march-2013

u u
bcn txl bud edi gva ncl osl tlv vce vno
brussels
belgium
10,438,353
Euro (EUR)
+32 6°C
emma beddington
There’s been a flurry of new openings in
Brussels, from hotels to art exhibitions
SABLON
Place du Sablon is one of Brussels’
most beautiful squares – and with
a weekend antiques market and a
wealth of good bars and shops, it’s
the perfect place to wander.
SLEEP In a vast modern tower
overlooking Egmont Park, The Hotel
(Boulevard de Waterloo 38, (0)504
3335, thehotel-brussels.be, rooms
from €125) is both elegant and
well-equipped. Most rooms have a
breathtaking view over the city, and
there’s a buzzy 24th-floor bar and
an excellent spa and fitness centre.
EAT L’Ecailler du Palais Royal (Rue
Bodenbroek 18, (0)512 8751) is one
of Brussels’ classic special-occasion
restaurants: set in a 17th-century brick
house on the Grand Sablon, it has crisp
white tablecloths, sublime seafood and
wonderful views over the square.
CULTURE The ING Cultural Centre
(Place Royale 6) is currently hosting
Yves Saint Laurent: Visionary, an
exhibition of the designer’s most
revolutionary creations, from the paper
dolls he created as an adolescent to
the famous ‘Smoking’. The Brussels
Conservatoire (Rue de la Régence 30)
INFO
Brussels Airport
is 11km north east
of the city, in
Zaventem.
Train
Trains from Brussels
Airport depart from
Terminal-1 every 15
minutes at peak
times for the three
main city centre
stations. The journey
takes around 25
minutes and public
transport day passes
cost €4.50.
Bus
The bus station
is one level below
the arrivals hall.
Bus services 12
(weekdays) and
21 (evenings and
weekends) to the
city centre depart
every 30 minutes;
one-way tickets
cost €3.50.
Taxi
The journey to the
city centre costs
€45 and takes
around 25 minutes.
Tourist info
The main offi ce
is at Rue Royale 2,
(0)2 513 89 40,
visitbrussels.be
is located on the Sablon, and on Friday
lunchtimes the public is invited to
attend a series of free concerts by the
very talented students. On 8 March
there’s a Prokofiev recital and on 29
March, the composition students will
showcase new works.
SHOP Frenchman Patrick Roger
(Place du Grand Sablon 43) is a recent
arrival among the Sablon’s many
chocolatiers, and has won over locals
and tourists alike with his jewel-like
pralines and delectable soft caramels.
Beauty boutique Kroonen & Brown
(Rue Lebeau 49) is a welcoming white
space specialising in niche fragrance
and beauty brands, from Miller Harris
colognes to RMS organic cosmetics.
LATER The Marquee (Rue Sainte Anne
20/22) calls itself a “deluxe microclub”.
It’s certainly stylish – check out the
vast chandelier – but is big enough
to spread over three floors, playing
mainly techno and electro on the
ground-floor dancefloor.
TIP On 2 March, Brussels is gripped
by Museum Night Fever. From 7pm to
1am, 23 of the city’s biggest and best
museums stay open with special
activities, concerts, fashion shows
and DJ sets.
A tranquil room at
Made in Louise, close
to Place Stéphanie
ST JOSSE
Multicultural St Josse isn’t one
of Brussels best-known communes.
Nonetheless, there’s a surprising
amount of cultural activities on
offer, as well as some beautiful
art nouveau architecture.
SLEEP The Phileas Fogg (Rue
Van Bemmel 6, (0)495 220 985,
phileasfogg.be, rooms from €95) is
an exquisitely decorated B&B. It’s set
in a rambling 19th-century townhouse,
decorated with finds from owner Karin
Dhadamus’s travels around the world.
On Friday nights, Karin cooks up a table
d’hôte feast for guests (€30 per person).
EAT Exquisite art nouveau brasserie De
Ultieme Hallucinatie (Rue Royale 316,
(0)2 217 0614) has finally reopened
after a three-year closure. It’s a
sympathetic and minimal restoration,
preserving all of the tavern’s charm and
its museum-quality fixtures and fittings.
The food was never the main draw, and
the menu of brasserie staples – steaks,
mussels, salads – is largely unchanged.
CULTURE In the former greenhouses
of the botanic gardens, the Botanique
(Rue Royale 236) cultural centre is
the city’s best venue for new music. In