Brussels

To go to the Atomium you have to take the metro or tram. It is far from the center and takes a while to arrive, so book a morning or an afternoon just for this visit.

Have a walk in the Parc du Cinquantenaire (Metro Stop: MERODE). There are three museums in this park. Enter the military museum, if you do not want to visit it inform at the entrance that you would like to go up to see the door (it's free). From the Porte du Cinquantenaire you have a very nice view of the park and Brussels.

If you have not thought about it yet, I suggest you add a visit to the Good Beer Spa to your trip. You can walk from the Central Station or the Cathedral, it is a ten-minute walk and it will add a nice relaxing beer experience to your trip.

On the way from the Cathedral to the Beer Spa, you can find the Bier Circus with an amazing selection of beers but if you want to eat have a look at the restaurants in the street. Just at the end of this street in Place de la liberté, you can have a beer in the Caberdouche which has a big terrace. And if you want to have dinner after the Good Beer Spa session, going down the street, in place Saint Josse we have one of the 10 best pizzerias outside Italy, La Piola pizza.

good beer spa

 
Here below I have tried to mark on a downtown map what to visit, the best bars and the best places to eat.

The green arrow begins in the cathedral (because most people stay in the city center).

In red, the main entrance of the Central Station (to catch the train for excursions) and the Tourism Office (in the Grand Place, wall of the City Hall).

In blue circles, places to visit (tourism).

Yellow crosses for beer.

And orange circles where to eat.

 

Brussels Beer map

AVOID eating in Rue des Bouchers, it is a trap for tourists. They are very insistent and speak all languages. From outside it looks good, but it isn't. If you really want to eat there, try the Chez Leon just because is the one that will trick you less, but better go eating somewhere else.

My map's legend:

TOURISM:

  1. Cathedral: If it is open, you can enter and have a look for free. Sometimes you can climb the tower or go down to the crypt, for that you will have to pay.
  2. Royal Galery: It's worth crossing it. You will find all the chocolate shops and very expensive shops. (If you want to eat, the Arcadi, at the entrance opposite the Grand Place is the most recommendable in the area. They have some amazing pies that invite you to come in, food is good and the price affordable. (Service can be either very good or very bad, anyway in the last few years they have improved a lot).
  3. Grand Place: It is said to be the most beautiful square in Europe, and I agree. I recommend having a guide book at hand to read what each building is. Each house corresponds to a guild.
    At the entrance of the street that goes towards the Manneken Pis, there is a statue that everyone rubs a bit and takes a photo. It is said that if you touch it you will return to Brussels. You can also ask for a wish.
  4. Manneken Pis: Symbol of Brussels, essential. Chocolate shops and waffles all the way. It is the touristic route. I would not eat a waffle there, but I understand that as a tourist it will attract your attention and you will fall in temptation. Once here, there is a mandatory stop at the Puchenelle Kelder (best beer bar in Brussels). It has a terrace next to the Manekken and you can see the disappointment of the tourists when seeing the statue.
  5. The Stock Market: To have a look from the outside. The building holds expositions every now and then. Check if there is something interesting.

6. Place Saint Katrien: You can eat something in the ABC, like fish tapas with beer or wine, it's Spanish. On the opposite corner the NoordZee or Mer du Nord is the Belgian version, bigger, more expensive and even worse organized (but open on Sunday J). On the side of the church there is a men toilet, usually guys are excited to be able to piss legally on the wall of the church. Following that side you reach the other part of the square, larger and with fountains. To take a beer I recommend the Merlo (on the side of the second fountain).

7. Zinneken Pis: The pissing statues have become a symbol of Brussels, so in addition to the boy and the girl, here is the dog.

