I wrote my ode to Brussels with hints and tips on where to wine and dine like a Local Superlobbyist. Bruxelles Je t’aime.
The Bubble
Brussels is not the Eurobubble. Still, if you are going to work on European Affairs you will spend a lot of time here, so might as well make the best out of it. An infinite amount of new cafes have sprung up, and some classics have remained. My favourite restaurant for lunches in the bubble is the Wild Geese, with great food and great personnel it is very difficult to beat. On Place Lux itself, I like Cafe Luxembourg, mostly because of the friendly personnel and the excellent food. I also like the Beer factory where you are greeted warmly and always feel at home. For coffee go to Caffe Italiano. A great hack is to have coffee in the Stanhope Hotel. The couches are cozy and the coffee is fantastic. It will cost you an arm and a leg but it will be worth it. While the Eurobubble is famous for its bars and restaurants, it isn’t exactly famous for walking. I always loved to stroll through smaller and bigger parks. So when on a break, why not stroll through Ambiorix Park; a well-landscaped 19th-century park with beautiful sculptures and fountains, around elegant art-nouveau houses. The best is that is right near the aforementioned Wild Geese so you can take a relaxing walk after a fantastic lunch.
Go outside (the Eurobubble)
I find it really sad when people work in EU Affairs and fail to move outside the Brussels Bubble. Brussels is a fantastic city and has so much to offer, that it would be insane not to take advantage while there. One of the greatest advice I can give to you is to do your groceries on a Saturday and Sunday at the Abbotoirs. You will find here an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables meat and fish. You will have to get up early though as it opens at 0700 and closes at 1400. When it comes to coffee try out Aksum, Probably (definitely) the best coffee place of the whole of Brussels. Another favourite place of mine to drink coffee is Leopold Press Cafe. There are a couple of them, but my favourite is the one on Tervurenlaan. Just across Leopold Press Cafe is restaurant Le Monde est Petit. An incredibly cozy restaurant, run by a family. The food is very French and very good. They have a Michelin star and you will be happy to know that I lived right above the restaurant for nine years. If you want to impress people for lunch take them to the Brasserie des étangs Mellaert. It will set you back both in price and time as it is not nearby the institutions. Lunching here feels like a mini vacation and your lunch partner will be happy with your choice. Finally, another gem is the Bozar restaurant. Double down by visiting the culture center before eating at the restaurant.
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Do stuff nobody else does
When you do your internship in the Bubble or simply work there, you are going to have the time of your life. You can spend Thursdays on Plux and Wednesdays on Chatelain. You will have a blast. But why not make it even more memorable by doing some stuff nobody does? Like discovering the city by public transport? Or become a member of one of the local libraries. Instead of taking French lessons at Alliance Francaise, I recommend doing it at the adult studies course at the Vrije Universiteit van Brussel. You will meet a lot of people outside of the bubble. Even though you are probably temporary in Brussels, why not volunteer a couple of times? Brussels has a great volunteer tradition, and it will give you a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Also, visit the great cities and villages around Brussels. Everybody heads to Gent, Brugge and Antwerpen, but I can really recommend also Aalst and Namur. If you are young, try partying hard in the University district with Belgian students. Skip Plux once on Thursday and go to Tavernier instead. Making an effort to get to know Brussels, Flanders and Belgium really pays off and will enhance your experience beyond the EU Bubble.