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.
Things to know: Most restaurants have waiter service, although self-service cafes are becoming more common. Restaurant bills always include drinks, unless they have been taken at the bar separately. In the latter case, this is settled over the counter. The majority of cafes have licenses to serve spirits. Beers and wines are freely obtainable everywhere and there are no licensing hours.
National specialties: •
Moules frites (mussels and chips/French
fries).
•
Endives with Bechamel
sauce
.
• Ardennes sausages, ham, and paté are renowned.
• Belgian chocolate.
• Waffles.
National drinks:There are over 400 beers brewed in Belgium, ranging from lagers and pilsners through to
Lambic (made from wheat and barley), white and fruit beers, to
Trappist monastery beers.
• Fruit beers, such as
Kriek cherry beer, are a specialty.
• Famous names include
Stella Artois,
Leffe,
Hoegaarden,
Duvel and
Chimay.
•
Gueuze is a highly distinctive Brussels specialty.
Legal drinking age: 16.
Tipping: A service charge of 16% is usually included in hotel or restaurant bills, although an additional tip may be left at the discretion of the individual. Cloakroom attendants and porters may expect a tip per item of luggage.
NightlifeAs 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
Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (Flemish KVS) (website:
www.kvs.be), the
Théâtre National de la Communauté Française (website:
www.theaternational.be) and the
Théâtre des Galeries (website:
www.theaterdesgaleries.be). The more avant-garde theaters include the
Kaaitheater (website:
www.kaaitheater.be) and the
Théâtre de Poche (website:
www.poche.be). Major musical venues include the
Beurschouwburg (website:
www.beursschouwburg.be), and big rock acts regularly appear at
Ancienne Belgique (website:
www.abconcerts.be). Brussels’ dozens of cinemas, numerous discos and many night-time cafes are centered on two main areas: the uptown Porte Louise area and the downtown area between Place Roger and Place de la Bourse. Nightclubs include
Le Fuse,
Les Jeux d’Hiver and
Le You; jazz clubs include
The New York Cafe Jazz Club,
The Sounds Jazz Club and
The Music Village. More information on nightlife in Brussels is available online (website:
www.brusselslife.be).
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. The
Festival of Flanders is famous 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.
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