Beer in Brussels

Must say, this thread is really putting me off going to Brussels with my wife and baby...

 

Yes, those things can happen anywhere and Brussels being the big international city it is is certainly no stranger to that. But Brussels is a beautiful city with an ugly face and a bitchy character. Try to see the beauty underneath, plenty of very nice authentic spots to charice there and be direct if you don't like people's attitude. Brusseleirs don't bullshit you around. And the only time I ever got robbed was in Leuven, one of the more clean cities in Belgium

 

" Try to see the beauty underneath "
Ive been MANY times in Brussels never saw it !
If i go to Brussels i never take my kids and if they are with me then they stay in the car with my wife .
Brussels is just not a safe city , thats how it is ! It has a reason why there are so many police cars etc etc
Just go were you need to be , don't take to much with you and keep your eyes and ears open , focus on the people around you
There is no reason to be scared or afraid if you wanne visit moeder lambic or stuff like that , cantillon isn't in a very nice area but if you go in and out and don't hang around to long then there is no problem
Just keep your eyes and ears open and don't carry expencive phone's or lots of money with you , and most important avoid walking around when it's dark , take a taxi !

 

I never felt uneasy during my 5 days in Brussels, but definitely take the advice of the guy above me. Walk with purpose (even if you're not completely sure where you're going), be aware of your surroundings, etc--basically don't be an easy target. This advice holds for any big city I've been to, not unique to Brussels.

My personal fav was Moeder Lambic. We went Wed night around 6 and it never got too crowded. Had a great quiche and salad and some tasty beers. They had a Berliner Weisse from the UK on tap called London Sour that was really good.

 

Hey, that's entertainment in some quarters... Anyway, by no means disputing your, valid, impressions. I hear a siren as I write this. Rogier's a dodgy area but it would be hard to visit without passing through somewhere sketchy, like most cities of the size.

This makes remember how much more secure it felt to move to (a much nicer than Rogier part of) Brussels from not the swishest area (at the time) of Washington DC.

 

Agreed. I've met many wonderful people there over the years, some of whom have been friends for 16 years. I've had memorable times with them in cafes and their homes. Some people simply aren't comfortable in cities. I love both cities and small towns in rural regions equally but for different reasons. When I travel, I spend time in both. Brussels is as representative of Belgium as a village in the Ardennes and each have great experiences to offer if you know how to find them.

 

I'm a city boy (grew up in pretty rough area of London) so I guess I shouldn't be too concerned!

 

I wouldn't be too worried about going to Brussels. Some parts you probably dont want to walk around at night but that's also the fact in other big cities. The area around cantillon looks a bit rough but I've never felt afraid over there.

I prefer Bruges or Ghent above Brussels but Brussels also gives you that Middle-East expercience. You feel like a tourist in your own country.

Yesterday I was also at Moeder Lambic Font. for the first time and wasn't that impressed. Just stay at cantillon and drink some great bottles at cheap prices . If you go on a weekday it will also be very calm and not to crowded with tourists.

 

What the hell.....you make it sound like Bagdad I often take my kids(6 and 8) with me and they absolutely love Brussels.

 

Yeah know that you say it , sometimes it feels like Bagdad !.
Never been in Bagdad , but i've been in nearly all the big places on this planet , so i know what i say
Sometimes when i'm in Brussels it feels like i'm a total stranger in my own country ,
Brussels is Brussels , it's a BIG difference with " nearly " all the rest of Belgium

I'm not gonne comment anymore on this , everybody has a different view/experience with Brussels
You hate it or you love it , thats how Brussels is

 

My girlfriend and I spent 10 nights in Brussels this past summer and never once felt unsafe. The area around Gare Midi and Cantillon is a little rough looking but we visited the brewery twice and rode the train frequently and had no concerns. If you're comfortable in larger cities you should feel the same in Brussels.

I haven't seen this mentioned many places but there is a PDF walking tour on the top of Canitllon's website that made for a nice afternoon (with several bar pit stops). We wished we would have done it earlier in the trip as it includes some fun history and would have been a good introduction to the city.

We stayed a few blocks south of Moeder Lambic Fontainas (where we had quiche and gueuze for breakfast probably every other day) and really liked the area. There were plenty of markets and restaurants nearby and the city center was a short walk away.

 

This is what I like to hear, some positivity! I'm looking forward to my visit, I will be vigilant as I would anywhere else that was unfamiliar.

 

I'm flying out to Brussels today. Any thoughts on swinging down to the Ardennes for a day? I might be interested in visiting some World War I stuff, provided I don't get blown up by an old mine.

We also have plans to train to Poperinge and bike to Westvleteren for a day.

 

There is more in Belgium than just cantillon to visit for beers... search the rest of the breweries in Belgium is my advice... nothing against Cantillon but there is more...

And about safety in Brussels well dont walk around like a tourist is my advice just like a scarry Belgian person in his own country that allready get robbed 2 times that day and you will be safe

 

Has anyone used BrewSpot? Seems like it could be quite an interesting few hours!

 

Can anyone recommend a fairly central, fairly quiet (we will have a baby with us), fairly inexpensive hotel? Hopefully close to the good beer spots.

 

Did not find Brussels to be cheap, but this place was clean & on the cheap side. Not a fancy area but right across from the big train station. Easy walk (even with a stroller) to Cantillon and not a bad walk even at night up to Moder Fontinas, etc. Be aware though that there are a ton of EU conferences, etc in Brussels that can drive hotel rates way up for short periods.

Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi
Place Marcel Broodthaers 3, Rue de Hollande
1060 Bruxelles
Belgium

 

We stayed at the Sandton Pillows and thought it was a nice value and a great location. Some reviews.