Guidebook for Ixelles
Essentials
My local supermarket, where you will find everything from fresh vegetables to nice wine. Open every day except Thursdays until 8pm (even Sundays!).
43 locals recommend
Elsensesteenweg
Chaussée d'IxellesMy local supermarket, where you will find everything from fresh vegetables to nice wine. Open every day except Thursdays until 8pm (even Sundays!).
Elsensesteenweg 14
14 Chaussée d'IxellesA convenient supermarket - on the way from the metro station to the apartment.
A place to buy some gourmet souvenirs! You can buy great French cheese, sausages, bread, or just a quick snack to eat at one of the many stands. Don't miss the savoury-sweet Morrocan crépes! Until 1pm
Place Eugène Flagey 4
4 Place Eugène FlageyA place to buy some gourmet souvenirs! You can buy great French cheese, sausages, bread, or just a quick snack to eat at one of the many stands. Don't miss the savoury-sweet Morrocan crépes! Until 1pm
Food Scene
A favourite place among the bobo of Brussels - great for a drink or a quick dinner. Try their special hamburgers with a side of sweet potato fries.
68 locals recommend
l'Amour Fou Comptoir & Bar
185 Chau. d'IxellesA favourite place among the bobo of Brussels - great for a drink or a quick dinner. Try their special hamburgers with a side of sweet potato fries.
A warm and cozy atmosphere, a nice choice of breakfast pastries and a special brunch on the weekends.
12 locals recommend
Sucré Salé
10 Pl. Fernand CocqA warm and cozy atmosphere, a nice choice of breakfast pastries and a special brunch on the weekends.
This is a don't-miss for Brussels! They serve great brunch on the weekends, and if it is sunny all the locals will be there! Combine it with a trip to the next-door farmers' market and ponds.
355 locals recommend
Café Belga
18 Pl. Eugène FlageyThis is a don't-miss for Brussels! They serve great brunch on the weekends, and if it is sunny all the locals will be there! Combine it with a trip to the next-door farmers' market and ponds.
A small street full of African restaurants, where you can get a yummy dinner for under 10 euros. Try the one closest to the intersection of Rue Longue Vie and Rue E. Solvay.
Lang-Levenstraat 2
2 Rue Longue VieA small street full of African restaurants, where you can get a yummy dinner for under 10 euros. Try the one closest to the intersection of Rue Longue Vie and Rue E. Solvay.
Tiny Japanese restaurant with amazing and affordable food. It is only open from 6-9pm and there are often queues, but it's well worth the wait!
20 locals recommend
Yamato
11 Rue FrancartTiny Japanese restaurant with amazing and affordable food. It is only open from 6-9pm and there are often queues, but it's well worth the wait!
Pizza chain with several locations in Brussels. The slice size is fully customised according to your wishes. Ask for the potato and trufflest pizza. I know it sounds weird, but trust me!
32 locals recommend
Mamma Roma
5 Rue du PagePizza chain with several locations in Brussels. The slice size is fully customised according to your wishes. Ask for the potato and trufflest pizza. I know it sounds weird, but trust me!
Amazing bagels - excellent for brunch! And several other establishments (like a cupcake shop, a typical Belgian brasserie) on the same street make it worth the trip.
14 locals recommend
Apdm
Amazing bagels - excellent for brunch! And several other establishments (like a cupcake shop, a typical Belgian brasserie) on the same street make it worth the trip.
Baljuwstraat 5
5 Rue du BailliGreat sushi at a decent price
Good Belgian cuisine for a reasonable price. On weekend nights when it is almost impossible to get a table in Brussels without reservations, La Regence is always a saviour!
Fernand Cocqplein 12
12 Place Fernand CocqGood Belgian cuisine for a reasonable price. On weekend nights when it is almost impossible to get a table in Brussels without reservations, La Regence is always a saviour!
