PARKING 58

In Best Sights Brussels

This blog is all about discovering great foodie and fun spots, so I bet you’re wondering what a car parking has to do with any of that. Parking 58 is located in the heart of Brussels just a stone’s throw from the Opera (“La Monnaie” / “De Munt”) and is admittedly an ugly concrete building. In typical Brussels fashion, you just need to know where to look to discover the beauty that lies inside, namely the gorgeous 360° views of the city from the 10th floor.

Parking 58 is a notable symbol of the so-called “Bruxellisation” which resulted in the demolition of numerous buildings of architectural or historical importance, including the “Palais du Lévrier” that used to stand here back in the day. Parking 58 was built for the 1958 Brussels Expo, the first major World’s Fair after WWII that also gave Brussels one of its most known symbols, the Atomium. Over the years there have been discussions about tearing the whole building down or even turning it into an urban park. Personally, I would love the idea of an elevated park, like the Belgian version of the High Line in NYC. For the moment, Parking 58 is transformed into a garden during the summer to host the Skybar58.

As you can see from the pictures below, the views from the 10th floor of Parking 58 are great – made even greater by the fact that the rooftop is freely accessible without a parking ticket to visitors (at least until 20:00). This is the best spot to watch the firework show on Belgian National Day and NYE, have an alternative picnic, or enjoy panoramic views of Brussels’ iconic buildings, like the Palais de Justice, the Atomium, the Town Hall in Grand Place and the Basilica of Koekelberg.