Europe a la Carte Blog

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Back this spring, TripAdvisor conducted a survey and concluded that Brussels was Europe’s most boring city.  Mon dieu!  I couldn’t disagree more, and for that, I make a public apology to Brussels.  The Belgian capital is one of the most authentic European cities that I know and just because it refuses to not bow down to preconceived notions that tourists have about European capitals does not mean that it is boring.    There are plenty of reasons why you should love Brussels; here are only a few.

Playful Brussels Art - Copyright by Andrew Hayes

Food

Some of the best food I’ve had on the entire continent has been in Brussels.  Going far beyond ‘Mussels in Brussels’, you can have mouth-watering steaks, rich and creamy pastas, and the best chips (French fries) in the world.  Top all that off with a Belgian waffle, topped with fresh strawberries, fresh strawberry confiture, and fluffy whipped cream.  What more could one want?

Tip:  Try the steaks at Aux Paves des Bruxelles (Rue Marche-au-Fromage 1-3).

Drink

Everyone knows that Belgian brews are some of the best ever made – in fact, some modern day brewing methods originated from the work in the medieval Belgian abbeys.  Brussels is full of pubs serving the good stuff on draught; the atmosphere is fantastic as you can find high-ranking EU officials mingling in the same space as an “in the know” tourist. 

Tip: It might be in most tourists books, but still check out La Mort Subite (7, rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères).

Architecture

The Grand Place or main square in Brussels is my favourite city square in all of Europe.  Ok, there I said it.  Feel free to agree or disagree with that, but it cannot be denied that on a clear evening the Grand Place is a magical and beautiful setting.  Pop into one of the cafes alongside the square’s perimeter and soak up the ambience.

Tip:  Head further afield and check out the art noveau grandeur at the Victor Horta Museum (25 rue Américaine).

Sense of Humour

Who doesn’t love the Manneken Pis?  As if the statue wasn’t adorable enough, the little boy appears to have an extensive wardrobe, ranging from military uniforms to sportswear and holiday-themed apparel.  I think this great statue reflects the fun, quirky sense of humour that Belgians have and it is this aspect of their society that makes Brussels such a welcoming place to visit.

Tip:  Did you know that Manneken Pis has a sister, Janneken Pis?  Head to the end of the Impasse de la Fidélité and see for yourself.

Do you love Brussels, or do you find it boring?

If you fancy eating while suspended 5o metres above ground and have deep pockets, with rental excluding catering starting at 7900 euros, then the Belgian firm Dinner in the Sky can provide you with a unit suspended mid air by an industrial crane which seats 22 diners around a table and 3 service staff in the centre.

Dinner in the Sky in Amiens

Now I’m going to be the boring one and ask about issues such as motion sickness if it’s windy, what if it starts to rain and toilet facilities.

It seems that prefabs are on the up again with as the low cost solution to providing cheap and chic accommodation in cites. Qbic Hotels currently have one “out the box” hotels in Amsterdam, with Maastricht and Antwerp due to open early in 2008.

The central cube of a Qbic hotel room

The rooms are described as having cool and futuristic design. You can even change the colour of the lighting according to your mood. Rooms cost from 39 euros per night with pricing modelled on low cost airlines, so you’d have to book well in advance and be staying in low season to get the cheapest rates. I did a few searches for the Amsterdam hotel and the price varied between 59 - 129 euros per night.