Brussels, are you back from your holidays yet???
I know some people love how quiet Brussels is during August. But let me tell you - I’m not one of those people 😂 My friends are gone, lots of cafés and restaurants are closed, and many quarters just feel like a ghost town. So I cannnoooot wait for everything to go back to normal!
As for my recent café and restaurant finds, I have two of each. Taylor’s Café came highly recommended by Cass Hebron several times, so I knew I needed to finally try it. Located on one of the coolest streets in Brussels, Rue Haute, it invites you for vegan breakfast, lunch, or pastries, as well as plenty of drinks with oat milk on offer (get the Iced Matcha Lavender Latte). Anny Café offers a great alternative to the ever-full Leopold at Montgomery. You can enjoy their outside terrace as well as a very lovely interior, various drinks and four kinds of buns (I was very intrigued by the olive/pesto one).
Lil Bao has been on my list forever, and it’s another vegan place in today’s issue. I had their ‘lil dims’, which were absolutely fabulous, and ‘auberginius bao’, which was great as well. And last but not least, Archie is a discreet vegetarian restaurant in Parvis Saint-Gilles, but their lunch menu - OMG. They always have just a few dishes on offer; I had a lentil salad that I still dream about. And apparently, they also offer catering 👀
In this issue:
🛒 7 brocantes to attend between now and mid-September
🎊 5 original activities in Brussels
🗓️ Upcoming events in Brussels (19 August-2 September)
7 brocantes to attend between now and mid-September
You know, I barely refuse topic suggestions for this newsletter, especially if someone volunteers to write the content! Tena, who some of you know from the vintage shops tour (stay tuned for another one in October 👀 ), has kindly offered to write about one of the Brussels phenomena - “brocantes”. These are flea or street markets across Belgium and neighbouring countries (called braderies in France) that have been going on for centuries. They are probably as old as organised trade itself, and got their modern shape back in the 19th century.
Often, they are more than people selling stuff outside; they turn into mini street festivals with music, food trucks and drinks being served everywhere. Here’s a list of Tena’s favourites (thank you so much again, Tena! ❤ ).
Fort-Jaco (23 August, Chaussée de Waterloo 1359, Uccle) - There are other good brocantes in Uccle, but this is their biggest. If you come early, which I strongly advise, you can find vintage designer clothes for a pretty good price. Worth getting up early on a Sunday!
3 Tilleuls (23 August, Avenue Léopold Wiener, Avenue de L'arbalète, Watermael-Boitsfort) - Especially good for things like plates and cutlery, as well as other home items. Some of my favourite stationery and home office items come from here.
Brocante for Bikes! (5 September, Place du Roi Baudouin, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe) - Alright, I am not a cyclist myself. But this is a brocante dedicated to bikes, from super old ones to those intended for sport. If you're looking for a new bike but are on a budget, this is worth visiting.
Cimetière d’Ixelles (5 September, Chaussée de Boondael, Ixelles) - One of the biggest in the city, with over 500 sellers of different kinds. Also a mini city fair with a great range of food trucks and side activities. I advise coming well-rested; otherwise it can become overwhelming quickly.
Grand Hospice (6 and 20 September, Rue du Grand Hospice 7, Bruxelles) - There's a thin line between brocantes and regular flea markets, and the one in Grand Hospice is something in between. But it is a good market, featuring a lot of handmade items too. The prices tend to be higher than at a regular brocante, but it also tends to be well curated.
Keym (13 September, Pl. Eugène Keym, Watermael-Boitsfort) - This is where most of my apartment furniture and home decor comes from. A gold mine if you, like me, are looking for vintage solid wood pieces but cannot spend a couple of thousand euros on them. Let's just say that I paid €25 for a huge framed mirror that I could barely carry home because it was so heavy. But so worth it - still one of the pieces I am the most proud of to this day.
Brocante des constellations (19 September, Avenue Des Constellations & Rues Avoisinantes, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert) - Lots of beautiful home decor and books. Let's just say that you might return with much more than you intended to buy.
