I’ve got a free afternoon in Brussels in a couple of weeks for some record shopping. Any recommendations for second hand spots? Also spending the following day with my other half doing touristy things so any recommendations of galleries, places to eat etc. I don’t think I’ve been for 20 years so all advice welcome!
Spent a weird post-Xmas and NYE there '21/'22 when last minute COVID restrictions scuppered my Anglo/French plans. Belgium was the only place we could both travel too. Strange times.
Anyway, Rue Haute and Rue Blaes are generally good for shopping, galleries and disquaires (what’s the Flemish for record store?)
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I really like Brussels…
crevette is really good, mainly second hand all types of dance orientated music, easy to spend hours in there… plus they have a good selection of new releases too. it’s near The Place du Jeu de Balle, which is a large flea market on everyday, that’s a really great spot too, and next to quite a few nice vintage furniture shops that are cool to check out (via antiqua is the one to check, on the same street as crevette). there’s another record shop near crevette, Sono Ventura Records, also really good, but a bit less varied selection. – and it’s a short walk from here to the cool millennial lift up to the justice building, good view of the city.
wiels gallery near the station is really good to check out. and so are the Horta houses dotted around the city, some of the most amazing interiors I’ve seen. Hortamuseum - Welcome there’s a few others, all really amazing if you can see them all!
the other record shop that I like is arlequin, right in the centre, but it’s cool. all second hand and good prices. less of a focus on danceable music. very varied selection. – there’s others nearby too, but I dunno they always seemed a bit samey to me.
doctor vinyl has been there forever. and I used to check it, but I don’t really bother these days, it’s cool, and the guy that runs it is really nice, always down to pass on stories of him and cj bolland from back when they were teenagers.
in terms of places to eat/hang out, Brasserie Verschueren in saint Gilles is a really nice pub, and the square it’s on is cool too, the bar on the opposite corner is really nice too. Brasserie de l’Union.
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Brilliant, thanks for all this.
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Not been for years, but Dr Vinyl is ace (and Geert is an old DJH head and all round lovely fella).
Musee de Bandes Dessines for all your Tintin and related needs (pretty sure there’s some Lucky Luke artwork in there, if you were ever into Pif when en vacances en France en pantalons court…)
Place St Catherine has loads of good places to eat. Crevettes grises FTW.
Cantillon brewery/living museum (even if you don’t like sours/lambic, it’s a beautiful piece of history to walk through and experience).
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