Conveniently located from Maison Dandoy is the premier
cigar shop in Brussels,La Tête d’Or,
which usually has a fine selection of Havana cigars along with some more hard-to-find Benelux regional editions.
They also have a fine selection of cigar accessories, ranging from Dupont lighters
to beautiful cigar cases and humidors… always a treat! My other preferred establishment for cigars is
theDavidoffshop in the Place du Grand
Sablon, another beautiful and charming Brussels square, which also happens to be lined with some of Brussels’ famous Belgianchocolate shops. Cigars
and chocolates — a match made in heaven!
Disembarking the Eurostar, I usually make a beeline forFritland Brussels, again located off the Grand Place,
where a healthy (or unhealthy) portion of Belgian fries with a dollop of
mayonnaise hits the spot straight away. For a more indulgent meal, visitAux
Armes de Bruxelleson the corner of Rue des Bouchers. The traditional bistro
fare at this venerable institution comprises delicious shrimp crevettes and a rich
and heartwarming chicken vol-au-vent with meatballs, or a comforting Dover sole waterzooi... topped off with a
generous helping of Dame blanche or a rich and creamy mousse au chocolat. For a similar bistro-nomique
experience,Au Vieux Saint Martinon Place du Grand Sablon is equally indulgent. The bonus
is that you can pop into the nearby Magritte museum after lunch and experience some of the Belgian surrealist’s
finest work.
For a more glamorous evening out, plan dinner at the eponymousBelga Queen,
where the food is as good as the scene. In the basement is theBelga Queen
Fumoir, where one can retire for a post-prandial cigar and coffee.
When it comes to the sartorial arts, Brussels has a great mix of edgy, fashion-forward and
classic style inthe form of designer boutiques on Rue Dansaert or more mainstream
brands on Avenue Louise.
My go-to place for men’s tailoring and accessories isLa Maison Degand, an exquisitely curated menswear
emporium housed in a beautiful townhouse on Avenue Louise that has been under the
tasteful leadership of Pierre Degand and his family for generations. They also offer one of Brussels’s finest
bespoke services.
No trip to Brussels is complete without a visit toMaison de Greef, where Arnaud and Brice Wittmann
holdcourt and regale you with their wonderful selection of jewellery and
watches... with some pieces exclusive to the Boutique.
Finally, a trip to theDelvauxboutique, holders of a royal warrant from the Belgian queen, is a must, in order to see their
latestcreations — quintessentially Belgian with a twist in the form of luxurious
handbags, luggage and travel accessories.
By Shary Rahman.