Best Spots in Brussels for The Unhurried Travellers
Home · Brussels · The Unhurried Traveller
For a relaxed pace
From the classic Grand Place and Manneken Pis, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
★ 4.7 · 178,158 reviews
Begin your Brussels trip at the Grand Place, the ornate square at the city's historic core. Slowly turn on the cobbles to take in the guild houses, the Gothic Town Hall and the gilded rooflines.
★ 4.0 · 85,684 reviews
Meet Manneken Pis, the tiny bronze boy that has become Brussels' mascot. Squeeze to the front for a look at the statue, and with luck, catch him in one of his many costumes.
★ 4.4 · 114,262 reviews
Ride into the Atomium, Brussels' unmistakable steel atom rising above the Heysel plateau. Ascend through its linked spheres by escalator, browse the exhibitions and look out over the city from 92 metres.
★ 4.7 · 1,943 reviews
Take in Brussels Town Hall, the Gothic jewel of the Grand Place. Study its carved facade and tower, then go inside to see the tapestries and the mirrored concert hall.
★ 4.5 · 46,333 reviews
Discover the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, a glass-roofed arcade that has welcomed shoppers since 1847. Stroll beneath its arched roof past boutiques, cafés and theatres, admiring the elegant historic architecture at any hour.
★ 4.1 · 7,656 reviews
Join the line at Maison Antoine, the Etterbeek fry hut that has been frying since 1948. Order a cone of classic Belgian fries, pick your sauce, and eat them hot on the spot.
★ 4.7 · 869 reviews
Reserve a table at Comme chez Soi, the Brussels address famous for its art nouveau dining room. Over a long, unhurried meal you'll work through precise French-inspired courses, from lobster to veal sweetbreads, with paired wines.
★ 4.1 · 4,836 reviews
Stop at Friterie Tabora, the central Brussels frituur that draws queues at all hours. Order a cone of fries with your sauce of choice and eat it on the go, day or night.
★ 4.6 · 27,004 reviews
Discover Delirium, the Brussels beer bar with over 2,000 beers on offer. Browse the vast list, soak up the memorabilia-covered walls and enjoy the lively crowd, with live music on Thursdays.
★ 4.6 · 1,958 reviews
Discover Cantillon, a working lambic brewery and museum in Anderlecht. Wander the old cellars and brewing rooms with a guide booklet, then finish with a tasting of sour traditional beer.
★ 4.3 · 5,576 reviews
Discover À La Mort Subite, a Brussels beer café that has kept its art deco looks since 1928. Settle under the arched mirrors with a lambic or gueuze and take in the old-school atmosphere.
★ 4.7 · 24,892 reviews
Step inside Belgium's national church, the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula. Walk the Gothic nave, admire the stained glass, and see where the country's royal ceremonies take place.
★ 4.5 · 16,557 reviews
Stand before the Brussels Royal Palace, seat of the Belgian monarchy. Admire its neoclassical front from the square and, in summer, walk through the throne room and the Hall of Mirrors.
Best season
★ 4.6 · 646 reviews
Walk into the Oldmasters Museum and meet Flemish painting at its source. Move through rooms of Bruegel the Elder, Rubens and their contemporaries, then catch the changing exhibitions that sit alongside the permanent collection.
★ 4.6 · 3,640 reviews
Duck into Nüetnigenough, a cosy art nouveau brasserie in the heart of Brussels. Tuck into Belgian staples like mussels or beef stew with stoemp, paired with a local beer.
★ 4.7 · 1,552 reviews
Rise to La Villa in the Sky, the Brussels top-floor restaurant reviewers call a celebration worth planning for. Enjoy creative French plates with a wide city view spread out beside your table.
★ 4.7 · 1,515 reviews
Pause at Corica Grand Place, a coffee and tea bar steps from Brussels' main square. Choose a single-estate coffee from the menu and sip a smooth espresso with a small biscuit.
