![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-Manneken-Pis.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-zinneke-pis.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nManneken Pis belongs to Brussels like beer, fries, and waffles. I’ll be honest \u2014 I still don’t quite get why everyone is so excited about this pissing boy, it’s really not THAT amazing. He’s got a sister too: Jeanneke Pis, peeing in a side street off Rue des Bouchers for decades now, similarly underwhelming. What I actually liked was Zinneke Pis, the peeing dog, at the corner of Rue des Chartreux and Rue de Vieux-March\u00e9 \u2014 no tourist crowds around it, which honestly makes it more fun to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Street Art<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-ROA-street-art.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStreet art in Brussels is genuinely excellent. At almost every corner you stumble on something new \u2014 sometimes I’d photograph a piece and only notice a second one hidden on the same building afterward. If you’re into street art, look out for work by artists like ROA around the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’d rather see the highlights with a guide, the Brussels Card<\/a> covers Atomium skip-the-line entry plus 48 museums and discounts at several places on this list, including Les Filles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPowered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat to Eat & Drink in Brussels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You genuinely cannot leave Brussels without trying the chocolate, the beer, and the fries \u2014 the city takes all three seriously enough that even locals argue about who does it best. A walking tour combining lunch, chocolate tastings, and beer<\/a> is a genuinely efficient way to cover the classics \u2014 it starts at Grand Place, passes Manneken Pis, and works through several of the city’s best chocolatiers along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPowered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\nCaf\u00e9s<\/h2>\n\n\n\nL’atelier En Ville<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-Latelier-En-Ville.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nL’atelier En Ville<\/a> is a mixture of caf\u00e9, bar, furniture shop, fashion shop and beer garden \u2014 five things at once. It’s expanded since I first found it, with a few locations across the city now. Perfect to stroll around, drink a coffee, and especially in summer the beer garden is a great spot for a relaxed evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCafe Pom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I tried multiple times to visit Caf\u00e9 Pom<\/a> years ago and it was closed every single time \u2014 genuinely frustrating, since it looked great from outside. Good news: it’s since become a real, actively-reviewed spot, so whatever was going on back then seems resolved. Worth checking out now.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOR Espresso Bar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The best coffee in town is at OR Espresso Bar<\/a> \u2014 they roast their own beans nearby, and the self-made lemonade and iced tea are just as good if coffee isn’t your thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRestaurants<\/h2>\n\n\n\nLes Filles, Plaisirs Culinaires<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-les-filles.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-les-filles1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLes Filles<\/a> has moved locations a couple of times since it started but is still going strong \u2014 it’s even a current Brussels Card discount partner. You sit at long communal tables together with strangers for lunch or dinner, and on weekends they also serve breakfast. It’s a little tricky to find and you’ll need to ring the doorbell to get in, which is part of the charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBrasserie Arcadi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Arcadi<\/a> (now officially “Brasserie Arcadi,” though most people still call it Arcadi Caf\u00e9) is as Brussels as it gets, tucked at the entrance to the Galerie du Roi. First I thought it would be too crowded to get a table, but after two minutes of waiting I got one. The waiters can be a bit brusque, but the food is worth it regardless.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFin de Si\u00e8cle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At Fin de Si\u00e8cle<\/a> you’ll get good, local food served on long communal tables (people in Brussels genuinely seem to love sitting with strangers). The atmosphere mixes Belgian charm with a Bavarian beer-garden feel. It gets properly crowded after 7pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\nShopping<\/h2>\n\n\n\nGabriele Vintage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-gabriele-vintage.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGabriele Vintage is a true treasure chest for vintage lovers \u2014 often called the “mother” of all vintage shops in Brussels, running since 1998. I stepped inside to find shelter from the rain once and nearly didn’t leave. Some pieces aren’t cheap, but the collection genuinely spans decades, from the 1920s through the 80s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Het Ivoren Aapje Book Store<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-het-ivoren-aapje.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHet Ivoren Aapje is a book store like something out of a movie \u2014 I wouldn’t be surprised if there were magic books hidden on one of the shelves. If you love books, you’ll spend hours here. Owner Frederik Deflo can tell you a story about nearly every book, and there’s usually a sleeping dog on the sofa too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Halles Saint-G\u00e9ry Vintage Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Br\u00fcssel](\"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Bru%CC%88ssel-les-halles-saint-gery-flohmarkt.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHalles Saint-G\u00e9ry itself didn’t impress me much, but if you happen to be in Brussels on the first Sunday of the month, there’s a genuinely great vintage market<\/a> that takes over the space \u2014 still running today. Perfect for a shopping stroll after brunch. If you’re into flea markets on other days, the one at Place du Jeu de Balle runs daily.