free of charge. The bad news: despite the fact that you can access it with an elevator, you’ll still have to climb more than 20 stairs in order to get in the terrace: so difficult (not to say ‘impossible’) for visitors on a wheelchair and for kids on strollers…

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Jubilee Park | Relaxing | Free
Jubelpark 3 | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
Tue – Sun 09:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 16:45

Years ago as a kid, I had to accompany my parents to their notary. I remember how impressed I was by the house where he had his offices: old, big, many, many books, and the feeling that in this kind of venue, time doesn’t run as quick as outside.

From the window, I could see a wonderful garden. Being a kid my dream was to have the chance to run out there… but for some reason, I couldn’t. All seem so serious, that I didn’t dare to ask.

I was imagining the notary and his wife and kids living in this beautiful house, with such a nice garden…

Very few years later (in 1988), the garden became a public park…. I felt happy as I could access it easily… and, in my secret dreams, I like to think that the decision of the owner was taken after seeing me desperate in the corridors of his study…

Anyway, today, me, you, and anyone can take advantage of one of this ancient private garden.

This Park is just so romantic… quiet, beautiful, and I can just advice you to visit it. If you’re a couple it would be even better…

Oh… and the (new) notary? Well, I used to go to visit him for my own business, and …he moved to another place…

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Jean-Felix Hap Park | Relaxing | Free
508, Chaussée de Wavre | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
09:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 18:30 daily

Located on a pleasant pedestrian street just off the place Jourdan, this cultural center hosts a number of interesting festivals, concerts and debates. Among other things, I’ve seen a friend act in a play, danced to a Cheikh Lô concert and cried to Jaffa, a film projected during a Jewish film festival. Named after the Senegalese poet and politician, the Espace Senghor, despite its rather drab exterior, has a beautiful room dating from the early 20th century, with moldings on the ceilings, stained glass and a sweet mezzanine running along the side of the room.

There aren’t always things on, so you should take a look at their online program if you’re in town, as the events are varied, the space is quite intimate and the prices generally reasonable. Plus, you can also enjoy a packet of frites (check the Maison Antoine article) or an excellent slice of pizza (check the Mamma Roma article) afterwards.

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Espace Senghor | Art & culture, Music, Theaters
Chaussée de Wavre 366 | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt | +3222303140
When events take place

Once you enter its cozy interior, with couches and an open fire, you just won’t want to leave this discreet café, situated opposite the European Parliament. There’s free wifi, newspapers and a wide selection of magazines to entertain you while you’re there, and the super friendly, chatty and multilingual staff to chat with makes the whole experience very enjoyable!

The cinnamon roll I tasted on my first visit was divine, so I had to go back to taste the apple cake, and it didn’t disappoint as it was truly delicious. And let’s not forget the bagels, which are sometimes hard to come by in Brussels…There are also a huge variety of hot drinks to choose from – coffee enthusiasts will definitely appreciate the beautiful machine they own – as well as freshly made juices.

Enjoy this tranquil place after visiting the EU institutions or take a stroll in the nearby park (check the Parc Leopold article).

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Karsmakers | Coffee & tea | Coffee from € 2.00
20, Rue de Trêves | Etterbeek/ Eur.Qt
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 18:00, Sun 10:00 – 16:00 (closed two first weeks of August)

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