Au Comptoir de Margaux Brussels – Bakery and a tea room

This is a charming bakery with a tea room where you can sit and enjoy coffee or lunch. The soup and sandwiches are freshly made, as are the pastries if you're in the mood for a tasty dessert. It does get busy and loud during the week, with many people queuing up for sandwiches.

I used to love going there with my children (now too old!) for tea and cakes. They have a room at the back with a large table that accommodates seven people - perfect for a group of kids on the way back from the park (Rouge-Cloître or Parc Seny are only 5 minutes away by car).

Beware: the main attraction for children is the candy shop at the entrance and the toy kitchen at the back. Once they see that, it is hard to leave without letting them try it out! The pies here are lovely as well - I particularly recommend the cheesecake speculoos.