A Creative's Guide to Brussels

A curated selection of places to stay, eat, drink, shop and experience.

After an extended weekend trip to Brussels, we are getting settled back into life in Paris. While I had previously visited Antwerp, this was my first time to the capital city. As with any trip, I dove head first into research, scouting out all of the must-visit places, which for me typically include design-forward stays, independent shops, can’t miss restaurants, and fun things to do with the little ones.

Typically, the research phase doesn’t involve much digging, thanks to my go-to resources—trusted print and digital publications, insights from expert locals, and a few select (usually paid) Substacks. While research always takes considerable time, I wouldn’t call it “digging.” But Brussels was different. None of my usual sources covered the city, and online searches felt lacking. After hours of scouring the web, though, I finally compiled a solid list of places to visit.

I don’t believe I would classify Brussels as a *major European tourist destination, as many foreigners have their sights set on other cities like Paris, London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and the such. To be fair, it wasn’t at the top of my list either. We chose it as a (very) easy 1 hour and 20 minute escape from Paris, as our daughter has been on her two-week school holiday. We initially planned to visit Bruges as well, but decided to stay in Brussels for a more laid-back trip, avoiding the need for another train ride. With that being said, I would still highly recommend taking the train to Bruges if you find yourself in Brussels (or vice versa.) It’s a quick trip, just under an hour away.

As when visiting any destination for the first time, you might have an idea of what it may be like, but you can’t truly get a *feel for the place until you’re there. I will admit, I was a bit skeptical initially as we drove to our Airbnb from the Brussels Midi train station. However, as we approached our (very tasteful and cozy) stay in the neighborhood of Ixelles, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of coffee shops, wine bars, bakeries, and boutiques that lined the streets, quickly adding each place to my growing list.

Leopold Park in Late October

After spending several days in Brussels, and exploring various neighborhoods such as Saint-Gilles, Dansaert, Sablons and more, I have (somewhat) confidence saying that we selected the best neighborhood for our stay (at least based on our personal preferences.) I will clarify that Ixelles itself is a large area, and we actually stayed at two places within Ixelles: one stay closer to the city and the other away. We most definitely preferred the latter as it was calm and quaint, yet still lively and completely walkable. It felt friendly and safe, especially for families. Of course, as you neared closer to the city, the crowds grew and you inevitably lost that “neighborhood” vibe.

As with any trip, it all comes down to personal preferences and priorities. If you’re looking for a more active area, Dansaert or another centrally located neighborhood may be a great choice for you. However, if you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere, with a more “local” feel, I would recommend staying in Ixelles.

Now onto the recommendations!

The airbnb we stayed at in Ixelles

Stays:

• This design-forward Airbnb: We loved our stay here. As mentioned above, the location was perfect, especially for families. The home itself was very tastefully designed and equipped with everything you’d need for a comfortable stay. Now that we travel with two little ones, it’s becoming increasingly tricky to book at hotels. We either have to book two separate rooms or a larger suite (which obviously comes with a larger price tag as well!) This Airbnb provided a nice alternative. I didn’t feel like I had to compromise on my desire to book a design-forward stay, and we didn’t have to pay the price of two hotel rooms. Overall, I would highly recommend the stay itself as well as the neighborhood.

• Teddy Picker: If we were traveling solo, sans-kids, this would have been my top choice of stays. This five-bedroom hotel has a effortlessly “cool” vibe, featuring a minimal design composed of concrete, natural materials, and a neutral palette.

• The Hoxton Brussels: If you’re looking for a larger, more established hotel to book, the Hoxton Brussels provides tasteful design, trustworthy hospitality, and a central location nearby the Botanical Gardens.

• Hotel des Galeries: I initially bookmarked this boutique stay located in the Royal Galeries of Saint-Hubert as a front-runner. However, after visiting the popular Galeries, I’m glad we chose another option due to the amount of foot traffic the famous setting receives. Again, if you’re looking for a more lively location, this could be the perfect choice!

a very moody coffee at Belga & Co

Food & Drink

Coffeeshops and bakeries:

• Bautier: a furniture and design brand that also doubles as a cozy coffeeshop

• Jackie: for coffee & magazines

• Belga & Co: two locations within the city with very good coffee and house made pastries

• Café Capitale: for a coffee break nearby Grand Place/city center

• Buddy Buddy: a nut-focused coffee spot

• MOK: specialty coffee roastery & bar in the Dansaert district

• Grain: a bakery in Ixelles, with another location opening soon including a floral studio

• FINE: a bakery, now with two locations

Waffles from Maison Dandoy

Restaurants and more:

• Volta Supper Club: A fun spot for pizza and drinks in Ixelles

• Nyyó: Vietnamese small plates in Ixelles

• Le Petit Canon: A cozy wine bar in Ixelles

• Frank: For coffee, brunch, lunch near Grand Place

• Les Bignes du Liban: for Lebanese cuisine in the Marolles district

• Barracuda: The infamous Big Mamma Italian group just opened their first Brussels location. Bound to be delicious, but we skipped it as we have several of their locations available to us here in Paris.

• For Frites: Maison Antoine & the friterie connected to Café Georgette (have cash on you!)

• For waffles: We opted for Maison Dandoy inside of the Royal Galeries of Saint-Hubert. Slightly touristy? Yes. Picturesque and still delicious? Also yes.

I was a bit bummed because our trip aligned with many restaurant’s annual fall closures, including the following:

• Le Tournant

• Le 203

• Osteria Bolognese

left: Grand Place, right: view from Natural Sciences Museum

Things to Do

Museums and parks:

• Spend a few hours at the Royal Belgian institute of Natural Sciences, then stroll in Leopold Park afterwards. Great option for kids!

• Other museum visits: Royal Museum of Fine Arts, MIMA, and the Weirtz museum

• Other Parks: Parc de Bruxelles, Botanical Gardens, Parc du Cinquantenaire

Shopping and more:

• Visit the famous Grand Place

• The Royal Galeries of Saint-Hubert (for luxury brands, chocolatiers and more) and the Galerie Bortier (for books, vintage prints, art and more.) I imagine both would be stunning during the holiday season!

• Bookshops: Saint-Martin Bookshop, Passa Porta NL, Peinture Fraiche, rile*, projects, books

• Sablon District: a higher-end, picturesque district known for antiques and art

• Stijl: fashion boutique

• Songes Perfumés: a beautiful perfumery recommended to me by @zoe_cope_creative

• Antique/Vintage: Jeu de Balles flea market and Via Antica

And that’s a wrap on Brussels! I hope you enjoyed this creative guide to the capital city of Belgium. Be sure to bookmark this post for an upcoming trip, or share it with a friend who might be traveling there soon.

Until next week,