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.