Brussels weekend trip - market and restaurant questions
 

Hi, we leave Friday night for a weekend in Brussels. Can anyone tell me what they sell at these markets:
- Marche du Midi
- Marolles Marche auc Puces

I gather the Puces means flea market which in my mind is either junk or antiques, neither of which we are that keen on. We are more interested in clothes, food, shoes, electronics, household goods, books. Does either market sells these things?

Also looking for a mid-priced informal restaurant with good Belgian food. We had a wonderful fish stew and a lamb stew in Brugge and would love to have something that good again! We are staying at the Atlas Hotel, Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains, so something within about 20 mins walk would be great. Any ideas?

Thanks.
Kay

Anyone?


Anyone been to the markets?

Anyone had a good meal in Brussels?

Kay

I was in Belgium last fall. Antwerp, Brugge and Brussels. I LOVED Belgium, what a gorgeous country, and Brugge is a beautiful village. Anyhow, I digress. I have reviews of hotels and restaurants at on my site Bombastic Life. http://www.bombasticlife.com

I didn't hit the markets so I can't be of any help there.

Good Luck (not that you will need it).

Yes, I have been to those markets. But they're not my thing. Esp. after a friend saw a vendor there selling a purse exactly like the one I'd lost in a mugging the week before (it was from a small California-made brand that I'd bought in Port Townsend, WA).

And yes, I've had many a good meal in Brussels. But none of my favorite restaurants are near the Atlas Hotel--most of them are out in the residential neighborhoods like Ixelles (Chatelain/Tenbosch section), Uccle, and Woluwe St. Pierre.

some examples:
http://sites.resto.com/lefruitdefendu/
www.notos.be
http://www.lechaletdelaforet.be/
http://www.shakehands.be/
http://www.restolola.be/
http://users.skynet.be/leslarmesduti...vellepage1.htm

So sorry to hear, BTilke, about your mugging and then the purse being in the market. Not nice at all. Were you mugged in Brussels? I thought it seemed like a safe place.

We like markets in general because of the colourful atmosphere and sometimes there are good bargains. Often we don't end up buying much but like browsing.

Kay

Not sure if we're talking about the same market, but if I recall correctly, Marche du Midi is more of food market.

If you're there on weekend, I strongly recommend the antique market on Place du Grand Sablon. They are far more reputable, some silver items or antique watches can be quite pricey. There are also galleries and stand-alone antique shops around there. It's near Pierre Marcolini HQ.

Close by, there is a branch of Le Pain Quotidien, and a casual pie-and-quiche store. Shame I cannot remember the name but they usually have 4-6 different variety each for sweet pies and savory quiches you can buy by a piece.

If you're into antique furniture, there are several special auction houses that specialises in furniture (belle epoque, empire, georgian, art-nouveau, you name it).

On art nouveau, one of my favourite place is Horta Museum--though you need to check the opening hours.

" a casual pie-and-quiche store"

Sounds like la Tarterie de Pierre (Pierre as in Pierre Marcolini, the chocolatier which has its flagship store on the Place du Sablon). I'm a huge fan of their quiches and, especially, their sweet tarts, which you can purchase by the slice, quarter, half or whole. My favourite was a rhubarb, pistachio and meringue concoction they were selling a few months ago, though the selection changes regularly so there's always something new to try!

There's also a wonderful tea shop (= not a sit-down place but a shop selling different teas) called L'Univers du Thé, further up on the other side of the Place du Sablon opposite the church. They have the most wonderful, fragrant blends of teas I've ever come across (that IMO knock the teas from Mariage Frères in Paris into a cocked hat!!) http://www.universduthe.be/presentation_en.html

Thanks for the tips, the food shops sound right up our alley. I did some more research and the Marche du Midi does sound like it's mostly food so not really what we were looking for. It may be nice to look at antiques but we wouldn't be buying anything.

We do plan on visiting the Royal Palace which is open for the summer with free admission.

Kay

hanl,

Yes, exactly that's the quiche/tart shop on Grand Sablon. Thanks very much for finding the name!