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Brussels Nightlife

Brussels's location at the heart of Europe encourages top artists and budding stars to tour here. However, the city has a thriving home-grown scene of its own. Jazz has been strong since the 1920s and there is year-round live jazz in a cluster of venues. The club scene in Brussels is relatively new, drawing crowds of locals, expats and tourists after much lingering in the city's many bars and Irish pubs. The best clubs send out their sounds into the night around Place de St-Géry, Manneken-Pis and in the Marolles district, while the Matonge district is the place to track down African nightspots.

Nightlife listings for Brussels can be found on www.noctis.com. The 'What's On' sections of the English-language Bulletin, the Wednesday edition of Le Soir and the free weekly Brussel Deze Week (www.brusseldezeweek.be) all provide cultural listings. Fnac, in the City 2 complex on Rue Neuve (www.fnac.be), is the best place for club and concert tickets, although the tourist office on Grand-Place may also be of help.

Halles de Schaerbeek

The Halles de Schaerbeek hosts large-scale opera, theatre and dance performances, as well as pop acts.

Rue Royale Sainte-Marie 22
Tel: 02 218 2107.
www.halles.be

Kaaitheater

Kaaitheater is the main Flemish theatre in Brussels; its studio venue is at rue Notre-Dame du Sommeil 81. The works of radical choreographers are also staged here, as well as at Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (Royal Flemish Theatre), rue de Laeken 146.

Place Sainctelette 20
Tel: 02 201 5959.
www.kaaitheater.be

Palais des Beaux Arts

The principal cross-cultural venue in Brussels is the Victor Horta-designed Palais des Beaux Arts, which hosts major art exhibitions, theatre, dance, and classical music. The Palais des Beaux Arts is home to the National Orchestra and Philharmonic Society, which organises most of the major concerts in Brussels – the season runs from September to June.

Rue Ravenstein 23
Tel: 02 507 8200.
www.bozar.be

Théâtre de Toone

At the 17th-century Théâtre de Toone, classics such as Faust and King Lear are performed in French and Flemish (peppered with local dialect) by marionettes manipulated by seven puppeteers. Performances are occasionally in English.

Petite rue de Bouchers 21
Tel: 02 511 7137.
www.toone.be

Théâtre National

Théâtre National is one of the leading French-language theatres in Brussels.

Boulevard Emile Jacqmain
Tel: 02 203 5303.
www.theatrenational.be

Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie

Prestigious local and touring productions are staged at the national opera house, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie. De Keersmaecker's Rosas Company (dance) also performs here.

Place du Monnaie
Tel: 070 233 939.
www.lamonnaie.be

Bars in Brussels

A La Mort Subite

Belgium is justly famous for its superb selection of beers, not least those created by Trappist monks at various monasteries around the country. Brussels, furthermore, has its own idiosyncratic varieties, notably the spontaneously fermented Gueuze and the fruit flavoured Kriek varieties. Centrally located beer havens include A La Mort Subite.

Rue Montagne-aux-Herbes Potagères 7
Tel: 02 513 1318.
www.alamortsubite.com

Au Soleil

Au Soleil is a pleasant little bar with an art deco interior and plenty of beers on offer.

Rue du Marché-au-Charbon 86
Tel: 02 512 3430.

L'Ultime Atome

L'Ultime Atome is a long-running favourite bar in Brussels.

Rue Saint Boniface 14
Tel: 02 511 1367.
www.ultime-atome.com

Théâtre de Toone VII

A quieter evening is on offer at the Théâtre de Toone VII, where puppets form a backdrop to the drinking.

Impasse Sainte Petronille, Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 66
Tel: 02 511 7137.
www.toone.be

Clubs in Brussels

Bazaar

Bazaar is a large and popular restaurant/nightclub complex in Les Marolles.

Rue des Capucins 63
Tel: 02 511 2600.
www.bazaarresto.be

Le Fuse

Top international DJs play techno, house and jungle at Le Fuse.

Rue Blaes 208
Tel: 02 511 9789.
www.fuse.be

Le You

Le You is a prime House, Funk and R'n'B venue with a gay night every Sunday.

Rue Duquesnoy 18
Tel: 02 639 1400.
www.leyou.be

Les Jeux d'Hiver

Hip Bruxellois go to the newly revamped Les Jeux d'Hiver, south of the centre in the Bois de la Cambre.

Chemin du Croquet 1
Tel: 02 649 0864.
www.jeuxdhiver.be

Live Music in Brussels

Ancienne Belgique

Mainstream rock acts regularly appear at Ancienne Belgique.

Boulevard Anspach 110
Tel: 02 548 2484 or 2424 for tickets.
www.abconcerts.be

Beursschouwburg

Everything from electro to jazz can be experienced at Beursschouwburg.

Rue Orts 20
Tel: 02 550 0350.
www.beursschouwburg.be

L'Archiduc

Jazz dominates the live music scene in Brussels. There is jazz on Saturday and most Sundays at L'Archiduc.

Rue Antoine Dansaert 6
Tel: 02 512 0652.
www.archiduc.net

Sounds Jazz Club

Sounds Jazz Club hosts jazz bands and singers most nights of the week.

Rue de la Tulipe 28
Tel: 02 512 9250.
www.soundsjazzclub.be

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