What to do in Brussels for a 2- or 3-day weekend?

What to do in Brussels: Friday afternoon

1pm - Settling in at the Hoxton

We set down our suitcases at The Hoxton Brussels, housed in IBM's former European headquarters, a brutalist building that stands in stark contrast to the cosy boutique-hotel spirit to which the brand has accustomed us. But once through the door, the world changes: double-height lobbies, '70s inspirations, colorful velvet sofas, striped headboards and graphic rugs give the place a bohemian-art deco, almost Mexican charm. And as an added bonus, the room offers a panoramic view of Brussels.

At the end of the day, head for the top floor of this Brussels hotel, for one of the city's best-kept secrets: Tope, the Hoxton's hidden rooftop. A taqueria with well-balanced cocktails, generous tacos and 360° views over the city.

The Hoxton Brussels
Prices from 166 euros per night
Square Victoria Régina 1, 1210 Brussels

3pm - Coffee break at Bouche

Just a stone's throw from the Grand-Place and Mont des Arts, Bouche is the ideal address for a sharp coffee break between two visits during a weekend in Brussels. Nestled in the heart of the museum district - Musée des Instruments de Musique, Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Palais Royal - this minimalist, trendy coffee-shop proves that it's possible to look after the decor while taking coffee very seriously. Here, beans are selected like grands crus, carefully preserved and brought to light through cupping workshops. Fruity, full-bodied, refined, each coffee has its own personality and comes from a carefully sourced origin. Bonus: a sun-drenched terrace, perfect for savoring your latte while watching the ballet of the neighborhood.

Bouche
Rue de Namur 4, 1000 Brussels

4pm - Visit to Abbaye de la Cambre

Flagey is one of the cultural hearts of Brussels, a vibrant district where students, artists and night owls meet. Surrounded by universities, it oscillates between effervescence and tranquility, with its Art Deco facades, lively cafés and ponds offering a breath of urban air. A stone's throw away, the Abbaye de la Cambre reveals a completely different setting: founded in 1201, this former Cistercian monastery houses a Gothic church, cloister and formal gardens, where monastic calm reigns. Here, history mingles with contemporary life, as the abbey is now home to La Cambre, the École Nationale Supérieure des arts visuels, perpetuating the neighborhood's creative soul.

Abbaye de la Cambre
1050 Ixelles

5 pm - Malt Attacks beer selection

What's there to do in Brussels to drink a real mug? A must for beer lovers, Malt Attacks is much more than just a wine shop: it's a veritable brewing laboratory, where nearly 600 references rub shoulders, from Belgian classics to Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian finds. Here, hoppy IPAs, velvety stouts and American lagers coexist with must-haves from Brasserie de la Senne, Cantillon and Dupont. Let yourself be guided by the passionate and knowledgeable team, before heading off to Place du Châtelain to enjoy your catch of the day.

Malt Attacks
Avenue Jean Volders 18, 1060 Saint-Gilles

8pm - Diner at Gratin

What to do in Brussels for your first dinner? In the Châtelain district, where terraces and bars liven up Brussels nights, Gratin is the pinnacle of the buddy table. Always crowded, always lively, you'll settle into this Brussels restaurant at the bar or in the dining room, caught up in the ballet of plates and beers. There's no fuss here: just good, comforting Flemish cuisine, with an instinctive modern twist. White asparagus mimosa, fragrant leeks with vinaigrette, coquillettes au gratin: everything is generous, unpretentious but impeccably executed. On the glass side, we explore an eclectic selection, from well-sourced classics to sparkling pop. Neither a wine bar nor a conventional bistro, just a place where you can eat well without taking yourself too seriously.

Gratin
Place du Châtelain 47, 1050 Ixelles

What to do in Brussels: Saturday

11am - Brunch at Koul

Let's fill up on energy by the canal at Koul: a coffee-shop with krafted furniture that serves as a convivial table for local families. Here, the brunch menu mixes well-cooked lunch with oriental accents, minute flatbread, perfect egg and grilled kofteh, and a muscular breakfast with a brioche topped with zaatar and feta omelette. Sweet treats include cinnamon roll babka or Basque cheesecake.

Koul
Quai du Hainaut 7, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean

1pm - A relaxing day at Waer Waters

Just 15 minutes from the center, Waer Waters is a bubble of disconnection where we come to spend an entire day of our Brussels weekend between saunas, hammams and heated pools. There are no phones or tablets here: as soon as you enter, you cut yourself off from the outside world to take full advantage of the 12,000 m² dedicated to well-being. Three areas structure the experience: Unité, designed for relaxing with friends; Zen, conducive to deep relaxation; and Re-Energize, a naturist area with Finnish sauna and outdoor pools. Guests alternate between hot and cold baths, hammam breaks and relaxation rooms.