<\/p>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStreet art in Brussels is genuinely excellent. At almost every corner you stumble on something new \u2014 sometimes I’d photograph a piece and only notice a second one hidden on the same building afterward. If you’re into street art, look out for work by artists like ROA around the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’d rather see the highlights with a guide, the Brussels Card<\/a> covers Atomium skip-the-line entry plus 48 museums and discounts at several places on this list, including Les Filles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You genuinely cannot leave Brussels without trying the chocolate, the beer, and the fries \u2014 the city takes all three seriously enough that even locals argue about who does it best. A walking tour combining lunch, chocolate tastings, and beer<\/a> is a genuinely efficient way to cover the classics \u2014 it starts at Grand Place, passes Manneken Pis, and works through several of the city’s best chocolatiers along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L’atelier En Ville<\/a> is a mixture of caf\u00e9, bar, furniture shop, fashion shop and beer garden \u2014 five things at once. It’s expanded since I first found it, with a few locations across the city now. Perfect to stroll around, drink a coffee, and especially in summer the beer garden is a great spot for a relaxed evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried multiple times to visit Caf\u00e9 Pom<\/a> years ago and it was closed every single time \u2014 genuinely frustrating, since it looked great from outside. Good news: it’s since become a real, actively-reviewed spot, so whatever was going on back then seems resolved. Worth checking out now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best coffee in town is at OR Espresso Bar<\/a> \u2014 they roast their own beans nearby, and the self-made lemonade and iced tea are just as good if coffee isn’t your thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Les Filles<\/a> has moved locations a couple of times since it started but is still going strong \u2014 it’s even a current Brussels Card discount partner. You sit at long communal tables together with strangers for lunch or dinner, and on weekends they also serve breakfast. It’s a little tricky to find and you’ll need to ring the doorbell to get in, which is part of the charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arcadi<\/a> (now officially “Brasserie Arcadi,” though most people still call it Arcadi Caf\u00e9) is as Brussels as it gets, tucked at the entrance to the Galerie du Roi. First I thought it would be too crowded to get a table, but after two minutes of waiting I got one. The waiters can be a bit brusque, but the food is worth it regardless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Fin de Si\u00e8cle<\/a> you’ll get good, local food served on long communal tables (people in Brussels genuinely seem to love sitting with strangers). The atmosphere mixes Belgian charm with a Bavarian beer-garden feel. It gets properly crowded after 7pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriele Vintage is a true treasure chest for vintage lovers \u2014 often called the “mother” of all vintage shops in Brussels, running since 1998. I stepped inside to find shelter from the rain once and nearly didn’t leave. Some pieces aren’t cheap, but the collection genuinely spans decades, from the 1920s through the 80s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Het Ivoren Aapje is a book store like something out of a movie \u2014 I wouldn’t be surprised if there were magic books hidden on one of the shelves. If you love books, you’ll spend hours here. Owner Frederik Deflo can tell you a story about nearly every book, and there’s usually a sleeping dog on the sofa too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Halles Saint-G\u00e9ry itself didn’t impress me much, but if you happen to be in Brussels on the first Sunday of the month, there’s a genuinely great vintage market<\/a> that takes over the space \u2014 still running today. Perfect for a shopping stroll after brunch. If you’re into flea markets on other days, the one at Place du Jeu de Balle runs daily.<\/p>\nWhat to Eat & Drink in Brussels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Caf\u00e9s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
L’atelier En Ville<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCafe Pom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
OR Espresso Bar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Restaurants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Les Filles, Plaisirs Culinaires<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBrasserie Arcadi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fin de Si\u00e8cle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shopping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Gabriele Vintage<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHet Ivoren Aapje Book Store<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHalles Saint-G\u00e9ry Vintage Market<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
![<\/i>Pin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/i>Share<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I always thought Brussels is kind of boring, but Brussels surprised me! With some amazing caf\u00e9s, shops and cool things to see!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":9195,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[703,601,562],"tags":[748,749,745],"class_list":["post-7227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belgium","category-europe","category-travelous-around-the-world","tag-belguim","tag-brussels","tag-city-trips-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7227"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20191,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7227\/revisions\/20191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.justtravelous.com\/en\/brussels\/&media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justtravelous.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F02%2FBrussels.png&description=I+always+thought+Brussels+is+kind+of+boring%2C+but+Brussels+surprised+me%21+With+some+amazing+caf%C3%A9s%2C+shops+and+cool+things+to+see%21+via+%40justtravelous\"){kind=link}