Brussels, how are you dealing with this crazy heatwave?!

My fan is on, and I put cold compresses on my nape and my wrists. Better than nothing! If you need a cool-down with some ice cream, and the list of places in the last issue wasn’t enough, my subscriber Carissa suggests Oui Oui in Saint-Gilles, which is also fully vegan!

I am also super excited, because after all these years, Sephora is finally coming to Belgium! The first store opens at Docks Bruxsel on 25 June and the second at City2 on 9 July.

As for my recent café and restaurant recommendations, they have to be split into two issues because I have so many! Kosto is a really lovely café by the Brussels canal area, which gives off laid-back Scandi vibes and offers really original signature drinks (I haven’t tried their food). Arôme - Specialty Coffee & Bakery is another really lovely café, with a strong neighbourhood vibe and a double-sided terrace. Their tropical matcha latté was really delicious. And lastly, you have to go to Gyojasang if you’re a fan of Korean cuisine! The interior is so much fun, the staff is incredibly nice, the food is delicious, and they also host karaoke rooms.

In this issue:

A few weeks ago, my girlfriends and I booked tickets to a women-only party in Brussels. This was recommended to me by another friend, as I had never heard about it. Another catch? The party started at 7:30 pm and finished at 11 pm. I knew that I had to meet the founder, Elodie, to find out more about this initiative. This segment is part of an official collaboration with Booma Club, but I had full creative control over my article.

Booma Club was born in January 2025, and it’s Belgium’s first early-evening party for women. The party is all about women's empowerment; organised by women for women, with female DJs, entrepreneurs and performers present. A party that allows you to take up space, feel safe and laugh out loud.

Background story: In early 2025, Elodie got back to work after a long sick leave, while also being pregnant with her second child. As Elodie wanted to party with her friends, but also go home early, she thought of throwing a one-off early-night, women-only party in Brussels; a concept that had been working in Germany for a few years. This event, which took place on 12 March 2025, was called The Mama Club, and had its own logo, website and ticketing system. Elodie wanted to look professional from the start, not just have a Facebook page. A Flemish outlet, Het Nieuwsblad, heard about the party and covered it in an article, while the French-speaking outlet RTBF featured it on their YouTube and TV channel. Almost 150 women showed up, and since the feedback was so positive, Elodie decided to turn it into a side business.

Present: The project is no longer called The Mama Club. Elodie realised that she also had friends who weren’t moms or couldn’t have children, and this concept should be for them, too. The name Booma Club was created as a take on the phrase “Let’s boogie, mama” (and has nothing to do with the word boomer). Elodie has now organised 21 editions, as each party takes place every three weeks. She also has her own checklist that a venue needs to fulfil. The ticket sales are the only source of income for the moment, but Elodie has also secured a partnership with GIMBER and has been gifted a car by Smart.

Why it’s worth a visit: Booma Club is so much more than a dance party. It’s an experience. When I went a few weeks ago, I witnessed a mother-daughter DJ duo, female entrepreneurs with their product and food stands, pole dancers, a fire artist, and a flautist. Some of these experiences would traditionally be targeted at a male audience, so it felt especially empowering to be part of an event like this. It’s a space that doesn’t care about your age, your weight or whether you have a disability. It welcomes everyone who identifies as a woman.

What’s coming in the future: While Elodie focuses on Brussels now, she wants to expand Booma Club to other Belgian cities as well. She wants to make Booma Club her full-time job in the near future and secure more sponsorships. Get in touch with Elodie if you want to support any of her future events.

Living Brussels subscribers have an exclusive discount code for Booma Club x Café Luxembourg on 10 July! Use LIVINGBXL at checkout to get your tickets at an early-bird price.

A few weeks ago, I presented you with a festival list for June. In this issue, let’s look at all the different festivals in July. The good news is that tickets are still widely available for most of them. And if your preferred day is sold out, you can always check TicketSwap or official festival websites for resales. P.S. Tomorrowland is not included for obvious, sold-out reasons😁.

🤝= networking/meeting new people; 🎨= crafts and workshops; 👚= fashion; 🎸= music; 🎉 = parties and festivals; 🎭 = theatre, musicals and performing arts; 🚶 = walking and hiking; 🏀 = sport; 🎥 = film festivals and screenings; 🏋️ = fitness; 🎤= talks; 🍔 = food an drinks; 🖼️= exhibitions; 😂= comedy; 🛒= shopping and markets; 🎮= games and quizzes