Brussels, Beer, Belgium Waffles.. oh my!
Belgium is hands down one of the most wonderful countries I have been to and was above and beyond any expectations that I had prior to my weekend trip! Before going to Belgium, I really did not know much about the country besides their reputation for amazing waffles, chocolate, beer, and fries, which after experiencing all of these that reputation is in fact accurate. Although I was not in the country for a long time just a good time, Belgium is most definitely a country that I recommend anyone and everyone to visit at least once in their lives.
A group of friends and I took the Eurostar early... (extremely early).... Friday morning from London to Brussels! We spent our first day exploring the city, second day in Bruges, and our last day on a site-seeing bus tour *since it was pouring rain all day*.
Stay tuned for a quick article about a day trippin to Bruges soon!
Things to do:
Grand Place:
The Grand Place is the central square of Brussels. I know that I have not been to many places around the world, but this is one of the most beautiful city squares I have ever seen in my entire life. The square looks like a scene from a Disney movie. The gold accents on each of the building makes the decor really pop, tying in all of the architectural styles into one great masterpiece. During the day you can see people from all different walks of life enjoying the views. A few friends took the horse and carriage tour from the Grand Place and absolutely loved it!
Just when I thought that the Grand Place could not get any more beautiful, I was proven wrong. Walking through the central square at night was one of the most amazing scenes I have ever witnessed. Each and every one of the buildings were lit up with locals and tourists all sitting down on the floor enjoying drinks and snacks. No picture or video could ever do it justice so I recommend seeing it in person if you ever have the chance.
Manneken Pis:
Small yet mighty, this peeing statue is a world-wide sensation. Dutch for “Little Pissing Man”, the Manneken Pi is just that. The statue is dressed up in different costumes throughout the year, but when we went he was in his truest form, his ~birthday suit~.
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert:
The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert is the most beautiful shopping building I have ever been in. The detail in the architectural design is flawless. Since I am currently spending all of my money on train tickets and flights, I window shopped my entire way through this “elegant mall”.
Atomium:
Although only supposed to be a temporary display, the Atomium has become a sensation and landmark of Brussels. The pictures do not give this structure justice for the sheer size of this massive attraction. The Atomium is an enlarged model of an iron crystal cell.
Good Eats:
Gaufre De Bruxelles:
All that was on all of our minds when we arrived in Brussels was...you guessed it..WAFFLES! With so many waffle joints popping up on Google Maps, how do you decide? Well, we took quite a while to find the perfect match, but when we laid our eyes upon Gaufre De Bruxelles, it was love at first sight. The fluffy, yet crunchy, waffle melted in your mouth as strawberries, chocolate, and whipped cream all came together to create the perfect mix of deliciousness. 10/10 recommend.
Monk:
Alcohol and spaghetti, the two greatest joys in life...completely kidding mom and dad ~chill~. Are you ever sitting at the bar and think to yourself, “man I could really go for some spaghetti right now.” Well look no further because I am here to save the day! Monk serves up delicious drinks with even better Spaghetti. Spaghetti four different ways with a glass of rose? Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.
Chez Papy:
Belgium is known for their fries, so there was no way we could come back to London without trying one or two, or finishing a huge container. When we ate at Gaufre De Bruxelles, we saw this amazing looking restaurant right across the street that we knew we had to try. I ordered a serving of fries with a side of andalouse sauce and chicken skewer. Boy was that a bomb a$$ meal!
Dranks:
We went to two different bars while here, but there is only one important one I want to highlight for you all….
Le Cercueil:
Mix spooky scary with some alcohol and you’ve found yourself at Le Cercueil. Granted, we had no idea what we were walking into when we walked down their long dark narrow hallway, but what we found on the other side of the door was the last thing we could have imagined. There are coffin tables, skeleton cups, and paintings of ghosts (not casper the friendly ghost but a character out of the conjuring type of deal) throughout the entire room. I ordered Sex in a Coffin because why not?! This was definitely a unique experience that I surprisingly recommend to everyone traveling to Brussels.
Thanks for Reading:
We did many more things throughout our few short days in Brussels, but these were just the ones worth highlighting for you! Diet in Brussels? Nonexistent. Heart in Brussels? Full.
But…where is the chocolate and beer? Don’t you fret - stay tuned for an article about out day trip to Brugge!
Au revoir and tot ziens!
