Brussels, Brussels Travel

In Love with Brussels

People come to Brussels for a number of reasons. Let it be the chocolate and chilled beer or it can be the people of Belgium, great hosts welcoming the tourists from all over the places. After living in Brussels for a short while, you will fall in love with the cosmopolitan city, modest inhabitants, exquisite architecture, extraordinary nightlife, and start an amazing love affair with fried potatoes just like the local popularity.

Brussels: Officially Yours

European Union’s capital and of Belgium, Brussels, the metropolis comprising nineteen municipalities, is the center of attraction for international politicians and the polyglot home of diplomats, numerous organizations, over 1.8 million inhabitants. Flemish and French are both official languages of Brussels but you will also find people speaking English as well. The art nouveau capital, Brussels, has too much to offer to her visitors that includes local museums, parks, gardens, international cuisine at famous restaurants and luxurious accommodation at hotels. Last but not the least, spectacular array of architecture marvels, buildings, synagogues, churches and so much more is also there at Brussels.

The Modest Brussels

To the first time visitor, Brussels may not be that promising as the city exposes her slowly and unveils her beauty in a way that captures the heart of the spectator in a strange way. You will lose yourself to the mesmerizing grandeur of this historical city once you are accustomed to the local taste and moods. The city holds cosmopolitan flair and has all that in her to not to disappoint the visitors. Waffles and chocolates, food and beer are the temptations for many tourists to make this place one of the hottest tourist destinations.

Belgian Food and delicacies from around the world

You can find Europe’s finest restaurants along with variety of local and international cuisines at Brussels. You can eat Chinese dishes if you are weight watcher or go for spicy mouth-watering recipes at Spanish and Brazilian restaurant. From traditional specialties to the “Waterzooi” waffles, you can find anything and everything your heart desires. Search for good food in Brussels would never be satisfying if you could not visit some of the following restaurants:

Amadeo - traditional Belgium environment and typical atmosphere

Would you like to eat in the traditional Belgium environment and typical atmosphere? Visit Amadeo, the restaurant in Brussels offering good food and their specialty food item “spare ribs”. By spending just a few Euros, you can have terrific and relaxed experience at this restaurant. Their finger licking food has the taste that compels you to come back again and again. Service is impeccable.

Planète chocolate

Who would say NO to the purely homemade chocolate? It is served with pride at the famous Planète chocolat. Without adding any preservatives, color or additional ingredients the chocolate is prepared with cocoa butter and finest ingredients tempting enough to attract you in a strange way. While in Brussels, you may hear often “hmmm” or “yum”, the exact sound one may produce after tasting the mouthwatering chocolate delicacies. This tea-tasting saloon would invite you to a world of taste and place to unwind, dance, and crave for more.

La Medina

Do you find it fascinating the rich and colorful décor? Visit the Moroccan restaurant if you feel like raiding somewhere in Marrakesh. Two of the prominent features of this fabulous restaurant with smart interior and modest exterior are service and friendliness. The atmosphere at this restaurant would beg you to stay. Once your feet touch the floor you may dance at Moroccan music the whole night. Do not forget to order the favorite dish of many others called the "Delice du soleil". Drink tea with mint after tasting the original recipes of chicken and lamb for healthy digestion and relaxation.

Romance at Midnight

If you are, missing home for all those party times and hanging out with friends then worry no more. Brussels has unique party life to offer after dark at many nightlife spots like:

La Tentation - enjoy good music

You can do salsa and enjoy good music at spacious La Tentation. Looking for some traditional music, classic dances and performances then La Tentation is the place to be in the late hours. You can check with the schedule of this Spanish restaurant and café established in grand art nouveau style building for the musical events, dance groups, concerts, and exhibitions. You can learn to dance or play music by enrolling yourself for the classes and always admire the elegant architecture when you have a chance to visit the place often.

Le 144

Are you the greatest R&B fan? Le 144 is the place where you have to be every night when in Brussels. Dance on the floor and meet sexy girls who can enter the vicinity without paying any entrance fee. Great place to rewind and have fun for those who feel like dancing at two ‘O’ clock in the morning.

