Few will be able to resist this beautiful art deco bistro, located near Place du Chatelain, Avenue Louise and Avenue Waterloo. The French cuisine features mainly regional fare from places like Basque and Landes. Names such as Chipirones A La Plancha (baby squid) and Piquillos with Cod will be music to the ears for seafood lovers. This is also a great place for business lunches or dinners, receptions and cocktails or other kinds of special events; the owners also provide outside catering.
This hidden gem of an eatery is more than it appears. A warm cozy interior with walls painted in soft soothing shades of brown, wooden floorboards, candlelight and white table linen are the formula for this snug restaurant. While Le Petit Boxeur may be on the quainter side, the cuisine here is absolutely spectacular. The food is classic and traditional Belgian cuisine, but with a touch of modern technique and presentation.
Jazz-pianist Stan Brenners first opened this gorgeous bar in the 1940s and in the 1980s, a group of trendy young folks renovated and reopened the place, turning it into the quintessential Brussels nightspot. Hang out at L'Archiduc or take your place behind the piano if you dare. There is usually live jazz on Sundays at 5p and on Saturdays there's Le Jazz après shopping (Jazz after shopping), which you can enjoy for free. The owners offer excellent wines and fabulous cocktails.
You'll find this typical Parisian brasserie next to Bois de la Cambre. Smart waiters welcome you at the entrance right next to a wonderful display of fresh fish, shellfish, lobsters and other sea treasures. You can take out your plateau de fruits de mer for a chic picnic in the woods. The ambiance of the restaurant is cozy, relaxing and friendly and you can rub shoulders with the local beau monde.
This elegant establishment is housed in a 17th-century building overlooking the Grand Place. At one point La Maison du Cygne was a popular cafe where in 1881 the Belgian Socialist Party was founded. Now it consists of one of the finest restaurants and bars in Brussels, where elegance, class and style are standard. There are five different rooms—the most coveted seats overlooking Grand Place. The cuisine is classic French, and the wine cellar has a permanent stock of no less than 70,000 bottles.
Once an ironmonger's shop and now a trendy restaurant, this charming bistro is visited regularly by famous people from all over Europe including Helmut Kohl, Gérard Depardieu and The Gipsy Kings. It serves delicious meat dishes including seasonal game and fish. Oysters and the seafood platter are house specialties. Lunch is served from Monday to Friday, as is the so-called What The Bosses are Having Today three-course meal. The menu changes weekly according to the availability of fresh ingredients.
With love at the heart of this bistro's menu, it is hard to go wrong with any selection you make at Le Chou. Chef Dominique Aubry has put a new spin on the definition of "bistro food" by adding modern flare and technique to classic French and Belgian dishes. Le Chou offers a prix fixe menu, which includes dessert, and the large and enticing wine selection has something to compliment any dish on the menu.
In business since 1912, the family-owned Maison Renardy offers the very best in exceptional teas, coffees, and handmade chocolates, candies, pastries, and breads. Snuggled conveniently on the corner of Rue Anoul and Chaussée de Wavre, the shop's large glass windows are perfect for people watching or letting in light to read by. The perfect place to spend an afternoon chatting or relaxing, the Maison Renardy is classy yet undeniably comfortable and charming. If you don't have time to sit down and stay, Maison Renardy also sells loose leaf tea, snacks, and baked goodies to-go.
L'ancienne Poissonerie brings a true Italian dining experience to Brussels. Located in a building considered a cultural heritage site, its Art Noveau exterior immediately catches the eye. The inside of the restaurant brings past and present together with modern, comfortable tables and chairs overlooked by a ceramic mural from 1926. With only the highest quality ingredients used in its dishes, the menu utilizes traditional Italian favorites alongside more modern fare. Though the restaurant honors its name by serving a number of fish and seafood dishes, there is also a range of meats, pastas, and desserts to be enjoyed.
Mano à Mano is a great addition to the eclectic Rue Saint-Boniface. Nestled among several bars and cafes in Ixelles, this one is popular for its classic Italian cuisine and excellent wine. On the menu are delicious pizza varieties like Margherita, Napoletana and Capricciosa, as well as pasta specialties like Rigatoni ai quatro formaggi and Spaghetti al pesto. The best seat in the house is arguably one on their cobbled terrace overlooking the picturesque street.