Brussels holidays

Haggle-centric shopping is front and centre at the Jeu de Balle Flea Market, also known as the Old Market. It’s open every day, and has tonnes of antique and knick-knack stalls to browse. It’s been around since the 17th century, too, so it’s a real staple of city shopping.

Head to the Dansaert neighbourhood, just north-west of Grand Place, and you’ll find some of Brussels’ best independent fashion brands. There are studios as well as boutique shops, and loads of the names are local rather than national.

The biggest fashion names line up along Boulevard de Waterloo, near the grand Palace of Justice. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Jimmy Choo, Cartier, Gucci and Ralph Lauren are all neighbours, so you’ve got loads of premium brands in one spot.

Bar hopping is the main port of call for nights in Brussels, as there are so many clustered together in the city centre. Craft beer places, brewery-style bars and cafés are all dotted around Grand Place – the main square. You’ll often see them nicknamed ‘estaminets’, which is the name for a low-key venue that serves drinks.

Brussels’ Saint Jacques area has one of the best – and most inclusive – club scenes you could hope for. This part of the city’s not only known for its high-energy nightspots, but also for being a great spot for the LGBTQ+ community to hit the town.

Belgium is no stranger to beer, and Trappist beers are some of the most signature ones you can try. These strong tipples can only be called ‘Trappist’ if they’re made at one of 13 particular Trappist monasteries around the world, and six of them happen to be in Belgium. They’re usually bottled, and some of the best-known drops include Chimay, Westmalle and Orval. You’ll find them in bars all around Brussels.

Praline chocolates are pretty popular all around the country, but the signature confectionary actually has roots in Brussels. They share a name with a hazelnut-filled treat, but these Belgian pralines are actually hard chocolate shells with a fondant chocolate filling. You’ll usually find them in neat little gift boxes, with a variety of fillings that includes caramel, coffee, cherry and liqueurs.

Crisp on the outside and fluffy in the centre – that’s how the Belgian’s like their fries, and the country’s known for doing them well. And to turn the snack into a full dish, moules frites is just the ticket. A heap of steaming mussels is served in a pot – with a creamy, mustardy flavour for the Brussels version – and fries come on the side. Mussels have been popular here for a long time, with boats over the years using Brussels’ waterways to deliver fresh seafood to the city.

Lambic is a type of beer that’s been brewed in and around Brussels since the 13th century. It’s usually a blend of a couple of different brew types, and the kriek version is a fruity number. Sour cherries are part of the process, so the result is a slightly sharp but super-flavoursome drink.

There’s no set way to make this full-to-bursting sandwich, as the ingredients vary from café to café. It always starts with a crusty baguette, then the fillings consist of fries, mixed meats and lashings of sauce. The meat inclusion can be as little or as large as you like, with common options including steak, meatballs, sausages and hamburger patties. Then mayo, garlic sauce and ketchup – or all of the above – are added along with caramelised onions and grated carrot.