8. Saint Gery: It is an old market that has a bar inside. This is in the middle of a zone of bars and Thai restaurants.

9. Janneken Pis: Statue of the pissing girl. To get here you have to pass by Rue des Bouchers (the one of the restaurants for tourists), at the end of a cul-de-sac is the pissing girl and the Delirium Tremens. Enter the bar at least to see the decoration, I prefer the underground floor. In this alley, there is the Delirium, a Tequila bar, a cocktail bar... but the best is the one in the corner, the Delirium Monasterium where you will find all Trappist beers.

10. Place d'Espagne: There is a statue of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Spanish tourists like to pass by and take a photo with the statue.

 

BEER CAFES & PUBS:

Puchenelle Kelder: In my opinion the best beer cafe in Brussels. Have a look at the menu, they have a wide range of beers. You can trust the waiters to advise you. It has a terrace, and tables enough upstairs plus some downstairs. If you do not see a table free, ask. It has also some food in order not to drink on an empty stomach. 😊

A l'image de notre dame: It's a bit hidden, in a dead end of an alley. Be careful because there are two very similar alleys and the bar at the end of the other alley is not so cool. It is managed by two old women and they are usually unpleasant but they have Westmalle on draught. The good one is the one with the bathroom outside. This is the best place to have Kwak on draft. Friday and Saturday evenings there is live music.

Delirium Tremens + Delirium Monasterium: It is a must. The alley is crowded by night. I recommend you to go earlier to have more space and be able to see the beer decoration.

Little Delirium: Much smaller than the original in the alley of the Janneken Pis. The advantage is that is never crowed and they have a very good selection of beer on draught. It is located in the street of the pita places, just behind the Grand Place. If it is getting late in the night, the Greek pita restaurant are open until late and you will get much better quality than in a fritterie.

Merlo: Located in Saint Katrien, it has a terrace, good service and good beer. We normally drink Zinnebier there. It is a hoppy beer from Brussels. The beers of this brewery are characterized by a very special hoppy taste. And in the Merlo they serve it really well.

Bizon: Rock bar to go out by night. They have quite a good selection of beers as well and concert at least a couple of days per week. If you want to go out on a Monday this is the best place.

La Machine: Steampunk café to go out by night. They have some good beers and a few snacks. You might be lucky and have a concert. It is specialised in cocktails.

Booze & Blues: It is open till quite late by night and you can find some good beers. It is difficult to describe…it is a strange place with a special charm. It is somehow stuck in the past. There is a jukebox with the best Rock greatest hits, you can put a coin and choose your song. The owner is really peculiar, he is already burnt out but it is said he looks like Rosendo (a Spanish singer).

FOOD:

WOLF: It is the new Food Court in the center of the city. A big space with many restaurant options and a big bar in the middle. It is perfect for groups because everyone can choose what to eat and drink and there are many tables.

Kabuki: If you like sushi, this is fun. It is a buffet menu on a train that runs around the bar bringing to you all types of sushi and other small Japanese and Asiatic things to eat.

Lotus Bleu: Thai restaurant. I really recommend this one. It is very good and you will get double the quantity for the same price as in other places. We go often, mainly when we are in a small group because there are options for everyone, vegetarians and meat eaters. Our favourite dishes are the Pekin duck, salmon marmite and beef citronella.

Fin de siècle: If you are looking for Belgian food in the city center this is the best place. You will find Belgian cooking, good food, and a good price. It has a terrace outside, the best is to eat in the terrace but it is very difficult to get a table, normally you will need to wait. You will find the menu in a blackboard inside, this is very traditional in Belgium.

ABC:  There is a fishmonger inside and a bar to eat tapas outside. I prefer this one over the Belgian version in front. This one is cheaper, also chaotic but less than the NoordZee I would say and you can also order in Spanish. It sells only alcohol (wine, beer, cava), if you want a coke or a  bottle of water extra, you can buy it in the night shop next door. It closes at 6 p.m. and does not open on Sundays.

Griego pita: I don't know the name. But if you go out late and need to eat, I strongly recommend having a pitta here better than in any fritterie. The best one is the one with the red sunshades.