Reply to: Beer and mussels!

[Orangutan]

If I've been drinking all day, chance are I'll be tucked up in bed every night at about 10

And if you're not, you might as well go back to the hotel !

[ASB]

Have a drink in the bars in the Grand Place. There is one somewhere that has coffins for tables and serves beer in skulls (never found it, directions anyone).

Yes, wierd place. From memory (1988). Stand in Grand Place so that you are facing the huge bar at the bottom (this is the one that used to have the stuffed horse in it).

On the right is an alley (actually a number). It's about halfway down. Go down this alley. On the right after about 100 yards is a cellar bar. That's the bar.

Yep, tables are upturned coffins, drink out of skulls. Place was all decorated in basically black and red also lit primarily by ultra violet. Well weird and probably not the most ideal place for the clinically depressed though.

[cojak]

except Chez Victoire

That's the place I went to.

Lovely food...

[Joe Black]

Too be honest I'm always quite surprised when people recommend Ave' Louise, or thereabouts, whether for bars, shopping or anything else. Maybe it's an expat thing?

My two cents, apart from the various places which have already been suggested, is that if you go out for an evening, choose a particular area and stay there. Sure there's the metro, buses etc, but Brussels is very much a city in parts. It's certainly not like London where you can just head for the centre and wander about and find a place here or there, or after a few beers wander off in 'that direction' and hope to find something. As Rantor mentioned, things sometimes change very quickly.

The second of my two cents (again someone else’s suggestion) would actually be a trip to Antwerp, circa 45min, which I still find better for many of those things people might go away for a weekend for, i.e. food, drink, shopping, culture...and the railway station which was alone worth the trip according to a colleague at work.

[Rantor]

Avenue Louise and Toison D'or are quite nice areas with some good bars and restaraunts (Fleeties fave bar is up there), but I cant see Sal exploring too far in 4 days. There is enough for a long weekend in the centre.

Forgot. There is not a lot to do on a Sunday as most places are closed.
I think the antiques markets of the petit Sablon area are open so that is worth a mooch around, but don't expect too many bargains (or decent antiques for that matter).

Have a drink in the bars in the Grand Place. There is one somewhere that has coffins for tables and serves beer in skulls (never found it, directions anyone).
The alley ways just off hold the famous sea food restaraunts, though many are a bit touristy for my liking. St Catherine is similar and on one of the side streets there is an all you can eat ribs place (road from St Catherine to Rue Ansbach) though I cant recall its name.
I liked St Gery. Start in the Mappa Mundi and drink your way through the menu. There are a couple of nice Thai restaraunts here too.
The Corbeau just round the corner serves beer by the yard (cant remember what the glass was called), but gets rowdy later on, Sal might like that.

There is a sister statue to the manequin called the Janequin which I think is a much nicer statue and just across the alley from her is the "Delerium Cafe". It is downstairs in the cellar and boasts some 3000 beers in its list (plan for a long day).

A weekend in Brussels should not be spoiled by spending it in an Irish theme pub.

I will post anything else I remember.

Sundays the Marolles just below the Petit Sablon have the bric-a-brac/flea market and down near Rue Blaes (big flea market 5 mins from Sablon) there are some great, alebit busy, cafes with a very 'local' clientele on a Sunday morning. Some still speak a really weird dutch/french/swearing dialect.

Avoid Midi market on a sunday unless you want to buy cheap veg or a knock-off pushbike.

The museums are all open on a Sunday but no shops. All touristy things are shut on a Monday.

Top of Louise/Ave De Waterloo (petit ring) very good shopping area if you have loadsamoney.

Avoid Rue de Bouchers (near grand place) for restaurants except Chez Victoire, Aux Armes de Bruxelles and maybe Chez Leon.

As LG says Louise v good. If you get the 94:93 tram and get of at Bailli stop there are loads of good restaurants/bars around Baili/Chatelain area - bit of trendier bruxelloise area (it ain't far, I used to live there and walk into work near the centre.)

[Rantor]

There is a rum bar just off of Grand Place - can't think of the name of it but it's like a jungle inside and outside so it's not too hard to miss.

I got absolutely hammered in there.

Oh, and there's a cuban bar near there as well - tiny little place but pretty cool all the same.

Havana off Rue Haute (Marolles area below the Palais de Justice) is a good late night venue.

[freakydancer]

There is a rum bar just off of Grand Place - can't think of the name of it but it's like a jungle inside and outside so it's not too hard to miss.

I got absolutely hammered in there.