Havana Club

Dance until your feet are tired and then chill sipping a glass of fresh juice or liquor on one of the bar stools by the bar counter. Variety is the key to success, this is what this superb bar, and restaurant has to offer to its thriving crowd in form of large collection of music and enjoy the ever-changing atmosphere while being there.

Religiously Yours

Besides the nightlife and festive atmosphere, there is another side of the Brussels city. The peace and tranquility that is equally irresistible to miss. Unlike the chilling atmosphere at various bars and clubs, you get a very new experience after visiting the religious places and sanctuaries in Brussels. You can visit the churches, synagogues, or mosques to find inner peace and tranquility for your soul.

The synagogue at rue de la Régence 32 is situated in the Sablon area, this synagogue has very nice feel inside and allows the visitors an out of the way and worthy experience by visiting this place. Like many other churches and Buddhist sanctuaries, the building may not look much different from an ordinary one but once you visit the inside you can have impeccable experience. Once you enter the house of lama or a Buddhist temple, you would feel like visiting Tibet. You would feel the environment and atmosphere too tempting to join and it is too inviting to see all those people praying and the décor as well as lama meditating to reach the state of enlightenment or nirvana. Later, you will be served cookies with tea after the chanting and meditation. You would never forget the welcoming and friendliness ever in your life that you are going to experience here.

Belgian love affair with Fried potatoes

You will find people in Brussels crazy for French fries and delicious homemade tartar sauce. You can buy fried potatoes at any of the seven thousand Friterie or potato stands in the city by spending a couple of Euros. Served in the paper cones these French fries are very popular among the tourists as well. The savory fries with dollop of sauce or mayonnaise not only fulfills the empty stomach but satisfies the taste buds as well. Pubs are to London similarly potato stands or frities are to Brussels in Belgium. Frities’ popularity is increasing day by day and crossing the borders of Belgium. Potato stands or frities like the one they have in Belgium are opening in many other countries as well.

The coolest museum

There are more than eighty museums in Brussels. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts and Musical Instrument Museum are one of these. Millions of spectators visit the art museums to watch the collections of famous Flemish painters. The modern museum that displays the huge collection of musical instruments receives hundreds of tourists. You can roam inside the beautiful building wearing a pair of headphones to hear the rhapsody, classical, jazz, country or any kind of music and musical instrument in the museum. More than seventy thousand musical instruments from all over the distant places and countries displayed at the museum attract flocks of people daily. Entrance cost is 5 euros per adult and you cannot take your backpacks, bags, or jackets inside the museum. Families and especially children love the museum trip and visit the restaurant built on the top floor of the museum. You do not have to be a music fan to visit this exciting and entertaining place at all because besides the music and musical instruments the museum provides the city view in a fantastic manner while standing at the topmost floor waiting for your turn in the restaurant.

Not miss in Brussels

Horta, the famous architect’s brilliant student called Alphonse Ballat conceived and designed the Royal Gardens in the nineteenth century. Built with glass and iron this botanical house contains some of the rarest and exotic species of plants that belonged to the King Leopold times. You can find many varieties of plants and herbs from other countries as well. Visit also the Sculpture Park to see the masterpiece statues all over the place. You can enjoy the beautiful artwork while enjoying the shadow of trees under the sun.

Great Places to stay in Brussels

Brussels has an array of five star, four star and three star hotels where you can stay along with your family or friends. As per the customary and traditional hospitality, the hotels’ staff and services are impeccable. You will find all the amenities of life including the necessities and optional luxuries like day visits and tours operated by the administration of some of the hotels. You would not find any difficulty to find a good place to conduct your official event or seminar at one of these classy hotels. Some of the popular and famous hotels in Brussels are the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo, Le Meridien Brussels, Marriott Hotel Brussels, and Hilton Brussels City. You can easily find and book the budget hotel to luxurious and expensive accommodation by visiting any good travel website on the internet.