★ 4.0 · 1,349 reviews
Step into Fuse, the former cinema that has anchored Brussels' techno scene since 1994. Enter the big room with its powerful sound system and dance to headline DJs until the sun is up.
★ 4.4 · 1,255 reviews
Step into In 't Spinnekopke, an 18th-century Brussels address for Flemish cooking and Belgian beer. Work through the chef's specials in a cosy, wood-panelled room.
★ 4.5 · 1,175 reviews
Discover Au Stekerlapatte, a cosy Belgian bistro where traditional cooking meets Art Nouveau charm. Tackle the generous ribs or the day's special under the stained-glass ceiling in the back room.
★ 4.3 · 3,765 reviews
Step into Les Petits Oignons, a vine-clad family restaurant with a pretty courtyard in central Brussels. Order French and Mediterranean dishes such as steak or duck and enjoy the setting.
★ 4.8 · 1,035 reviews
Roll up your sleeves at this Brussels chocolate-making workshop, a hands-on session for couples and families alike. You'll temper chocolate, shape pralines and mendiants, then taste your work with hot chocolate before carrying a box home.
★ 4.3 · 1,764 reviews
Settle into Les Brassins, an Ixelles brasserie that keeps visitors coming back. Dig into a pot of white-wine mussels with fries and a warming bowl of soup in a classic Belgian setting.
★ 4.6 · 779 reviews
Bake your own Brussels waffles in this relaxed hands-on class, popular with families and couples. You'll mix the dough, cook and decorate your waffles, then eat as many as you like before taking the recipe home.
★ 4.4 · 2,444 reviews
Climb into the Brussels City Museum, housed in the neo-Gothic Maison du Roi on the Grand Place. See the Manneken Pis costume collection and trace the city's history through its prized artworks and interactive screens.
★ 4.6 · 1,797 reviews
Step into Strofilia, the Brussels Greek restaurant where fish and grilled octopus keep earning rave reviews. Share a run of modern small plates, add black pork or lamb, and pair them with a well-chosen Greek wine.
★ 4.5 · 287 reviews
Discover La Paix, a Brussels dining room that has been welcoming guests since 1892. Settle into its hushed, elegant setting for a refined menu of Belgian cooking, with wine pairings if you choose.
★ 4.6 · 1,391 reviews
Seek out BUDDY BUDDY, the Brussels nut butter coffee bar that started a worldwide following. Order the PB&J drink, check out the branded merch, and enjoy the trendy interior.
★ 4.0 · 2,558 reviews
Stop by Café Capitale, a Brussels favourite for serious coffee drinkers. Choose from hand-drip and pour-over options across African and South American beans, and add a cinnamon bun.
★ 4.6 · 1,666 reviews
Start the day at BOUCHE, a Brussels specialty coffee shop with a cosy, well-designed interior. Sip a carefully made cappuccino and share a cinnamon bun with friendly staff.
Brussels · 🏛️ Landmark
Grand Place
30 min
Manneken Pis
15 min
Atomium
1h30
Brussels Town Hall
20 min
Brussels · 🛍️ Shopping
Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert
45 min
Brussels · 🍽️ Food
Maison Antoine
Comme chez Soi
3h
Friterie Tabora
Brussels · 🍸 Drinks
Delirium | Brussels
Cantillon Brewery & Museum
1h
À La Mort Subite
St Michael & St Gudula Cathedral
Brussels Royal Palace
Brussels · 🎨 Museum
Oldmasters Museum
Nüetnigenough
1h15
La Villa in the Sky
Brussels · ☕ Coffeebreak
Corica Grand Place
25 min
Brussels · 🌙 Nightlife
Fuse
In 't Spinnekopke
Au Stekerlapatte
Les Petits Oignons
2.5-Hour Belgian Chocolate Making Workshop
2h30
Les Brassins
Waffle Making Workshop - All You Can Eat
Brussels City Museum
Strofilia
La Paix
BUDDY BUDDY · Nut Butter Coffee Bar
Café Capitale
BOUCHE - Specialty Coffee
