DINING
Belgian cuisine is similar to French, based on game and seafood. Each region in Belgium has its own special dish. Butter, cream, beer and wine are generously used in cooking. Belgian chocolate, waffles and chips - preferably served with mayonnaise - are famous. Ardennes sausages and ham are renowned. Most restaurants have waiter service, although self-service cafes are becoming quite numerous. Restaurant bills always include drinks, unless they have been taken at the bar separately. In the latter case this is settled over the counter. Tips are also included in the final bill, although an additional tip may be left at the discretion of the individual.
Local beers are very good. Two of the most popular are Lambic, made from wheat and barley, and Trappist. Fruit beers, such as Kriek cherry beer, are a specialty. Under a new law, the majority of cafes now have licenses to serve spirits. Beers and wines are freely obtainable everywhere and there are no licensing hours.
Nightlife
As well as being one of the best cities in the world for eating out (both for its high quality and range), Brussels has a very active and varied nightlife. It has 10 theaters producing plays in both Dutch and French. These include the Théâtre National and the Théâtre Royal des Galeries. The more avant-garde theaters include the Théâtre Cinq-Quarante and the Théâtre de Poche. Brussels’ 35 cinemas, numerous discos and many night-time cafes are centerd on two main areas: the uptown Porte Louise area and the downtown area between Place Roger and Place de la Bourse. Nightclubs include the famous Chez Paul, Le Crazy, Le Grand Escalier and Maxim; jazz clubs include Bloomdido Jazz Cafe and The Brussels Jazz Club. Programs and weekly listings of events can be found in the BBB Agenda on sale at tourist offices. This also covers information on the many festivals that take place in Brussels itself. Tourism Brussels-Ardennes/Tourism Flanders-Brussels should be consulted about folk music or drama festivals elsewhere in Belgium – the most famous of which is the Festival of Flanders for classical music concerts. The other large cities of Belgium, such as Antwerp, Ghent, Kortrijk, Leuven, Liège, Mons and Namur, all have similar (though less extensive) nightlife facilities. |