5 original activities in Brussels
I’ve been booking events with Fever in Brussels for a few years now. When I started this newsletter, I knew that I would reach out to them eventually to become one of the partners. Well, turns out that I met their Global Ambassador representative at a creator conference in London in July and, a few days later, I became one of their Ambassadors in Brussels. This is my first big affiliate brand partnership, so I’m very excited! Look at the list below, and I’ll be surprised if there’s not at least one event where you will take your friends, partners, or kids 😉
Use the code LIVINGBRUSSELS10 to get a 10% discount on all the experiences below, for a limited time period. I am an official Fever Ambassador in Brussels and will earn a small commission if you make a booking using my affiliate link.
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition (Brussels Expo, until 1 September) - After captivating 2.4 million visitors worldwide, the award-winning Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition is now coming to Brussels! With 8-meter-high immersive projections, a 360º virtual reality experience, a metaverse room, as well as authentic artifacts brought directly from Cairo and detailed replicas, this groundbreaking exhibition invites visitors to dive into the heart of Ancient Egypt.
Miraculous Experience: Superhero Training (MOIR, until 1 September) - Dive into the Miraculous universe and complete five levels of interactive superhero training. Explore, play and discover what it truly takes to become a superhero. Ready to join the team?
Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience in Brussels (Tour & Taxis, until 1 September) - Explore the dark side of 20 of the world's most notorious criminals and the behind-the-scenes of the investigations that ended their reign. This immersive exhibition will challenge everything you thought you knew about crime.
Water Lantern Festival (Bois de la Cambre, until 20 September) - Light up the night and enjoy a magical evening dedicated to love and togetherness at the Water Lantern Festival! Gather your loved ones for a magnificent evening of reflection, joy, and glowing lanterns floating on the water. Admire the breathtaking spectacle created by thousands of illuminated lanterns, symbolizing hope, healing, and solidarity.
The Banksy Museum: An Immersive Dive into the Street Artist’s Work (Rue de Laeken 28, until 20 October) - The work of the world’s most famous anonymous street artist arrives in Brussels as part of the Banksy Museum with a monumental collection of his creations. Simply put, this museum brings together the largest number of life-sized works by the artist. So come and complete the picture for a truly unique artistic experience!
Upcoming events
🤝 = 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 and drinks; 🖼️ = exhibitions; 😂 = comedy; 🛒= shopping and markets; 🎮 = games and quizzes
🖼️ 19-23 August: Heritage in Motion @City Hall of Brussels (link)
🤝 20 August: Breeze x Samsung Singles Mixer at Lila29 | Unfold Your Love @Lila29 (link)
🍔 21 August: Killer Cocktail @secret location (link)
🎨 22 August: Slow Read - The Purpose of Power @Unity Bookshop (link)
🍔 22-23 August: Indian Food Festival @Parc du Cinquantenaire (link)
🎉 22-23 August: HappyLife Festival @Ferme Nos Pilifs (link)
🍔 23 August: Picnic XXL @secret location (link)
🏋️ 23 August: Chouke x Studio LUMA: Summer Flow Yoga + Brunch @Parc Parmentier (link)
🎉 23 August: Tacos y Tacones @ASBL Metaprosa (link)
🍔 24-30 August: Belgium Beer Week @various locations (link)
😂 27 August: Interactive Comedy - “Belgium Is a Joke” @Wolf (link)
😂 27 August: Unseasoned Chicken Breast - Stand-Up Comedy with Charlie Stevens @L’Amère à Boire (link)
🍔 28 August: Pub Crawl @secret location (link)
🎉 28-30 August: Fiesta Latina @Parc du Cinquantenaire (link)
🎮 28-30 August: Brussels Games Festival @The Egg (link)
🎉 28-30 August: Festival Plazey @Elisabethpark (link)
🎉 29-30 August: L’Afrique en Couleurs Festival @Tour and Taxis (link)
🍔 29-30 August: POM POM POM @Vaux Hall (link)
🍔 30 August: Unusual Brunch @secret location (link)
🍔 30 August: Microbrewery Experience @Wolf (link)
🤝 30 August: Sunday Pages • A Communicators & Marketers Brunch @Chalet Robinson (link)
🎭 2-12 September: Het TheaterFestival @various locations (link)
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