Beyond the Postcard

I recently had the privilege of traveling to Belgium in what I think is its most charming season, in the middle of fall right as Christmas decorations are going up. And it did not disappoint. It was charming and cozy with its old buildings and fall leaves but also lively with its one-of-a-kind beer scene and amazing food.

Brussels can be summed up in a few pretty amazing words. And those words are: waffles, chocolate, fries, seafood, beer, walking, and rain. Did you know it rains an average of 200 days a year?! Well, I didn’t… but nevertheless, I loved this little city.

Here are my top spots, a few iconic sights, and some words of wisdom for experiencing the best of Belgium!

Let’s start with everyone’s favorite- Where to eat and drink:

Friterie Tabora           

For fries that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and for my people who value sauce as a high priority, you must check out Friterie Tabora. They make all batches of fries right on the spot and have 50 sauces to choose from. It is also located in the center of the city, which makes it an easy pitstop after sightseeing or time at the bar. The line can get pretty long but it moves quickly so you don’t really need to worry about that. One thing to note though, is if you go too late in the evening, there might be a chance they are out of the sauce you wanted.

Maison Dandoy

Maison Dandoy is a very popular spot to get waffles in Brussels. So much so, there was a line out the door during a rainstorm for people waiting to dine in their tea room. They have 2 types of waffles to choose from, the Brussels style and the Liège style, and I would recommend choosing the Liège style. This style was dense and tasted like something you could only get in Belgium, while the Brussels style was crispier and kind of tasted like an Eggo waffle (I’m so sorry Maison Dandoy, I feel so bad saying that out loud!)

Nordzee

Next up we have seafood! While this may sound weird at first, Belgium is actually really close to the North Sea. Its north-west border opens up directly onto the sea making the seafood extremely fresh and delicious. If this sounds like your thing, I would highly recommend a tiny counter service restaurant called Nordzee. My friends and I tried just about everything on this menu because it was so good, we kept going back to order more. The fish soup, fish nuggets (which are basically small pieces of fried fish), and swordfish are my personal favorite items. The shrimp croquettes are also very yummy and taste like crab dip on the inside, but they were one of the most expensive things on the menu and only came with two. This was slightly disappointing, but only because they were so good. And last but not least, if you are an adventurous eater, I would recommend trying the escargot soup. It is not pleasing to the eye, (go figure,) but it has a good, spicy flavor and is a super cool thing to say you have eaten.

Delirium Village

And finally, DRINKS! It doesn’t matter if you are a beer fanatic or if you just like to embrace the culture, any trip to Brussels would not be complete without a visit to the one-of-a-kind, Delirium Village. This cul-de-sac consists of 8 bars, each with multiple floors, and their own specialty type of alcohol and if you are to visit just 2, my vote goes to Delirium Café and Floris Bar. Delirium Café holds the world record for the most beers on tap, with over 2,000 beers to pick from and a different menu on each floor. If 2,000 beers sounds overwhelming, not to worry, there’s a solution for that! Head up to the top floor, also known as the Hoppy Loft, and order a meter long flight board that contains sample sizes of 10 of the most popular beers they have to offer. Everything about this place is fun, welcoming, and an all-around good time. And if things couldn’t get any better, right across the street, is Floris bar, which specializes in absinthe and a really cool aesthetic. Always wanted to give it a try? Now’s the perfect time. Order the absinthe classic from the bartender and you will be presented with a beautiful shot of absinthe, a flaming sugar cube, and some water to chase. And not to fear, I personally asked the bartender what a safe amount to consume was and he said 5, so you’re in the clear and it’s really just for the fun of it!

Sights:

• The Grand Place (both at night and during the day)
• The Royal Galleries
  • Tropismes for book lovers
• Mont des Arts
• The Royal Quarter and the Royal Palace of Brussels
• Parc de Brussels
• Pissing Boy (voted most disappointing attraction in Europe but funny to see because his image is everywhere in Brussels)

Tips:

1. Bring an umbrella. Even if there is no rain on the forecast, bring an umbrella.
2. Keep in mind that the airport is a solid 30-45 minutes by train away from the center of the city.
3. Avoid staying in the Brussels-Midi area. That’s where we stayed and we were informed by a local that it was a pretty unsafe area and not to walk home at night.
4. Get lots of chocolate at Duty Free in the airport!
5. Take a day trip to Ghent! – And if you do, be sure to do a canal tour, and eat at Bridge next to the Belfry Tower!