Saturday, April 21, 2012

A few days in Brussels

Hello,



I%26#39;m staying at the Hilton on Place Rogier in July. Does anyone know if this is nice hotel/neighborhood?



I%26#39;m also interested in locating some nice, American friendly restaurants and bars in the area. My wife and I are in our mid-30%26#39;s.





Thanks!




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I%26#39;d be happy enough with it myself, the Sheraton is just opposite and there are several hotels in that area, it%26#39;s also very handy for shopping being right across from the City 2 mall and the pedestrian rue Neuve - however you might not want to stray too far in the opposite direction, towards the back of the Gare du Nord, unless of course you are looking for Ladies in Windows.



I%26#39;m stumped to think of a restaurant that is specifically American-friendly or for that matter unfriendly, but one thing that area is NOT is full of restaurants and bars of any sort (there%26#39;s a Chinese restaurant in Bd. A. Max, though). I would suggest you either walk or take the underground tram from Rogier to Bourse and then you have areas right and left that should suit your purpose. On the side opposite the Bourse, there is the cocktail and piano bar L%26#39;Archiduc in rue A. Orts, it%26#39;s a blue painted house, you have to ring the bell to get in. Also on that side, if you take the street that starts next to O%26#39;Reilly%26#39;s Irish pub, you will find yourself in St. Géry, where there are lots of cafés. Next to the Bourse on the left if you are looking at it, you have the Falstaff, a Brussels institution (it isn%26#39;t especially friendly to anyone but don%26#39;t let that bother you, it%26#39;s part of its %26quot;charm%26quot;: the thing to order there is a %26quot;half and half%26quot;, which is half still white wine and half sparking white wine). Not far from the Grand%26#39; Place I can recommend La Taverne du Passage in the Galerie de la Reine (although if you are non-smokers they stick you in an area which is not as nicely decorated); and L%26#39;Ogenblik in the Galerie des Princes. However, if you look at previous questions on this subject you will find plenty of restaurant recommendations.




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The hotel is nice, the neighborhood is a little mixed but fine once you get closer to the Grand Place, tourist area (10 minute walk).





There are lots of good restaurants in the area. Try La Cerf on the Grand Place, Scheltema of Rue Bouchers (both speak English and have traditional Belgian menus.)





I also like all of the restaurants off the Grand Sablon 5 to 10 minute taxi, 30 minute walk. (great walking around there also).





If you want American type food, you can go to Ricks on Ave. Louise for a very overpriced hamburger. if you want mainly English speakers and a reasonably priced meal, try one of the many Irish pubs in the area. Also on Ave. Louise is a restaurant called Tribeca, it has a really funky decor (think fancy brothel) and very good food. It is not part of the US Tribeca group.





You will find almost all of the Brussels area restaurants have English speaking staff though as an American (which I am too) you need to be prepared for very long waits for everything. It is considered impolite in Belgium to rush someone through any part of a meal, so don%26#39;t think it is bad service.





For a tip on a couple of interesting neignborhood restaurants, take a taxi to the Crab Phantome or L%26#39;Jules d%26#39;Emilie or to Chez Oki. (All about 15 minutes from your location by taxi. You can get more details on these and other restaurants at www.resto.be




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Ricks - overpriced hamburger? Did you actually go there? Fantastic steaks, ribs and burgers and a good wine list, and you eat in the most beautiful and atmospheric garden in town. I always go there when I%26#39;m in Brussels, real friendly place no matter if you%26#39;re American or not.




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