The South Brussels – All our local tips

This place might NOT be the typical Greek restaurant with Corinthian pillars and dancing waiters, but it’s definitely one of my favorite spots to score a typical Greek dish when I’m in the Midi region. No fancy inside, this is taverna style Greece.

Go into the kitchen to check out for yourself what this day dishes are – they don’t have a list – and two minutes later a huge portion is served at your table. Excellent stuff is the stuffed pepper and the moussaka, gets along very well with a glass of malamatina retsina.

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Athenes | Restaurants (Greek) | Meal € 8.00
Rue de l’Argonne 22 | The South | +3225382113
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 22:30

This is the latest bar from the people who designed and run the popular cafe Belga in Place Flagey and Walvis (check the cafe Walvis article) in rue Danseart.

With its interior inspired by Brussels’ art deco heritage, this beautifully designed bar attracts a fashionable yet laid-back crowd. And though it seems popular enough, it never seems overly crowded – one advantage of its location a little bit out of the way where the St. Gilles and Uccle quartiers meet.

The interior features wooden panelled walls, curvy lines and a spacious feel, whilst the large terrace is perfect for summer afternoons in the sun. The bar serves a good selection of Belgian beers, quality wines and freshly-made classic cocktails, plus some snacks. There are DJs and live music at the weekends. Perfect for soaking up some Belgian café culture.

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Bar du matin | Bars
Chaussée d’Alsemberg, 172 | The South
08.00 till late daily

I ask the waitress how many mushrooms they use everyday. “Mmmh, that’s a very good question,” she coos, doing a good impression of Jane Birkin circa 1966, “I don’t know …. but it’s a lot.”

The earthy tones and dark wood suit the cuisine in this small restaurant in St Gilles. It is dedicated to mushrooms, using lesser-known varieties and presenting them in unusual dishes.

The restaurant is on three levels, with a cellar and balcony overlooking the main seating. The menu is written on a blackboard up the front and a lone chef cooks in full view of the restaurant floor. There’s also ‘Buvette’ (a little bar) on the opposite side of the road and a terrasse which opens up in summer – though neither of those have been open when I have been there.

Last time I went in a group of seven and we had a selection of dishes and shared them tapas style – a good option to get wider taste of the dishes. Starters include foie gras creme brulee, crumble and waffles (do you see what they’re doing here?). I’ve tried all of them and they all worked – well-cooked, tasty and unexpected. The main course are slightly more conventional, but equally as good. Some of the dishes we had were Oso Bucco, pig’s trotter and some freshly-made pastas – all filled with the obligatory mushrooms. The mushrooms even sneak onto the dessert menu with mushroom flavoured ice-cream.

The restaurant was formerly a wine merchants and it specialises in Spanish wines. Each time I’ve been there we’ve gone with the waitresses’ recommendations and have not been disappointed.Expect to pay around €50 a head with wine.

The team is clearly on a mission to promote all things mushroomy, with other activities including cooking courses, a catering service and market stall.

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Café des Spores | Restaurants (Mushrooms) | Dinner & wine up to € 50.00
103-108 Chausee d’Alsemberg | The South | +3225341303
Daily

I believe street markets are the heart of a city. There are plenty in Brussels, but the most famous and busy is the one on Sunday morning around Gare du Midi.

You can find everything you want here, from clothes and flowers to household stuff. But Brussels locals mainly come here to get their weekly fruit and vegetable shopping, as it is one of the cheapest places in town.

There is plenty of choice and the prices will start dropping to almost nothing starting 13.30, when sellers want to get rid of the leftovers: a real chance to buy good quality products for the cheapest price.

And when your hands are full and you can’t take any more, you can enjoy some tasty Arabic food prepared in front of you.

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Gare du Midi market | Shopping, Snacks
Around Gare du Midi | The South
Sun 06:00 – 14:00

Just behind the rather over-grand maison communale (town hall) of St Gilles, this bar is a must visit for beer lovers.

Cosier than Delirium or Bier Circus, it stocks around 350 Belgian beers and prides itself on serving only artisanal products from small breweries. It also does a great selection of cheeses and cooked meats to accompany the fine ales.

The small interior is packed with beer-related trinkets full and dark wood. The terrace provides extra seating in summer, and draws in more people on sunny days. It does get busy.

