Home of Tintin & Poirot!
Reading - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Reading - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Listening - Crowbar by Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Podcast - Love Stories (01/02/19 - Jessie Cave)
When I took Chris on a weekend trip to Lisbon last September as a birthday surprise, it was the first time he saw how affordable a city break could be. Wasting no time he was browsing for flights at the airport on the way home, and found a cheap return journey to Brussels in March with perfect times meaning we wouldn't need any time off work. We kept an eye on it and booked on just after Christmas, and I found a well located boutique hotel for less than 65 quid a night.
In the morning we queued for over half an hour for breakfast at a place called Peck 20, but boy was it worth it! We had discovered it online (there are three other variations in the city) and when I saw that it was 5 minutes from our hotel and served savoury Belgian waffles I was completely sold. I had the leek waffle with 2 poached eggs, cheddar cheese and 'Psycho Sauce' (a kind of creamy chipotle), whilst Chris had the portobello mushroom waffle with eggs, spinach and the same sauce. After we had eaten we had a look around some of the vintage clothes shops, including one called Melting Pot Kilo where they sold items by weight, where Chris got both a denim Zara coat and a cool shirt with leopard print fur shoulder patches for €15!
We had a quick afternoon break at Le Roy D'Espagne that my friend Emily said made the best hot chocolate (she wasn't wrong) and once we had bought all the chocolates and taken all the photos, we stopped for some classic Belgian mussels at Taverne Greenwich before ordering an Uber to the airport for our flight home.
We had such a fantastic weekend, with the ideal combo of indulgence, fun, culture and relaxation. I will definitely be recommending the city to anyone I know looking for a cheap city break.
March rolled around and I managed to score an early finish at work very last minute, so we decided to make the most of the bonus extra time and reserved spaces in the airport lounge prior to our departure. Our flight wasn't until 7.45pm so we booked 3 hours from 4pm to eat and drink to our hearts content.
We landed at Charleroi airport and had pre-booked spots on the Flibco shuttle bus into the centre of Brussels, which took just under an hour. From there we jumped in an Uber to our hotel, Le Berger. It is an old meeting house for when married individuals wanted to do the dirty, and as such is very decadent with plush decor; a taxidermy peacock stands by the entrance, chandeliers hang and velvet drapes adorn the dark walls, and there is a secret elevator. It was right up my street, and we made it just in time for a margarita at the bar (with the most beautiful mural) before last orders at midnight!
The following morning we were still in work mode so woke early, and made the most of it by getting out and about in the reasonably mild weather. I'd found a place called Kaffabar to try for breakfast that was a 25 minute walk from our hotel, but it gave us the opportunity to have a gander at our surroundings, and we were greeted by the most amazing English bulldog called Marcel snoozing on the mat upon our arrival! We both chose continental style platters, with granola, fruit and yoghurt, and Chris went for a larger one that also included cheese, bread, hummus, and a pastry along with some much needed coffee.
We had booked onto a free walking tour at 1.30pm with Viva's Tours, so just spent a couple of hours beforehand ambling along the streets, popping into a few shops along the way until we met with our group at The Grand Place. It was fantastic, with the right amount of history, humour and beauty, and we covered all the main sites including Manneken Pis, The Saint Nicholas Church, Rue de Bouchers, La Bourse and St Hubert's Galleries. Being born in Brussels and still a local, the guide was also able to recommend some cool places for us to come back and visit that evening, an added bonus. When the two hours was up we ended at The Royal Palace overlooking the park, which was beautiful and a great photo opp.
As it was mid afternoon by this point, we decided to grab a bite to eat at a funky health food place called Tich, and then return to the hotel for a nap (crucial on a city break!) to prepare for heading out that evening. We ate at a international themed restaurant I had found online that looked great for veggies called Le Cercle des Voyageurs (The Circle of Travellers); the decor was almost as boujee as our hotel and we pushed the boat out by having three courses.