This place is very popular with the Brussels crowd. The waiters will show you how to use the special Ethiopian bread instead of cutlery. A fun and special experience!
61 locals recommend
Kokob
10 Rue des Grands CarmesThis place is very popular with the Brussels crowd. The waiters will show you how to use the special Ethiopian bread instead of cutlery. A fun and special experience!
A restaurant devoted to mushrooms only. Each dish involves mushrooms in one way or another, even the dessert! A bit pricey but definitely a special experience, especially nice in the winter.
100 locals recommend
Café des Spores
103 Chau. d'AlsembergA restaurant devoted to mushrooms only. Each dish involves mushrooms in one way or another, even the dessert! A bit pricey but definitely a special experience, especially nice in the winter.
Rue du Bailli and the nearby Chatelain square are a favourite of the locals on weekend mornings, for a coffee (or beer) and snack in the sun, as well as nice independent shops. Go around 11am.
66 locals recommend
Baljuwstraat
Rue du BailliRue du Bailli and the nearby Chatelain square are a favourite of the locals on weekend mornings, for a coffee (or beer) and snack in the sun, as well as nice independent shops. Go around 11am.
Venture to the top of the hill for a coffee in the typical Brussels bobo (best translated as hipster) environment. They also have thematic evenings, with independent bands performing.
203 locals recommend
Bar du Matin
172 Chau. d'AlsembergVenture to the top of the hill for a coffee in the typical Brussels bobo (best translated as hipster) environment. They also have thematic evenings, with independent bands performing.
A lovely place for a weekend morning coffee or brunch. Prepare to be surrounded by loads of hipsters writing communist manifestos on their newest MacBooks. A nice atmosphere nonetheless :)
Parvis de Saint-Gilles 39
A lovely place for a weekend morning coffee or brunch. Prepare to be surrounded by loads of hipsters writing communist manifestos on their newest MacBooks. A nice atmosphere nonetheless :)
Open all day long, this place is great both for their morning coffee and for their dj evenings. During the summer they have an outdoor cinema.
28 locals recommend
Jester
2 Av. de la Prte de HalOpen all day long, this place is great both for their morning coffee and for their dj evenings. During the summer they have an outdoor cinema.
Awesomely tasty and fairly priced Thai restaurant. You can eat in or take away. Menu in English available.
10 locals recommend
Walkin' Thaï
38 Rue LesbroussartAwesomely tasty and fairly priced Thai restaurant. You can eat in or take away. Menu in English available.
Offers a wide variety of yummy coffee (soy milk available), as well as bagels, cupcakes, etc. Wifi is free and the space is huge, so no danger of not finding a seat in their cozy vintage armchairs!
Naamsestraat 28
28 Rue de NamurOffers a wide variety of yummy coffee (soy milk available), as well as bagels, cupcakes, etc. Wifi is free and the space is huge, so no danger of not finding a seat in their cozy vintage armchairs!
Sightseeing
A gem of a park hidden behind the European Parliament. Take a break from sightseeing by the pond, surrounded by ducks and Eurocrats.
11 locals recommend
Leopold Park Clinic
100 Rue du TrôneA gem of a park hidden behind the European Parliament. Take a break from sightseeing by the pond, surrounded by ducks and Eurocrats.
My favourite Brussels museum! It is actually the house and studio of Victor Horta - the architect responsible for the Art Nouveau look of Brussels. He made the house to his own measure, totally lovely
433 locals recommend
Horta Museum (Musee Horta)
27 Rue AméricaineMy favourite Brussels museum! It is actually the house and studio of Victor Horta - the architect responsible for the Art Nouveau look of Brussels. He made the house to his own measure, totally lovely
Shopping
Several wonderful vintage clothing shops are placed right next to each other on this street. Don't hesitate to enter the one that looks like a skater shop from the outside - there are gems in the back
Vredestraat 10
10 Rue de la PaixSeveral wonderful vintage clothing shops are placed right next to each other on this street. Don't hesitate to enter the one that looks like a skater shop from the outside - there are gems in the back
A lovely Dutch shop with stuff for the home, primarily cooking and gardening. Rustic and romantic style, if you're into homeware this is a nice place to visit.
