It’s the first place I ever had something to eat in Brussels, so it’s a very special place to me. 14 years later and the only thing that has changed is that it has gotten bigger.

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

It’s a great place to rest after shopping or to have a drink before clubbing. It offers food all day long, and has a very good beer list (seasonal beers, Trappist beers, regional beers…). Lately, they’ve started serving pizza, but I haven’t tried it yet so cannot comment on it. They also serve breakfast daily till 12:00 and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00!

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 are the “molleaux au chocolat” served with custard and the cakes on display to the left of the main entrance.

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