Shopping in Brussels, my way
Shopping in Brussels used to be a very frustrating experience for me: I spent hours in crowded streets and chain stores without finding anything. Something was missing: the small, cool boutiques. Maybe I just didn’t know where to find them?
Brussels is far from being a shopper’s paradise. If you’re after cool clothes, you might want to go to Antwerp or Berlin instead. However, with patience you can find several specialist shops with cool, not too expensive, and good quality brands (Skunkfunk and El Naturalista (a bit expensive though) to name a few).
I have a feeling that the city of Brussels is still trying to reach its full potential (despite the linguistic divide). One sign of this is the increasing number of small specialist shops. Below you can see a list of the best boutiques in Brussels:
- Mr. Ego, 29, Rue des Pierres, 1000 Brussels
- Six Shop, 44, Rue Marche aux Poulets, 1000 Brussels
- Pax Clothes and Furnitures, 8, Rue de la Paix, 1050 Brussels
- Look 50, 10, Rue de la Paix, 1050 Brussels
- Kusje, 12, Rue de la Paix, 1050 Brussels
- Pygmées, 4, Rue des Grands Carmes, 1000 Brussels
- Inno department store (lots of styles and different brands)
I’m hoping to find more nice shops, so let me know if you know any…
Cool Bars
A drink after shopping? Of course. Here you have, in no particular order, the bars in Brussels that have a cozy atmosphere. More to be added later (obviously).
- Gecko Bar, 16, Place Saint-Géry, 1000 Brussels
- Zebra Bar, 33-34-35, Place Saint-Géry, 1000 Brussels
- Beursschouwburg, 20–28, Rue Auguste Orts, 1000 Brussels
- Nova, 3, Rue d’Arenberg, 1000 Brussels
- L’Archiduc, 6, Rue Antoine Dansaert, 1000 Brussels
- Kafka, 6, Rue de la Vierge Noire, 1000 Brussels
- Goupil le Fol, 22, Rue de la Violette, 1000 Brussels
- A La Mort Subite, 7, Rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères, 1000 Brussels
- La Bécasse, 11, Rue Tabora, 1000 Brussels
- La Fleur en Papier Doré, 53, Rue des Alexiens, 1000 Brussels
- Le Cercueil, 10, Rue des Harengs, 1000 Brussels
- El Metteko, 86, Boulevard Anspach, 1000 Brussels
- L’Amour Fou, 185, Chaussée d’Ixelles, 1050 Brussels
- L’Ultime Atome, 14, Rue Saint Boniface, 1050 Brussels
- L’Union, 52, Parvis de St-Gilles, 1060 Brussels
- Le Fin de Siécle, 10, Rue des Chartreux, 1000 Brussels
- Le Fontainas, 91, Rue Marché au Charbon, 1000 Brussels
- Greenwich, 7, Rue des Chartreux, 1000 Brussels
- De Ultieme Hallucinatie, 316, Rue Royale, 1210 Brussels
- Chez Moeder Lambic, 68, Rue de la Savoie, Brussels
- Le Tavernier, 445, Chaussée de Boondael, 1080 Brussels
By the way, I don’t understand why smoking is not yet banned in small bars and cafes (only in restaurants) — I hope the legislation needed for the full smoking ban will be introduced in Belgium as soon as possible.
Full ban, my ass… This is a free country ! Separate rooms (not “separated” as it is now I mean, REALLY separated) yes. You are like those people who want a revolution, but then once done make the same mistakes than the previous leaders, only backwards (or not even)… Prohibition didn’t work, this new form prohibition won’t either… Try to deprive somebody from what he considers (rightly or not) as his basic rights, and you can expect it to backfire at some point. Regardless of this, our country being on a critical economical situation, banning smoking will induce a massive cut on the major state income that is tobacco taxations; I doubt it would show profitable (maybe on a long term as it would reduce the costs of the Social Security, but do you know any politician interrested on a longer term than his mandate ??…)
And let’s not forget the HORECA sector loosing a lot of clients since the ban in restaurants (some of my clients have been complaining)
But to be honest, I don’t care at all about Restaurants (like in plains no matter how long the flight): I’m alright with the ban.
I have far more problems with bars and concerts… Where’s the rock’n'roll attitude for God’s sake ! ;-)
Anyway the Belgian are rebellious !
http://www.dhnet.be/infos/economie/article/208656/60-des-cafes-hors-la-loi.html
Now admitedly, things should change. I don’t even mind to go out and smoke on a terrace or so if it’s covered and/or warmed and I’m allowed to take my drink with.
But the word ban, Aki, I hate that word… It is somehow reminiscent of fascism and dictatorship, right ?
So you see, there is many faces to a problem. But human beings (me included) tend to only care about reaching what THEY want.
Ex: DISCRIMINATION:
Belgium
Since the 1 January 2006, Belgium has banned smoking in all enclosed workplaces. Smoking will only be allowed in designated areas.
(Fully understandable)
However, employers are not obliged to create such areas.
(Discrimination)
But in Belgium, for the bars at least, the law is still somewhat blurred (if not inexistant); so like you, some complaint, like this Irish guy living in Brussels:
“However, in true Belgian style, the ban is not all it seemed. What they really meant was that smoking is banned in all public places, except those where it’s not. That means that most cafes and bars I’ve come across so far are still
smoking zones.”
THere was a campaign not long ago saying: “Fumeur ou pas, restons courtois”
(smoker or not, let’s stay courteous)
I think indeed that’s the key.
Now let’s keep one thing clear: smocking is, how to say it… Not the best ally to live a long life (yes, I love abusing of euphemism)
Woaouw, now that’s a post, right ?
This said, how’s life ? See ya soon ! ;-)
Hi Jeff - what a nice rant! :-)
I see your point. However, when people smoke, they make an impact on our common space (just like cars do). Non-smokers don’t create such an impact. To me this is the core issue here… Basically, I don’t care what people do as long as it doesn’t harm others ;-)
Smoking always creates heated discussions but in the long run, bars will anyway be packed with people who want to go out - even if smoking is banned!
Perkele !
The simple fact of living is harming other people. You buy a shirt ? Most of the time it’s made in Asia by children… You take a shower ? you deprive an African familly of enough water to survive about a month… You drive a car, warm your house, use aerosol, etc… ? Your partly responsible of pollution, global warming, oil slicks, disparition of species, etc… You vote for Bush ? Well, we both know what happens… But that last one we wouldn’t have !
Any single human action can lead to other people getting harmed. I would even go further: sometimes stopping something bad might favor the emergence of a greater evil. As well as a great invention might lead to desastrous behaviour (see Einstein)
As we say in French, Hell is paved of good intention !
The difference here, admitedly, is that the action is more direct and more directly recognizable as well as more directly damaging probably. Thus attacked first.
But to be totally honest, who wants a 8 billion people world ? Not me ! So let the cigarette partially do what nature was doing before the medicine revolution: regulate. Ouh, ouh, sounds really politically incorrect, I love it !
Bye
JF
@Jeff: You’re right when you say that our actions impact the whole World. Of course.
But as cigarette smoke smells much worse than combination of shit, vomit and two week old waste combined, it’s easier to feel the difference… ;-)