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.

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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

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

I’m always surprised to discover that Brussels has hundreds of small parks, hidden behind buildings, or around the corner of a busy street. Even locals do not know them, as the entrance is often a small door, with an opening timetable posted on it.

The other day I saw a gate and a sign “Parc Public, entree libre 09:00 – 18:00″. As a Brussels Spotter I can’t miss out on this! And… what a surprise. Nobody around, and music coming from a workshop nearby.

Quietness, this is the feeling I got from this Park. You need to think? You need to relax after walking around and shopping in Matonge (see the Matonge article)? This is the place to go!

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Parc Viaduc | Relaxing | Free
Entrance from Rue du Viaduc 131B | Ixelles
09:00 – 18:30 daily

In Brussels you can find cafes on every corner. Typical, busy, good or bad: you have plenty of choice!

However only few serve something local, something typically Bruxelloise. One of them is “Het Warme Water”, near Place du Jeu de Balle in Marolles.

They have a few wooden tables, some old pictures, and an interesting menu. Breakfasts, brunches, meals, drinks, buffet on Sundays, all biological! You just have to choose. Everything is prepared in front of you in the kitchen open to the room. What I like about this spot is the opportunity to taste some Brussels food, like cheese, salami, beer… and to spend there hours chatting without being asked to leave!

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Het Warme Water | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Bruxelloise) | Breakfast € 10
25, Rue des Renards | Center | +3225139159
Thu – Sun 09:00 – 17:00

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

At this store you can find a very large collection of records. When walking at the right side of the Bourse, you will hear the music resonating from the gallery. The door is always open and the music is always playing.

They have a large collection of jazz, rock, classical, and other genres. I adore spending several hours there looking at all the record covers and enjoying the great ambiance. This place is great to find presents or to discover new artists. I highly appreciate their choice in music, in general, and their reasonable priced items for sale.

This place has been there for such a long time and is proof of the never fading Vinyl reign. When all CD shops are being closed down this place clearly shows that nothing can beat an analogue musical experience (when considering recordings that is).

Maybe in another article I could tell you where to buy the best music installation. But you can already start your own private collection!

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The Collector / Record Gallery | Shopping | Record € 15
Beursstraat 26 | Center
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 18:30, Sun 13:00 – 18:00

This restaurant is excellent. Everything about it is worth your visit. The food, the service, the interior, and the price quality equation.

I go there often and I always have such a great experience. I have rarely encountered such a perfect service. You will be treated as royalty. You are offered a very high quality appetizer, with papadum, pickle, chutney and raita. All served in beautiful traditional bowls and plates. The main course is so fresh and great tasting you will feel good all evening.

Furthermore it is situated in a very active neighbourhood with bars everywhere and people walking even on a Tuesday evening.

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Shezan | Restaurants (Pakistan) | Main meal € 25
120 Chaussé de Wavre | Ixelles | +3225129495
11:00 – 00:00 daily

Ha, I love going to this place any day any time. Everybody knows each other and the good times are never ending. I always find someone there to have deep meaningfull conversations with and I adore the natural friendliness of the staff.

I absolutely appreciate the wooden interior and the stylish decoration. They also shedule some excellent live music and in the weekends or evenings the place is crowded with people watching the football or rugby. This must be the most homely place in the area surrounding avenue Louise. Next to a very large beer selection they have good food and high quality wines.

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Irish pub michael collins | Bars, Music | Glass of wine € 3
1, Rue du Bailli | Ixelles | +3226446121
08:00 – 01:30 daily

The best way to start your visit in Brussels is by going to Place Poelaert. This place gives a good overview of Brussels. It is especially nice to visit during sunrise or sunset.

You can see all of Brussels buildings in a wonderful panorama. There are binoculars to view the buildings in detail and there is a lift that takes you to the Marolles. You can also walk down following the parking space of the adjacent Palais de Justice.

You can sit on the stone fence to admire the view. On your right there is a beautiful art deco building functioning as a high school and on the left there is the Palais de Justice. Right in front of Place Poelaert is Avenue Louise, following this avenue completely to the end, or taking a tram, will bring you to Bois de la Cambre, a large ‘park’ with a lake (see the Bois de la Cambre article).

The whole area is worthwhile to walk around in and to discover at your own pace and interests.

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Place Poelaert | Art & culture, Relaxing
Place Poelaert | Ixelles
Daily