Terraces for spring

A whistle-stop tour of some spring terraces…

Sheltered… from noise

A haven of peace in the heart of the hustle and bustle of the city is waiting for you just off Rue Royale. The Motel One Brussels terrace is located in a green internal courtyard. On the lively Porte de Namur, the magnificent terrace behind the Cospaia also offers a quick change of scene. Come and appreciate the panoramic view of the Golden Fleece and the dome of the Palais de Justice over a drink. Two steps away, in the welcoming Marolles district, the Renard Bleu garden is the ideal spot for a pint with friends. With Trappist and bio beers, there’s something for all tastes!

Covered terraces

Make the most of the sunlight while the temperatures remain cool – this is the luxury of a covered terrace. Open your address book and write down the following names: the Brasserie des Etangs Mellaerts in Woluwe, ideal after a walk in the surrounding area; Pin Pon on Jeu de Balle square on the way back to the flea market, and the Mess at Etterbeux for lunch in the sunlight. Fall in love with the Terrasse à Mérode and its retractable roof. Lastly, you can always take a few moments to pause in one of the few establishments in the Royal Galleries, with the most beautiful glass roof in the city.

When out for a walk

The ancient railway which spans the Avenue de Tervuren is a popular (and jam-packed) walking spot any time the sun comes out even a little. The Vigne terrace might surprise you with its bird’s eye view of the Mellaerts ponds and vine plants between the tables. After, or during, a shopping trip in town, take a break on the pedestrian terrace around the Stock Exchange. And if you’ve come by train and you have some free time before boarding at Bruxelles-Midi, come and unwind at the RBG bar at the Radisson Park Inn hotel. The terrace overlooks a green courtyard.

Heated terraces

It’s sod’s law: the weatherman announces that the sunniest of weeks is to finish with a rotten weekend. But don’t you let that hold you back. You send out some messages on WhatsApp: the order of the day this evening is simple: cocktails on a heated terrace. All you have to do is choose your spot: Café Métropole, 13 Degrés, Café Leffe…

And if you want some food as well, arrange to meet at the Gran Forestier, at Aglio and Olio, at Variétés, at Vieux Saint Martin or at Plasch instead. If you want to pretend you’re in the Swiss Family Robinson, try and make it to Chalet Robinson in the Bois de la Cambre park. For something by the light of the stars, the garden at the Villa Lorraine also has heaters.

Finally, the classics of the genre: terraces that will never go out of style await you throughout the year: the terraces at Place Flagey (Belga, …), their sisters at Châtelain, Place Lux and Place de Londres, their cousins at Halles-Saint-Géry and their forefathers at the Grand Place.