Oh, and there's a cuban bar near there as well - tiny little place but pretty cool all the same.

[The Lone Gunman]

I've never been there, but I remember Fleetwood talking about Avenue Louise (I think). Might not be SA's kind of thing though.

Avenue Louise and Toison D'or are quite nice areas with some good bars and restaraunts (Fleeties fave bar is up there), but I cant see Sal exploring too far in 4 days. There is enough for a long weekend in the centre.

Forgot. There is not a lot to do on a Sunday as most places are closed.
I think the antiques markets of the petit Sablon area are open so that is worth a mooch around, but don't expect too many bargains (or decent antiques for that matter).

Have a drink in the bars in the Grand Place. There is one somewhere that has coffins for tables and serves beer in skulls (never found it, directions anyone).
The alley ways just off hold the famous sea food restaraunts, though many are a bit touristy for my liking. St Catherine is similar and on one of the side streets there is an all you can eat ribs place (road from St Catherine to Rue Ansbach) though I cant recall its name.
I liked St Gery. Start in the Mappa Mundi and drink your way through the menu. There are a couple of nice Thai restaraunts here too.
The Corbeau just round the corner serves beer by the yard (cant remember what the glass was called), but gets rowdy later on, Sal might like that.

There is a sister statue to the manequin called the Janequin which I think is a much nicer statue and just across the alley from her is the "Delerium Cafe". It is downstairs in the cellar and boasts some 3000 beers in its list (plan for a long day).

A weekend in Brussels should not be spoiled by spending it in an Irish theme pub.

I will post anything else I remember.

[n5gooner]

Of course it does

[PRC1964]

I've never been there, but I remember Fleetwood talking about Avenue Louise (I think). Might not be SA's kind of thing though.

[moorgrime]

Brussels

It always saddens me when I hear the negative remarks about Brussels. each to his own I suppose. If you are looking for the pace of London or the chic of Paris, forget it.
Brussels is one of those places that grows on you after a time. I arrived here one cold, damp, foggy November evening and I probably thought the same - Thank Goodness I am only here for 6 months. That was coming up to 8 years ago, I am still here and I adore the place. Bring some stout sensible shoes because the best way to explore is by foot and public transport.
Once you have done the lower part, Grand Place, the Manekin Pis (is that it? I was expecting something bigger) and your task is to find the female equivalent, and all the surrounding streets,Bourse, St Gery, St. Catherine etc move on to the upper town via Mont Des Arts and on passing, marvel at the Art Nouveau building that is now the Museum of Musical Instruments to Place Royale round the corner to the Royal Palace and the Parc de Bruxelles. Carry on past the Palace to Trone, down Rue de Luxembourg towards the great pile that is the European Parliament.
Place Luxembourg is a popular spot for the after workers. Then of course there is Schuman, the Berlaymont and Parc Du Cinquantenaire. So many options.
If you do have a day to spare, hop on a train, the weekend fares are especially cheap and head off for any number of destinations. Bruges is worth one trip if you have not been before, Antwerp is popular with the expat crowd and Gent is underrated and well worth a visit.
Or you could just stay in O' Reillys and get p*ssed.
Don't let some people put you off, it's up to you to enjoy the place.

[anally retentive]

i'll back up what someone else said about place st catherine - there are some seriously good restaurants there. the assiettes de fruits de mer are pretty stunning, but be warned, the belgians eat a lot of their seaford virtually raw.

i loved brussels, to be honest. the nightlife isn't very clubby, but the bars in the centre are pretty good, and the locals are really friendly. make sure you get an open-top bus tour on the first day, then you can plan what you want to see more closely.

the architecture around grand place is pretty impressive as well.

[TheFaQQer]

Frite Land down the side of the Bourse does the most fantastic chips.

Looks like a bit of a dive, but the takeaway food is great.

[Gonzo]

I'm off to brussels in a couple of weeks...is it any good?

I would imagine I'll not do much else than sit plonked in a bar, guzzling fruity beer and eating mussles all day (every day)....which I dont imagine will be pretty

Any of you lot been? Someone on here is based there - I just cant remember who.

Can't remember anything good to see there but if you are still on the fags don't forget to stock up while you are there.

[TheRightStuff]

If I've been drinking all day, chance are I'll be tucked up in bed every night at about 10

I really am a bit of a grandma these day

Cheers for all your tips though LG - and everyone else!

classey woman. All the way to belgium to stay in a pub drinking and then go to bed at 10am. I could really see you in Eastenders - 'it's family'.