To begin I got grilled aubergine with tofu and feta, and Chris had cheese croquettes, although we shared them both. They were quite pricey for starters at 12 euro a dish, but since it had been a cheap trip so far we cut ourselves some slack, and it was delicious food to be fair. For main we both went Asian fusion; I had sesame crusted salmon with teriyaki grilled vegetables and Chris got a Thai vegetable curry. We got the trio of desserts to share to end the meal, which included a Belgian chocolate mousse, lychee creme brulee and coconut pannacotta. It was genuinely one of the best dining experiences I have had; top notch gastronomy, a cosy and intimate atmosphere without being overly romantic, and stunning interior design. It was the perfect place for us!
We had booked onto a free walking tour at 1.30pm with Viva's Tours, so just spent a couple of hours beforehand ambling along the streets, popping into a few shops along the way until we met with our group at The Grand Place. It was fantastic, with the right amount of history, humour and beauty, and we covered all the main sites including Manneken Pis, The Saint Nicholas Church, Rue de Bouchers, La Bourse and St Hubert's Galleries. Being born in Brussels and still a local, the guide was also able to recommend some cool places for us to come back and visit that evening, an added bonus. When the two hours was up we ended at The Royal Palace overlooking the park, which was beautiful and a great photo opp.
As it was mid afternoon by this point, we decided to grab a bite to eat at a funky health food place called Tich, and then return to the hotel for a nap (crucial on a city break!) to prepare for heading out that evening. We ate at a international themed restaurant I had found online that looked great for veggies called Le Cercle des Voyageurs (The Circle of Travellers); the decor was almost as boujee as our hotel and we pushed the boat out by having three courses.
To begin I got grilled aubergine with tofu and feta, and Chris had cheese croquettes, although we shared them both. They were quite pricey for starters at 12 euro a dish, but since it had been a cheap trip so far we cut ourselves some slack, and it was delicious food to be fair. For main we both went Asian fusion; I had sesame crusted salmon with teriyaki grilled vegetables and Chris got a Thai vegetable curry. We got the trio of desserts to share to end the meal, which included a Belgian chocolate mousse, lychee creme brulee and coconut pannacotta. It was genuinely one of the best dining experiences I have had; top notch gastronomy, a cosy and intimate atmosphere without being overly romantic, and stunning interior design. It was the perfect place for us!
After we had settled up, we walked to Cafe Des Halles, a big glass market hall that we had briefly visited earlier in the day on the tour, when it took on the guise of a cafe, deli and art gallery/ event space. We had been urged to return in the evening, when a DJ appears, the bar serves cool cocktails, and deckchairs are arranged to sit on, so we enjoyed a drink and soaked up the buzz of the place. Our final stop that evening was Moeder Lambic, a traditional Belgian beer hall, also another suggestion from our guide, where I enjoyed my first beer of the trip!
In the morning we queued for over half an hour for breakfast at a place called Peck 20, but boy was it worth it! We had discovered it online (there are three other variations in the city) and when I saw that it was 5 minutes from our hotel and served savoury Belgian waffles I was completely sold. I had the leek waffle with 2 poached eggs, cheddar cheese and 'Psycho Sauce' (a kind of creamy chipotle), whilst Chris had the portobello mushroom waffle with eggs, spinach and the same sauce. After we had eaten we had a look around some of the vintage clothes shops, including one called Melting Pot Kilo where they sold items by weight, where Chris got both a denim Zara coat and a cool shirt with leopard print fur shoulder patches for €15!
We had a quick afternoon break at Le Roy D'Espagne that my friend Emily said made the best hot chocolate (she wasn't wrong) and once we had bought all the chocolates and taken all the photos, we stopped for some classic Belgian mussels at Taverne Greenwich before ordering an Uber to the airport for our flight home.
We had such a fantastic weekend, with the ideal combo of indulgence, fun, culture and relaxation. I will definitely be recommending the city to anyone I know looking for a cheap city break.
Breakdown
Flight - £53.50 (inc hand luggage) - Ryanair
Airport shuttle - £25.06 (return) - Flibco
Accommodation - £64.09 (2 nights based on 2 sharing) - Le Berger through Booking.com
Spending money - £188.15 (inc return airport taxi between 2 & airport lounge)
Total = £330.80
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