11 locals recommend
Dille & Kamille - Bruxelles Rue Jean Stas
16 Rue Jean StasA lovely Dutch shop with stuff for the home, primarily cooking and gardening. Rustic and romantic style, if you're into homeware this is a nice place to visit.
The main fleamarket in Brussels. On a Sunday morning (especially a sunny one), the Bruxellois gather here for perusing second-hand items, brunch and beer. Surrounded by nice vintage shops and cafés.
47 locals recommend
Vossenplein station
The main fleamarket in Brussels. On a Sunday morning (especially a sunny one), the Bruxellois gather here for perusing second-hand items, brunch and beer. Surrounded by nice vintage shops and cafés.
This is THE place to buy Belgian beer as a souvenir. They have a vast selection and will happily advise you on what to get. It is also possible to have a drink in their bar.
24 locals recommend
Beer Mania
174 Chau. de WavreThis is THE place to buy Belgian beer as a souvenir. They have a vast selection and will happily advise you on what to get. It is also possible to have a drink in their bar.
Drinks & Nightlife
The St. Gery square is the perfect place to go out. Lots of cozy bars with outdoor terraces, often bands and djs doing special evenings, and always an atmosphere full of life! Zebra is a favourite.
25 locals recommend
Zebra
33 Pl. Saint-GéryThe St. Gery square is the perfect place to go out. Lots of cozy bars with outdoor terraces, often bands and djs doing special evenings, and always an atmosphere full of life! Zebra is a favourite.
A relaxed and cozy bar with a nice terrace in front of the church. Go for a drink in the sunny terrace or for a late-night glass when everything else has closed.
34 locals recommend
L'Athénée
2 Rue Jules BouillonA relaxed and cozy bar with a nice terrace in front of the church. Go for a drink in the sunny terrace or for a late-night glass when everything else has closed.
Great for a late afternoon drink in the pleasant neighbourhood environment. They have some snacks as well, and a terrace.
Bouréstraat 1
1 Rue BouréGreat for a late afternoon drink in the pleasant neighbourhood environment. They have some snacks as well, and a terrace.
A cozy bar specialising in Belgian beer, they have a gourmet selection of beers and are happy to spend a few minutes with you, asking about your preferences and then choosing the right brew for you.
179 locals recommend
Moeder Lambic Original
68 Rue de SavoieA cozy bar specialising in Belgian beer, they have a gourmet selection of beers and are happy to spend a few minutes with you, asking about your preferences and then choosing the right brew for you.
Everything Else
Brussels has a short-term city bike rental scheme. Check out more details at www.villo.be This station is just across the street from the flat and there are usually always bikes available.
Gewijde-Boomstraat 2
2 Rue de l'Arbre BénitBrussels has a short-term city bike rental scheme. Check out more details at www.villo.be This station is just across the street from the flat and there are usually always bikes available.
Beautiful hidden gem of a park, perfect for a green break when you're tired of walking around urban Brussels. There is a nice cafe (though a bit pricey) and lots of space to sit on the grass and relax
77 locals recommend
Egmont Park
25 Bd de WaterlooBeautiful hidden gem of a park, perfect for a green break when you're tired of walking around urban Brussels. There is a nice cafe (though a bit pricey) and lots of space to sit on the grass and relax
The most majestic of Brussels' parks, it contains two museums and is generally just a nice place to go for a walk or a picnic. Close to the European area.
522 locals recommend
Cinquantenaire Park
The most majestic of Brussels' parks, it contains two museums and is generally just a nice place to go for a walk or a picnic. Close to the European area.
Arts & Culture
Sounds
28 Rue de la TulipeSaid to be one of the best jazz clubs in Brussels.