The West Brussels – All our local tips

All tips by our Brussels locals in the The West area. To narrow down further select an activity (bars, restaurants, etc) on the left (‘Spots – by area’)

Erasmus House Brussels (by Yamina El Atlassi)

Because I live in Ixelles, I don’t often go to Anderlecht. For many people, including myself, it’s too far, too crowded, nothing to see, not hype, not green, etc…

Of course, this is not true and Anderlecht has much more to offer than a famous soccer club or a big university’s hospital!

One day, I was in Anderlecht, walking on the street, visiting a friend. Then my phone rings, and I started a long conversation… so I stayed on the street till the moment I’ll finish it. So here I am, walking and talking at the same time, from a street to another in this unknown neighborhood.

Then, without really realizing, I passed what looked to me a house from the middle ages house, not to say a farm. Still talking on the phone, I entered and discovered a peaceful and magical garden.

It was not long before I decide to stop the conversation in order to make the most of this quiet and unexpected moment….

Where was I? I couldn’t say at first: it sounds to me that I did a travel in the past. In fact I was in the philosophical garden of the Erasmus House.

If you are looking for a quiet and uncrowded easy to reach garden (5 minutes walk from the metro station St Guidon) where you can sometimes have the illusion that you’re alone in the city, pay a visit to this place: you will surely find some kind of serenity….

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Erasmus House | Relaxing | Museum € 1.25
Rue du Chapitre, 31 | The West
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

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Maxie Brussels (by Yamina El Atlassi)

So here I am again with one of my woman’s secrets… you already know one of my preferred address for dresses (Look 50 – see my Look 50 article). But a dress is not enough…. we need shoes (article to come soon) but also some underwear and accessories…

Maxie is one of the places I use to go to find nice and cheap necklaces, etc…

They have several shops in Belgium. In Brussels, you may be tempted to go to the one near Sainte Catherine’s place, more central than the one in Anderlecht, but I would advise you to go to Anderlecht anyway.

In Sainte Catherine’s it’s a nice and cheap shop but you will not understand what I’m talking about before being at the one of rue Wayez; it’s bigger, more choices, nice staff helping you to find the bra in your size (what a nightmare in general: or you go to big cheap shops with no one to help you, or you go to those nice boutiques, you’ll have advice, but for a maximum price).

I also like to walk around rue Wayez and its shops… have you heard of rue de Brabant (see the rue de Brabant article)? Yes, of course, you’re a reader of Spotted by Locals, but rue Wayez has also many shops alike, and probably a bit less crowded… and of course while shopping in the area, you can always take the time to relax at Erasmus garden (see the Erasmus garden article).

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Maxie | Shopping | accessories from € 5.00
149, Wayezstraat | The West | +3225225845
Mon – Sat 09:30 – 18:30

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Strictly Niceness Party Brussels (by Strictly Niceness)

The first time I went to a Strictly Niceness party was the beginning of a new era.

Before Strictly, I felt lonely on the dancefloor with my friends, when we had a chance to have good music for 5 minutes or if by chance we finally found a very nice party. And not to talk about the weird fauna looking at us while pretending not to and while drinking anything probably to forget how boring the party (or their life) is.

I like to funk, I like to groove, I like to hip and to hop, I like to shake my body all night long.

So, I always asked myself if in this big universe (most of Brussels night life) I would ever had a chance to meet some people like me; who wants to have good times the all night long for the pleasure of the dance and the music…

Yes, a lot of people do have very good time on the dancefloor in Brussels, and you will if you like Electro music. But what about all the rest?

And suddenly one day (one night, shoul I say) I finally decide to follow the advice of my friend, Phil, aka DJ Kwak, who told me long time ago that I have to come to the parties he’s organising since a few years now…without understanding why I never showed up!

How to explain what I felt when I first arrive there?

First thing: the music: the DJ set (DJ Kwak and Dobbs) is a non stop pleasure for your hears. And your brain will not understand why the rest of the body is no more under control.

Second thing: the people, looking at them is pleasure for your eyes. And your mouth will not understand why you have this endless smile on your face.

Third thing; the combination of energy of everything (music, atmosphere, good DJ, nice people, nice location La Bodega) is a pleasure for your heart. And your soul will not understand why you feel so full of energy for the rest of the week.

I can add much more. But if you don’t experience it, you won’t believe me.

I can only suggest you to experience the pleasure for your hears, with the radioshow Back To Niceness.

See you on the dance floor!

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Strictly Niceness Party | Bars, Music | Before midnight € 6.00
La Bodega – rue de Birmingham 30 | The West
Monthly (2nd Sat of the month) from 22:00

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