Photo Credit: Belgian Tourost Office

TripOut Gay Travel:
Brussels

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Gay Friendly Rating: Gay Friendly Rating Very welcoming; this place is gay-tastic!
Europe's diplomatic hub is also a stylish, gourmet stunner of a city. Prepared to be charmed.

Brussels Fast Facts:

  • Gayborhood The Saint-Jacques, near the Grand'Place, has become the gay neighborhood of the Brussels.
  • Did somebody say millinery? Probably not, but that's no reason not to trot over to Christophe Coppens' amazing atelier, Atelier Coppens on the Place du Nouveau Marche au Grains, where his fantastic hats for men are quietly on parade. They go from understated to outrageous: Consider the mesh fedora with a 3D-imprint of a face on top, or another with an outstretched palm. Then there are the phalange-patterned leather gloves and various nifty accessories you won't find anywhere else.
  • The hot boutique Stijl (74 Rue Dansaert, Brussels; tel. 32-02-512-0313) is there the hip Belgian designers are. We're talking Dries van Noten, we're talking Raf Simons, and we're talking really expensive, but oh-so hip, too.
  • Who knew bowling was big in Belgium? If you can get a few friends together, try your luck at Super Bowling Crosly (36 Boulevard de l'Empereur, Brussels; tel. 32-02-512-0874; http://www.crosly.be/) a centrally located, disarmingly American-looking bowling alley. Of course, this is Brussels, so it has a restaurant, too.
  • If there's another gallery besides the Wayne Heathcote Gallery (2 Place du Petit Sablon, Brussels; tel. 32-02-502-6528; http://www.heathcote-gallery.com/) where you can find two stuffed squirrels fencing inside of a shadow box, I'd like to know where it is. To call this place a trip would be an understatement.
  • On the Corner of Rue des Chartreux and Vieux Marche aux Grains, you'll find instant visual confirmation that no, you're decidedly not in Kansas anymore. While the Manneken Pis gets all the publicity (even from me, see above), I love this statue of a retriever marking his territory on a hip corner in downtown Brussels. It's known affectionately as "Piss Dog." What's even funnier is that the canine in question is in a state of (ahem) arousal as stiff as the bronze he's made of. PissDog or Viagra Hound? Decide for yourself
  • Fancy a steam? If you're a gay male, consider Macho 106 (Rue Marche au Charbon, Brussels; tel. 32-02-513-5667; http://www.machosauna.com). Don't let the fortress-like exterior deter you from entering this ultra-clean men's only health club. Behind a gray facade there's a swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, skylit weight room rooftop sun terrace. And yes, it is that kind of men's sauna, too.
  • From NATO generals to hipsters heading to the tropics on holiday, few can resist the delicious linen clothing, much of it from Italian designers, on display in the bright and spacious boutique, Kwasi (18 Place St. Gery, Brussels; tel. 32-02-511-8589). After shopping you can chill with a white beer or heat up with a hot chocolate at one of the numerous cafe terraces right outside the door.

Brussels: Prepare to be Charmed

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Hey travel slacker: It’s time to go to Brussels. Sure, you’ve been meaning to make it Belgium’s cool capital at some point, but frankly, when push came to shove, you opted for more obvious Euro heavy-hitter destinations like Paris or... Read More Brussels: Prepare to be...

Brussels Top 5

Don't leave town before checking out...
TripOut Top Five
  1. La Demence
  2. Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art
  3. Museum of Belgian Brewers
  4. Barsey
  5. Hotel Orts

Recommended In Brussels:

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Hotels & Inns

Restaurants

Bars & Clubs

  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Boy's Boudoir 25 Rue Marche au Charbon
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    BXL Cafe-Bar 46 Place de la Vieille Halle aux Bles
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 1
    La Demence Fuse
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Le Baroque 44 Rue Marche au Charbon
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    Le Belgica 32 Rue Marche au Charbon
  • Gay+ Gay+: this place is super-gay! Have Fun! 0
    Le Duquesnoy 12 Rue Duquesnoy

Shopping

Sights & Activities