Off the beaten path for Brusefor food...and some tips.
Avoid bars/restaurants (with a few exceptions) immediately facing the Grand Place in Brussels. They are overpriced and mobbed with tourists. Take a walk one or two blocks off the G.P. and you will find great little bars with great beer, good food, and much less crowded. But, you knew that about the beer.
Especially avoid eating at any restaurant on the Rue de Boucher near the Grand Place—notorious for “bait and switch”, you can be seriously ripped off by these establishments even if you just go in for a drink or a quick bite. Besides there are so many great cafes not on the Rue de Boucher, why bother.
NOTE:
Tipping is generally included in the meal price unless menu specifically says otherwise, although we usually left a little change. Also, you must ask for the bill when you are ready to leave the restaurant or you will sit there all night waiting for them to bring it to you! This can be a good thing as you can quaff more beers. The Belgians never want to rush you through a meal, that is for sure. Gotta love ‘em!
In Brussels, off the beaten track but cool is the Place Jourdain district on the other side of the European Union buildings. On Sundays there is a huge open air food/flea market. Very cool, and no tourists! Also the best frites at the outdoor frites shop called Maison Antione. (they don’t serve beer, but you can take your frites to one of the outdoor cafes nearby and order a beer and eat your frites there!)
Brussels Eats:
Pain Le Quotidien—Chain restaurant, but with reasonably priced and really good sandwiches. There are several in Brussels as well as in other major cities.
Babeko 26 St Catherine Place. Upscale bistro for a “splurge” dinner.
www.babeko.be
Brussels Bars we enjoyed: (most bars serve food)
A La Becasse, Rue Tabora 11 (this is really an alleyway) Near Grand Place. Look on the sidewalk for the carved bird. Crowded, long communal tables. Pitchers of Timmermans unsweetened lambic. Slabs of cold cheese, meat and bread if you are hungry.
In ‘t Spinnekopke Right by Mannekin Pis. Get the Kwak here!
Au Bon Vieux Temps , Rue du Marche aux Herbes 12. Old European bar, no English spoken here but you’ll be fine.
Le Cirio Rue de la Bourse 18. Surly waiters bit a very cool bar from the Victorian era. Drinks are a little pricey, but worth stopping in for one for the architecture.
Le Greenwich Rue des Chartreux #7. In St Gerys district about a ten minute walk from the Grand Place. I loved this bar—a quiet, smoky den of chess players. Very low key.
Cheap beers.
Toone Petite Rue Des Bouchers #21. Bar attached to famous puppet theater. Very interesting….
Daytrips
Ghent—big city, lots of cool canals. Dutch spoken here! Take the train there and then get a tram (tram station is in the tunnel next to train station)to the center of town (tram #1, 10, 11, 12, or 13) Check out medieval castle Gravenstein in the center city.
Bars:
Herberg de Dulle Griet Vrijdagmarkt 50. Ask to see the Beer List. It is excellent reading!
Brugges—touristy, but you will be going at a great time of year to avoid the hordes that flock here. Quaint is the best way to describe it. From the train station hop on any bus heading toward The Markt.
Check out: Climb the belfort in the Markt for a cool view.
If the weather is decent, take a canal tour.
In the Burg, check out the “Basilica of the holy blood”—the lower chapel is
very cool, 12th century Romanesque, the upper chapel is lavishly ornate.
Restaurant: Tavern Curiosa Vlamingstraat #22.—flying buttresses, good food, good beer, decent prices.
Passage Dweerstraat #26-28. Cool kinda art nouveau style bar. Good restaurant, too. Reasonable.
Bars: De Garre Garre #1 kinda hidden between the Markt and the Burg. Yummy. Crazy beer selection.
L’Estaminet Park#5. Across the street from my favorite park in Belgium Koningin Astrdipark, but kinda off the beaten path. Good food—sandwiches, stews. Good beer, very reasonable .
Herberg Vlissinghe Blekerstraat #2. Again, off the beaten path, oldest bar in Brugge (est. 1515)
Hope your having fun!
Glib