Place Brugmann Brussels

The stylish "French" district

Petra from Brussels

About me I am half Italian and half Austrian and have lived in Turin, Rome and Brussels. I had been working as an EU project assistant for 10 years but when I moved to Rome in 2001, I decided to open a children's bookshop specialised in illustration books. In 2013, my husband, who is Belgian, accepted a new job in Brussels and so I came back to Brussels for the third time! Since then I have ...
""Place Brugmann" in Ixelles, slightly off the centre of Brussels, is reminiscent of Paris. I like the independent shops surrounding it & the Sunday market!"

I live in Ixelles, slightly off the city centre of Brussels which is what tourists generally visit. When I have friends or family visiting me, I like to show them the area around Place Brugmann.

This square is at the end of Avenue Lepoutre, known for its elegant early 20th-century maisons de maître and apartment buildings in Parisian Haussmannian style. This may be why so many French decide to live in this area which reminds them a bit of Paris.

What I like most about Place Brugmann is that it has plenty of nice independent shops, such as antique shops specializing in vintage furniture and jewel designers, as well as decoration, fashion and book shops. On Sundays, I often walk to the square to buy magazines and books at Candide just on Place Brugmann. Down the road, there is also one of my favourite fashion stores, Bonnie et Jane, and Atelier B, which designs nice, affordable jewels. To relax, I may have a glass of wine and some tapas at Winery. My friends are likely instead to make a stop at Maison Dandoy for some typical Belgian biscuits.

I enjoy strolling through the little streets around Place Brugmann to discover new art-nouveau or art-deco details on the houses’ facades. This might not be the most dynamic area of Brussels but it’s a good place to spend a relaxing Sunday morning.

017-plant-1
Relaxing
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

Buy one, Give one!

Share your 💚 this December

*on all products

Brussels Spotter Petra

About me I am half Italian and half Austrian and have lived in Turin, Rome and Brussels. I had been working as an EU project assistant for 10 years but when I moved to Rome in 2001, I decided to open a children's bookshop specialised in illustration books. In 2013, my husband, who is Belgian, accepted a new job in Brussels and so I came back to Brussels for the third time! Since then I have been involved as a volunteer in various Belgian associations, supporting children of immigrant families and persons with handicaps but also organising conferences – I have even met the Dalai Lama in a...

About this spot

Place Georges Brugmann

no-price

Nov 13, 2025

Our Brussels City Guide

Find your way with 295 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Brussels guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in Brussels

Brasserie Des Étangs Brussels

Brasserie Des Étangs

Kid-friendly

"Brasserie Des Étangs" is an upmarket brasserie that exploits one of the strong points of Brussels: the large number of parks in the heart of the city...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

André

Corrado

Dec 7, 2025
Le New Chattouille Brussels

Le New Chattouille

Cats' crib

"Le New Chattouille" in Brussels is the city's very own cat café! It's a bit expensive, but it's good for the kitties, and, who am I kidding, I love it too...

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Davy

Verbeke

Dec 7, 2025
Woodpeck 47 Brussels

Woodpeck 47

Discover the Woodpecker Family

"Woodpeck 47", located a stone's throw from the Grand Place, has to be one of the best gourmet addresses in downtown Brussels!

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Charlotte

Mewis

Dec 6, 2025

Chicago Trattoria

Your new fav Italian place

"Chicago Trattoria" is a modern Italian café serving original Italian cuisine, pizza and weekend brunch.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Charlotte

Mewis

Dec 6, 2025
Les Tissus du Chien Vert Brussels

Les Tissus du Chien Vert

A reference for fabrics

Opened over 30 years ago in the Canal District, 3-floor store "Les Tissus du Chien Vert" is a point of reference for textile lovers in Brussels...

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Petra

Perazzini

Dec 6, 2025

Boulengier

A bakery with a Viennese look

"Boulengier" in Brussels is definitely my favorite bakery. I like the fin de siècle look of the shop-atelier with its marble counters and stained glass!

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Petra

Perazzini

Dec 6, 2025
Gare Maritime Brussels

Gare Maritime

Old freight station back to life

"Gare Maritime" is one of those places that make you feel proud to be living in Brussels. It recently underwent full renovation and the result is remarkable...

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Petra

Perazzini

Dec 6, 2025
Musée Van Buuren Brussels

Musée Van Buuren

Journey in a world of Art Deco

"Musée Van Buuren" in Brussels is a private house turned into a glorious museum full of art nouveau masterpieces! A true example of 'total art!'

002-building
Art & culture

by

Petra

Perazzini

Dec 6, 2025
MICA Brussels

MICA

A successful healthy food grocery

"MICA" in Brussels is a healthy food grocery store that doubles as an amazing restaurant! Among my favorites are the quinoa salad and the fish cakes...

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Petra

Perazzini

Dec 6, 2025
Fosbury and Sons Brussels

Fosbury and Sons

Co-working and more

"Fosbury and Sons" in Brussels is a co-working in an impressive building from the '70s. It's worth seeing on the inside and out...

002-building
Art & culture
020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

by

William

Mertens

Dec 6, 2025
Saint Octave Brussels

Saint Octave

Cheese & charcuterie

If you're looking for good cheese or charcuterie in Brussels, "Saint Octave" is for you. They're very strict about what they offer in their shop!

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

William

Mertens

Dec 6, 2025
Place d'Arezzo Brussels

Place d'Arezzo

Walk around Ixelles and Uccle

In the communes of Ixelles and Uccle in the south of Brussels you can find some very nice neighbourhoods that are worth a stroll, like "Place d' Arezzo"...

002-building
Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

William

Mertens

Dec 6, 2025

Heading to Brussels?

295 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

Brussels app Home
Brussels app Home
Brussels app Map
Brussels app Home

Heading to Brussels?

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

295 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Brussels

Our team loves Brussels

Get to know our other Spotters from Brussels

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
29
Made with the 💚 of 498 Spotters.
Filters