Archives for January 2013

Brussels Best Bars For Live Music Close To The Pantone Hotel

If you find yourself at our hotel just off Avenue Louise and you don’t know what to do in the early evening? Live music will take your mind off of business and will allow you to relax in a cool atmosphere. This time you’ll find our top picks of Brussels live music bars. Here are some of the venues where locals go to enjoy live music while enjoying a drink. By the way, these spots are not only open during the weekend.

Our Brussels insider tips are for business and leisure travelers, and always up-to-date!

Michael Collins -Irish pub

The number one of our list is a great Irish pub close to the Pantone Hotel. