Brussels

[Hesperatum]

Planning a short break to Brussels. Would welcome advice on where to stay (Airbnb or hotels) and restaurants.

Depends on your budget. The Novotel and Ibis near the Grand Place are in a great location and perfectly nice. For something a bit fancier - the Hotel Amigo. Or there is a new Hoxton with roof top bar we are meaning to try out, but that's a bit more out of the way - near Botanique metro. Restaurants - we like the Lobster House and Rugbyman 1 for seafood / moules frites. Les Petits Oignons near the Sablon is great for traditional Belgian dishes. There are lots of thai restaurants near Place St Gery which are much of a muchness but good quality. Reves d'Asie springs to mind. Mappa Mundo is a really popular bar there for cocktails etc. A bit tourist trap, but the art deco brasseries like Falstaff and Le Cirio are great for a drink and look at the interiors. Arthur Orlans for cocktails. You need to ring the bell to get in. We also like Como Tapas which has tapas on a conveyor belt - you can pay by dish or get an all in with wine/beer. Great favourite for girls nights out.

And the Wolf Food Market

MissAmbrosia Many thanks 😁🐝

Some nice bars and restaurants in Place Boniface. In the same district (Ixelles/Louise) have a look around Place Chatelain and Rue du Page.
Lola's in the Sablon is good too and Au Vieux Saint Martin although the latter doesn't take bookings.
There's an NH hotel in the Place du Grand Sablon, lovely location about a 10min walk from the Grand Place.

Yes - DH had work colleagues staying in the NH in the Sablon and there is spanish restaurant downstairs which he said was lovely but £££. My friends have really recommended Cowfish - Ave Louise area but I haven't been yet.

We stayed here:

https://www.meininger-hotels.com/en/hotels/brussels/hotel-bruxelles-city-center/

The room was HUGE, comfortable and excellent value for money. The guest kitchen was very handy too - Brussels isn't cheap for eating out and being able to prepare your own food was great. Don't be put off by the fact it's partly a hostel - that side is kept separate from the hotel side and there was no problem with noise or behaviour at all. It's about a 15-20 minute walk from the centre with a metro station nearby if you don't want to walk.

I really liked Brussels - it's small but quirky and fun to wander around. And even though I'm not a great fashion lover I was really tempted by some of the clothes shops.