Goblets of Belgian beer, grand Baroque architecture and one of Europe’s most handsome squares are on the cards on holidays to Brussels.
Picture-perfect Pentagon
Think of Brussels as a dartboard, and the historic centre would be its bullseye. Except in this case the red target would be a little different, as the Belgian capital’s five-sided heart is nicknamed the Pentagon. It’s here that you’ll find all the best bits rolled into a handy bundle – we’re talking mega museums, a bevy of bars and a famous flower-flecked square.
Best-in-class buildings
Art Nouveau, Baroque, Neoclassical – the architecture scene in Brussels is like a who’s who of iconic styles. What they all have in common is a sense of grandeur. The main square, Grand Place, is home to an ornate town hall, plus a fringe of easy-on-the-eye buildings that line its edges. The paved centre gets its moment in the spotlight once a year, too, when a flower carpet is carefully laid to bring a burst of colour. Things are just as impressive as you widen the lens – the Royal Palace of Brussels is partnered with Brussels Park beside the centre, and the cheeky Manneken Pis fountain is a bit of a crowd magnet on the corner of Rue de l’Etuve.
Tempting tipples
Beer drinking is barely a choice in Brussels – when it comes to alcohol it’s a way of life here. There are places that serve beer cocktails, plus little cafés called ‘estaminets’, which are designed as little snackeries where you can grab a beer. For the best selection, those in the know make tracks for the Delirium Café – it’s bigger than the name suggests, and stocks around 2,000 different brews. On the food front, bite-sized bits are the best accompaniment to a nice drop – fruit-stacked waffles, meat croquettes called bitterballen, and hearty mitraillette sarnies are local faves.
