Image by Wouter Spitters

The Rue Jourdan is one of the places to be when you’re looking for a cozy street full of nice resto terraces in the Louiza Area. Located close to movie theatres UGC Toison d’Or and Vendôme (check the Vendôme article) makes it a good spot for a pre-movie dinner.

Italians are well represented in this street, Al Piccolo Mondo, I Trulli, Il Rinascimento , Il Vecchio Mulino… your pick! Fancy French food? Try a Coq au vin in Le Délire Parisien or French/Belgian cuisine in Au Boeuf Gros Sel while Kwiling will feed the ones looking for Asian kitchen.

Take a look around the corner in Rue Dejoncker for other (and more budget-friendly) options such as Lebanese and Vietnamese restaurants and a regular brasserie.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Rue Jourdan | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants
Rue Jourdan | Ixelles
Early breakfast – late dinner daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Smon Summers

It’s the first place I’ve ever eaten in Brussels, so it’s a very special place to me. 5 years, and not much has changed!

Getting more popular by the minute l’Ultime Atome is a typical café restaurant in the heart of Ixelles, squeezed between the shopping street of chaussee d’Ixelles and the African neighbourhood in chaussee de Wavre.

It’s a great place to rest after shopping or drink before clubbing. It offers food all day long, and has a very good beer list (seasonal beers, Trappist beers, regional beers,…). They also serve breakfast daily, but unfortunately only ’till 12:00!

I like the pot of fresh mint tea (with liquid sugar!) a lot. One of the specialities is the “chocolat chaud”, the hot chocolate which is served as hot milk and separate chocolate pearls which you mix at your taste. Not to miss is the “molleaux au chocolat” served with custard and the cakes in display on the left of the main entrance.

It has a dozen tables on the terrace, a bit squeezed but great on one of those few warm sunny day. The staff is friendly, prices are average but you’ve got to pay for the loo.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
L’Ultime Atome | Bars, Restaurants (Café) | Beer € 2.00
14, rue Saint Boniface | Ixelles | +3225111367
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

When I’m in the neighborhood of Saint Boniface and a little bit hungry for something quick, cheap but delicious, that’s the place I use to go with my friends.

They serve salads, burgers and pitta’s : all delicious and original recipes. My favorite is the “Pitta Ronron”: rice, nuts, banana, chicken…. The vegetarian burger is also a must.

One pitta is €6 and if you order a second one, it will cost you only €4 for it. Burgers are at €9.

The good thing is that the place is also a good spot to have just a drink.

The place is welcoming in any season : if it’s cold, the interior is cosy and if the weather is good, the big terrace make it certainly a very nice spot.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Le Comptoir | Bars, Snacks
22, rue de la Paix | Ixelles
12:00 – 00:00 daily

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

One of the spots I like to go to is L’Auberge espagnole. When I make an appointment with French speaking friends, they’re very enthusiastic as it’s the name of a very popular french movie.

The place is a wine bar. I can’t tell you much about that, but it seems they have wine from Argentina and some other South American countries. According to my friends the choice is good.

Once, I tried their Chili Con Carne… and loved it. So few time later, I came back with a friend and on our way I was giving her all delicious details about this Chili… Hmmm we were so hungry! We arrived around 9 pm, and… bad surprise: no more Chili. Their advice was to come earlier or to make a booking… (something I never do).

So one week later, here we are – now the three of us – and it was only 7.30 pm. But again… bad news. No more Chili! I was so desperate and hungry and angry.

“How early is not too early to have this Chili? It’s even before 8 pm?”

After this, they can hardly forget me, and each time I go there, I don’t have to order : they know what I want!

I’m nearly regretting to let you know about this place, ’cause we will be even more people to order that dish!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
L’Auberge espagnole | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Tapas) | Tapas from € 5.00
Parvis de la Trinité, 10 | Ixelles | +32473315979
Tue – Sat 18:30 – 23:00

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…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
The Sounds | Bars, Music, Snacks
Rue de la Tulipe, 28 | Ixelles
Mon – Sat 20:00 – 04:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels

Image by Yamina El Atlassi

Tigre Café became a real place to be for everyone who’s hip (or trying to be). You may have the feeling that everyone knows each other, and it’s a bit true as Brussels is a small town, and its people are divided into different “tribes”, each of them going to some specific places at some specific times… So Tigre Café is one of the headquarters of the hipsters.

The best moment to be there is on Friday night. There’s a DJ playing a set of soft electro music, but if it’s not raining, the whole crowd is outside smoking, having a chat, showing people their new look, looking at the other ones to check who’s there and who’s not… and certainly not listening to the music!

Don’t be afraid to go inside : the decoration is cosy and the bartender is friendly.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tigre Café | Bars
Rue de la Brasserie, 117-119 | Ixelles
Fri – Sat 20:30 – 02:00

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!!

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

Image by Seán Kerrigan

Le Stoumelings was long known as the perfect example of a ‘Stam Café’ or brown bar; the traditional unpretentious mix of brown wood panelling, smoke stained music posters, fine beers and colorful clientèle had made it a long standing favourite with pub people. It drew a mix of students, musicians, off duty taxi drivers and of course savvy drinkers from the nearby EU institutions.

Since the recent redevelopment of the Place de Londres on which it stands (changing the square from a dog toilet to a perfect evening spot), Le Stoumelings is no longer the smoky staple it once was. The addition of 20 tables on the new terrace and the rejuvenation of the square with 2 new restaurants and another 2 bars in the past 5 years has made this bar and square attractive to all, particularly in fine weather. Despite the influx of people who own irons, the decor and character of the Stoumelings escaped untouched 

The menu serves the usual mix of Belgian beers and ales, but especially noteworthy is ‘La Chouffe’ a 75cl bottle (at 8,5% it is definitely one to share…).

The regular barman, David, likes music that’s not shit, so another bonus there, making this close to the ideal after work spot. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Le Stoumelings | Bars | Beers from € 2.00
Place de Londres 7 | Ixelles | +3225124374
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Brussels