A Guide To 48 Hours in Brussels

Being born and having grown up in Brussels I can say with confidence that it has shaped my personality in many different ways. Being an international city and true melting pot, Brussels has a lot to offer from architecture to museums and galleries, trendy cafes and restaurants.

Today I will bring you through my ideal guide to spend two days in this city and make the most out of it. Skip the Manneken Pis, Grand Place and other touristy spots, I’ll show you the best-kept addresses to enjoy your stay to the fullest!

DAY 1

On your first day, I would suggest spending time around the historic centre.

Start your day off with a brunch at one of the many bunch spots. Café Capitale is one of them and it has a great selection of homemade cakes, granola and bagels. Once your belly’s full you can go for a stroll in the Marolles. This neighbourhood is full of antique dealers, second-hand stores and cafes. I would make sure to check out the flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle, the Marché des Tanneurs (a precursor of organic food in Belgium) and Café des Minimes.

Cafe de Minimes

As you finish your walk around the Marolles you can walk towards the Sablon, through the park and then stop by to get some exquisite Belgian chocolate and pralines. Pierre Marcolini is one of the biggest names in chocolate-making, but you can also try out Maison Wittamer. And do me a favour, skip Neuhaus.

If brunch was not enough, Albert is a restaurant on the Mont des Arts, offering an amazing view from the 5th floor of the Royal Library of Belgium and showcasing Belgian’s tradition of fermented products (think gastrobeer, cheese and natural wines). It’s only open for lunch and afternoon pastries though so keep that in mind!

Saint Martin Bookshop in Dansaert selling vintage books about fashion

Now you can go to the Dansaert area for the city’s best design and couture, as well as its authentic bars.  Stijl sells Antwerp designer-style clothes (think Walter Van Beirendonck, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Christian Wijnants, Maison Margiela, but also Rick Owens, Raf Simons, Y/Project etc).

Looking for scandi design? La Fabrika is the place for you.

Finally, the Brussels Beer Project is perfect if you want to bring some useful souvenirs home.

Humus x Hortense

From there you have two options.

If you’re visiting during warmer months, I’d suggest stopping by the Place Poelaert and the Palais de Justice. You can grab a drink and enjoy the sunset on deckchairs with a view over the city. If you’re lucky you can have all of that, plus a techno set. From there, head towards Humus x Hortense, a plant-based restaurant offering a tasting menu using remaining herbs and vegetables to make their cocktails, following a zero-waste approach. And let me tell you, it is divine.

If you are visiting during rainier times on the other hand, you can stay in the historic centre: Sainte Catherine holds some of Brussels best gems. Nordzee is perfect for fish and seafood bites (beware, they close at 6:30pm).

If you are a music enthusiast, do not end the day here but check out the concerts at the Ancienne Belgique or even better, go for the Nuits Botanique, a festival (usually happening in May) showcasing emerging artists in what was previously the national botanical garden. If instead you prefer performing arts, then check out the Kaai Theater’s programme.

DAY 2

Boghossian Foundation

On your second day start off with a bit of culture. You can check out the current exhibition at Bozar (Brussels’ centre for fine arts) if you’d want, but my personal favourite is the Villa Empain on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, residence of the Boghossian Foundation. Not only is it a perfect example of Art Deco, but its exhibitions are also always unique and focus on creating a space for communication between western and middle eastern art.

Next, continue to See U for a quick lunch and drinks. This project located in a former police station welcomes social and cultural initiatives, a real cultural ecosystem containing (among other spaces) a cooperative community cinema named Kinograph. From there you can head towards the Abbaye de la Cambre, the Avenue Franklin Roosevelt and the Ixelles ponds. You can follow the Art deco and Art Nouveau walk to admire the buildings or wander around and let yourself discover every little surprise of this neighbourhood.

If you are hungry by the time you reach Place Flagey, you can try out the typical street snacks: French (actually Belgian) fries, or instead waffles from Liege if you have a sweet tooth.

VA

From where you would be it is pretty easy to reach the Chatelain area. Don’t miss out on Nicolas Koulepis, an amazing Greek bakery whose chef also opened a Pitasserie for Greek pitas.

Make sure to also look out for small shops especially jewelers, my favourite is VA for dainty, minimal jewelry, but for more of a statement have a look at Aude De Wolf. Anna Kika perfectly suits smaller budgets.

Lastly, if you are looking for timeless and smart, practical leather bags, head over to Lilu. The boutique-atelier is owned by a Belgian creator who’s all about craftsmanship and quality, and all her goods are handmade.

Coghen Avenue

If you still have time and can’t get enough of the Art Deco, take a wander through the Altitude 100 area and the Coghen Avenue in the friendly neighbourhood of Forest. While you’re there, do not miss Altitude, an audiophile bar and restaurant. They specifically designed the decoration to allow for a vintage sound system and acoustic configuration, and regularly organize listening sessions and live music. Even if you don’t come for the music or the Art Deco vibe, the dishes and wines in themselves are excellent and the staff is welcoming.

For drinks, I suggest either the newly renovated square Fernand Cocq, or the animated Parvis Saint Gilles. On the former, Café Tulipant always has an incredible menu, and its drinks are the best. On the latter, check out Café Flora for its iconic architecture, Memphis-inspired decoration, and its history in Brussels’ nightlife.

view from WIELS 

Honorable Mentions:

If you’ve been seduced by the city or if you have a bit more time to spend there, here are some further recommendations: to get a taste of Belgian delicatessen, head over to Fernand Obb (I promise, you’ll be surprised).

For tasty Taiwanese street food, try out Bao Bang Bang. Otherwise, for dinner you can try out C’chicounou, they serve delicious Syrian food to share in a convivial atmosphere. For a trendy and welcoming place to stay, try Jam hotel. You can access the bar and rooftop pool, even if you’re not staying there.

In terms of culture, definitely try to have a look at the WIELS, a contemporary art centre in an ancient beer brewery (how Belgian…), as well as KANAL Centre Pompidou, located in the former industrial Citroën garage. If you’re visiting in October or November, look out for the Museum Night Fever, a night where museums all over the city stay open. There’s an incredible offbeat program, full of concerts, workshops, and events of all kinds. Some of the best art galleries are the Patinoire Royale Galerie Valérie Bach, Maniera, and Xavier Hufkens.

Last but not least, I cannot end this article without having talked about festivals, especially Couleur Café. If you’re looking for a vibe-y atmosphere, want to see up-and-coming artists perform, discover new names in the hip hop, reggae, soul, or afro scene, this is the perfect event. For the last couple of years, it was set at the foot of the Atomium in a green area and the food market there is incredible.