Waer Waters
Rodenberg 21, 1702 Dilbeek

4pm - Discover the Botanical Gardens

A veritable green lung in the heart of the city, the Brussels Botanical Garden, inaugurated in 1829, features terraces inspired by French, Italian and English gardens. Stroll between the star-shaped rose garden, the pond and the flowering paths, where the iris, emblem of the Brussels region, proudly takes pride of place. A contemplative pause in front of the imposing glass roof, a vestige of a past when botany and architecture met in majesty.

Botanical Garden
Boulevard Saint-Lazare 10, 1210 Brussels

6 pm - Cocktails at Era

An elegant break at Era, where you can sip a cocktail under the moldings and chandeliers of a former 19th-century consulting room. Velvet sofas, a period fireplace and high ceilings create a hushed, almost regal atmosphere. Behind the bar, the mixology is resolutely contemporary. Like the Nostalgia, a subtle blend of mezcal, red vermouth, PX sherry, chocolate and orange bitters that balances tradition with modern refinement.

Era
Rue du Fossé aux Loups 46, 1000 Brussels

9pm - And a gourmet meal at Entropy

In a former 18th-century post office, Entropy reinvents gastronomy by blending intuition and commitment. At the helm, Elliott Van de Velde, self-taught chef and fervent advocate of zero waste, offers a cuisine where every ingredient is sublimated. Here, trout from the BIGH farm is combined with garum to enhance a carrot kombucha, while Eclo mushrooms, marinated in sake, are combined with a creamy nettle and black garlic sauce. The journey continues with an open ravioli of beet, stracciatella and blackcurrant, before a dessert combining chocolate, coffee and crispy buckwheat.

Entropy
Place Saint Géry 22, 1000 Brussels

What to do in Brussels: Sunday

8am - Start with a coffee at Bark Boy

We start the day at Bark Boy, espresso in hand, between the colorful marble counter and the window opening onto the street. The atmosphere here is raw and cosmopolitan, with English, Flemish and French mingling in the morning hubbub. Coffee in cups or sealed cans, takeaways or lingering, caught by the smell of warm oatmeal-chocolate cookies carelessly placed on the counter, like an invitation impossible to refuse.

Bark Boy
Rue de l'Enseignement 20, 1060 Brussels

10 am - Taste the pastries at Brood

It's hard to leave Brussels without stopping off at one of its finest bakeries. Especially since the capital boasts a plethora of top-quality bakeries. Such as Brood, with its minimalist, uncluttered counter that breaks the codes of the genre: here, not a grain of flour in sight, just a perfect setting for the creations of the day. Each piece is thought through to the smallest detail, the lamination work precise, the design of the pastries thoughtful. A special mention goes to the flan en fleur, with its intensely vanilla-flavored texture, which alone is worth the detour.

Brood
Rue Darwin 38, 1050 Ixelles

12 pm - Lunch at Batch

Lunch break at Batch, the cool kid on the block, where you'll find an atmosphere halfway between foodie wine cellar and gourmet brunch counter. Here, you can sit down from morning to night, in a warm, raw decor, to savor simple, generous and well-thought-out dishes. The menu includes a Comté & Brasvar ham croque with a pickle twist, a full English breakfast, and boiled eggs served with cheese, sliced ham, thick sourdough bread and whipped butter.

Batch
Chau de Waterloo 559, 1050 Ixelles

3 pm - Stroll and stroll through Librairie Candide

In Ixelles, Librairie Candide is much more than just a bookshop: it's a place where you can browse through a novel with a cup of coffee, or sip a toast on the lively terrace at the end of the weekend. Local regulars gather here on Sundays for literary discussions and Belgian beers, in a village square atmosphere. You can pick up a selection of books and magazines, before extending the moment with a plate of the day. A final moment of suspension before closing the chapter on Brussels.

Librairie Candide
Place Georges Brugmann 2, 1050 Ixelles

4 pm - A final chocolate stop at Frédéric Blondeel's shop

Before ending our weekend in Brussels, let's indulge in one last gourmet interlude at Frédéric Blondeel, crowned best chocolatier in Brussels a few years ago. In one of Europe's great chocolate capitals, he embodies bean-to-bar excellence, roasting his own beans like a grand cru. At the boutique, you'll fall for his roasted hazelnut pralines, spice-infused ganaches and rare bean tablets. The ideal place to bring back (or treat yourself to) a chocolate souvenir from Brussels.

Frédéric Blondeel
Rue de Ganshoren 39, 1081 Koekelberg