GRAND CENTRAL

As I first revealed on my Snapchat, a brand new cafe has opened in Brussels and of course, I had to check it out! Located in the heart of the EU quarter, Grand Central is part of the Frederic Nicolay family which includes many well-known cafes and restaurants in Brussels, such as Cafe Belga, Flamingo, Barbeton, La Belle Equipe, Le Bar du Matin, Walvis, Potemkine and Bonsoir Clara.

Anyone who has been to the aforementioned spots will immediately recognize some common traits in terms of atmosphere and aesthetic. Developed in two levels, the space is big, very bright thanks to the large windows that let plenty of light in and is decorated in industrial style with bare walls, steel staircases, marble counters, beautiful light fixtures, recycled furniture and lots of wood. Not the coziest place but definitely one with personality and Frederic Nicolay’s signature. 

One of the things I liked the most about the Grand Central is the spacious terraces, one upstairs with views over Place Jean Rey and Leopold park and a second one overlooking the street that showcases Yona Friedman’s artwork, inspired by  the space chain theory. My partner in crime and I had a glass of fresh juice but I’m really looking forward to try more from this spot. It looks like there’s something different on offer throughout the day: breakfast in the morning, lunch options (soups, sandwiches, daily specials and a lunch buffet with organic food), afternoon tea and an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet on Sunday. I’m also very excited to try the Kefta, grilled meatballs on iraqi bread with herb sauce, prepared in the BBQ at Grand Central.

On Fridays and Saturdays Grand Central will host dj events, so the EU quarter gets a bit more lively – a much welcome change of you ask me. Give it a go and let me know what you think or better yet, share a picture on Twitter or Instagram with the #seemybrussels hashtag. I love hearing from you!  

INFO

Address: Place Jean Rey 4, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Telephone: +32 27211252

Website / Facebook page