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Food and Drink
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 licences to serve spirits. Beers and wines are freely obtainable everywhere and there are no licensing hours.
National specialities:
• Moules frites (mussels and chips/French fries).
• Endives with Béchamel sauce.
• Ardennes sausages, ham, and pâté 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 speciality.
• Famous names include Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Duvel and Chimay.
• Gueuze is a highly distinctive spontaneously fermented Brussels speciality.
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.
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 licences to serve spirits. Beers and wines are freely obtainable everywhere and there are no licensing hours.
National specialities:
• Moules frites (mussels and chips/French fries).
• Endives with Béchamel sauce.
• Ardennes sausages, ham, and pâté 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 speciality.
• Famous names include Stella Artois, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Duvel and Chimay.
• Gueuze is a highly distinctive spontaneously fermented Brussels speciality.
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.
Nightlife
As 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 theatres 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.theatrenational.be) and the Théâtre des Galeries (website: www.theatredesgaleries.be). The more avant-garde theatres 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 centred 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.
Elsewhere, the nightlife choices reflect the size of the town - but there is no shortage of fun to be had in any of the major cities. Bruges (website: www.brugge.be), one of the major visitor destinations, offers a good range of evening options, while Antwerp (website: www.antwerpen.be) has a lively club scene. For the serious clubbers, though, Ostend (website: www.toerisme-oostende.be) is the place to be.
The Belgians are keen on their food, and the country is very well supplied with excellent restaurants to suit all budgets - the perfect evening out here involves a gourmet meal. From mussels in Flanders to fine freshwater fish in Wallonia, you won't go hungry, and the eateries are busy at all times of the week.
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 centred 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.
Elsewhere, the nightlife choices reflect the size of the town - but there is no shortage of fun to be had in any of the major cities. Bruges (website: www.brugge.be), one of the major visitor destinations, offers a good range of evening options, while Antwerp (website: www.antwerpen.be) has a lively club scene. For the serious clubbers, though, Ostend (website: www.toerisme-oostende.be) is the place to be.
The Belgians are keen on their food, and the country is very well supplied with excellent restaurants to suit all budgets - the perfect evening out here involves a gourmet meal. From mussels in Flanders to fine freshwater fish in Wallonia, you won't go hungry, and the eateries are busy at all times of the week.
Shopping
Special purchases include ceramics and hand-beaten copperware from Dinant; Belgian chocolates; crystals from Val Saint Lambert; diamonds; jewellery from Antwerp; lace from Bruges, Brussels and Mechelen (Malines), woodcarvings from Spa and bandes dessinées (comic-strip books) by a number of talented Belgian cartoon artists from Brussels. Main shopping centres are located in Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Liège, Mechelen, Mons, Namur and Ostend.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1800/1900. Department stores often remain open longer, up to 2100 on Friday. Outside main areas, some shops may close at lunchtime.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1800/1900. Department stores often remain open longer, up to 2100 on Friday. Outside main areas, some shops may close at lunchtime.