Astrid Parc Café Brussels
Best park bar in Anderlecht
Of the 19 Brussels communes, Anderlecht is one of the greenest (read the Ketelhoeve article). And of the no less than 18 parks in Anderlecht, the Astrid Parc wears the crown. Not only is it home to a royal football club since 1917 (read the Stade Constant Vanden Stock article), it also hosts the Astrid Parc Café.
At the eve of World War I, this park was no more than sloping green grounds. Until the 1920s, landscape architect Jules Buyssens (1872-1958) drew up plans for a more majestic city park for the upper-class Meir quarter. It took over 20 years to complete, but after World War II, the bourgeoisie could stylishly take a Sunday stroll in the Astrid Parc — named after Queen Astrid, who died in a car crash in 1935.
Today, it is I who solemnly stroll about in the Astrid Parc like a king. And I always end up in my little castle: the Astrid Parc Café.
This 2022 architectural jewel replaced the dilapidated 1950s Fabiola pavilion (named after another Belgian queen). In winter, I come here to warm myself with homemade soup and meatballs. In summer, I take a homemade ice tea and too much ice cream. From the terrace, I have a magnificent view of the royal garden where dogs, kids and grown-ups play alike. Sometimes, I, too, compete in a game of Kubbs, spikeball, badminton, stickyball or even a tournament on the royal pétanque courts.
The Astrid Parc Café must be the reason why I’m king of my castle.
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