Prices

Is Brussels a very expensive place to eat and drink in? Does anyone have any suggestions of restaurants/bars that serve nice food but don%26#39;t cost the earth?

Thanks

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As a capital city, Brussels is probably more expensive than most places in Belgium, especially in the centre, but what makes it more expensive for people who aren%26#39;t paid in euros is the rate of exchange.

My main suggestion would be to stay away from the restaurant area of rue des Bouchers, petite rue des Bouchers etc. (Ilôt Sacré). Not that you would be poisoned and the prices might not look high (although it is the only area of the city where you will find cover charges) but they have a habit of making mistakes with the bill and/or with what you ordered which can end up being very costly.

Restaurants in the Galeries St. Hubert itself are good but expensive, except for Arcadi next to the exit furthest from the Grand%26#39; Place, where you can have anything from a snack to a full meal.

On the other hand, %26quot;pitta street%26quot; (rue du Marché aux Fromages), not far from the Grand%26#39; Place, while not likely to be a wonderful gastronomic experience, is at least relatively cheap.

There are some reasonable restaurants (Italian, Breton pancake place..), in rue de Flandres, which is the continuation of rue St. Catherine - where you will find lots of Asian restaurants and, if you have big appetites, the all-you-can eat ribs place Amadeus, tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g188644-…

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Thanks so much for your advice. We went to Rome earlier this year and found the prices okay but expensive compared to Barcelona where we visited also.

I%26#39;m having trouble finding information as to how much things cost in Brussels ie a beer, a coffee etc. That usually gives an indication as to how much money will be needed during the stay.

Thanks again for your advice. We will definately check out your suggestions.

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The trouble is it%26#39;s all %26quot;how long is a piece of string...%26quot;? All depends what and where, for example a small (2.5cl) glass of lager should cost about €2.30 but other types of beer, as much as €5 (and serving size differs depending on type). A normal cup of coffee should be around €2, naturally cheaper in a chain like Exki (a bit like Prêt-à-Manger, good for lunch but closed in the evenings) and treble that in a hotel like the Plaza.

This is a brasserie in the student area of Ixelles, near the university, if you click on %26quot;carte%26quot; on the left you can get an idea of reasonable food prices: http://www.labecasse.net/

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Thanks a million! Thats exactly what I was looking for. An indication as to what basic costs are.

Thanks again for your help.

Much appreciated.

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Here are some stats from our recent trip:

Le Roy on the Grand Place: 42 euros for 2 entres plus 4 beers

Le Cirio: 22 euros for 2 toasted sandwiches and 2 beers

Cafe Georgette: 18 euros for 4 or 5 beers

Churchills: 9 euros for 2 beers

Panos: 8,50 euros for 2 sandwiches and 2 sodas to go

Restaurant on Kaastraat where all the greek places are: 23 euros for 2 entres and 2-3 beers

Random waffle stand: 1,80 euro for 1 plain waffle

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Just to clarify, %26quot;Le Roy%26quot; will be Le Roy d%26#39;Espagne and %26quot;Kaastraat%26quot;, KaasMARKT/rue du marché aux fromages (cheese market street, better known to some as %26quot;pitta street%26quot;).

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Thanks for the clarification :) I kept notes, but I think I could have done a little better with the accuracy.