The bar staff are friendly and know their stuff – they’ll happily recommend you which brews to drink if the large beer menu proves overwhelming. And if you stay long enough, they’ll more than likely join you for a drink.

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Moeder Lambic | Bars
Rue de Savoie 68 | The South
12:00 – late daily

After bargaining for fruit at the Midi Market (see the Midi Market article), it is a cheap reward to sit at one of those hidden tables and taste Maroccan flavours. Along the sides of the station, in Avenue Fonsny in front of Hotel Continental, behind the huge display of olives and spices… there you are, a corner of Morocco.

On the menu: pancakes with olives, vegetables, cheese, honey, and any combination requested. Be careful, they are huge! And don’t forget to get a glass of that sweet Moroccan tea, very good on a warm winter day.

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Moroccan pancakes | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Pancake € 2.50
Avenue Fonsny | The South
Sun 08:00 – 15:00

09.32 : Reading the 56 unread emails, set as ‘Urgent’

10.15 : Meeting with X for the file 12345

10.57 : Direct phone call from W asking if I can help

10.57 : Phone call on my cell

10.57 : skype message from Z: “Hi, Yam, are you there? I tried to call you, but your line is busy, how come?”

10.58 : My boss, at the door of my office: “do you have a second?”

11.35 : the end of “the second” with my boss

12.15 : Working progress : 2/20 – Level of stress : 20/20 – Hungryness: 20/20

You got the picture… I need a place calm, quiet, not crowded and beautiful.

I find it at the end of the street where my company is situated. The Park Tournay-Solvay.

Beautiful every day of the year, no matter the weather. Go there. You won’t regret.

PS: If you are a colleague, pretend you never read this article, and, if you ever see me in the park, just act as if you don’t know me…

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Park Tournay-Solvay | Relaxing | Free
201, chaussée de la Hulpe | The South
08:30 – 17:00 daily

The Sonian forest is a large forest surrounded by the Brussels communities and with traffic lanes going through it. These threats to a nature site have already caused a lot of damage. Still, a lot of energy is put in maintaining this forest as it is of immense significance to keep the lungs of Brussels alive and functioning.

You can enjoy this forest by walking, cycling or horse back riding. It is the home of various mammals (bats, deers), reptiles and birds. Next to this you’ll find plants, trees and several flowers and mushrooms. Their quantity is declining and tells of the emerging consequences of global pollution.

This forest has a rich history as a royal hunting place, fortunately this became forbidden in the 1970’s. The forest is mostly used for recreational and educational activities. During weekends the forest gets crowded by families and cyclists where as during the week you can walk for hours without seeing a soul.

Since this forest can be entered via it’s surroundings it is impossible for me to tell you how you should get there, it really depends on your departure point. If you are in the centre you can take bus 95.

It isactually not too far to go there by bike, just head for watermaal bosvoorde and find your unique park entrance.

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The Sonian Forest | Relaxing
Raamstraat 29 | The South | +32206268694
24 hours daily

Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit when visiting Brussels. This city has a lot of Art Deco swimming pools. The one to visit is situated in Saint Gilles. It was built round 1904 and definitely radiates a luxurious charm.

The building has a typical art nouveau style as you enter through large wooden swinging doors. In the entrance hall you can see pictures of byegone eras with old fashioned labels on the doors. After paying you enter a beautiful cafeteria perfect for lounging and watching the bathers before entering more swinging doors, giving your ticket to the lifeguard. Remove your shoes or put blue plastic round them before retiring to your own private cabin to change.

Everything in this building breathes of the past and overwhelms you with its wooden doors, white tiles and luxurious design. There is a roof entirely made of glass that makes the swimming pool bathe in glorious pools of warmth and light coming from the sun. The swimming pool itself is fairly large and if you go there round four it won’t be overcrowded with school children.

The pool is surrounded by the changing rooms and there is a divingboard to practice your diving skills. There are three levels of balconys surrounding the outside walls. You frequently see a watchful lifeguard checking on the safety of the swimmers and often appearing to be immersed in deep meditation. Of the four Art Deco swimming pools (Elsene, Schaerbeek and the Marollen) this one definitely has the most direct sunshine inside.

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Victor Boin Sint Gillis | Relaxing | Entrance € 2.00
Wipstraat 38, Saint-Gilles | The South | +3225390615
Mon – Sat 12:00 – 19:00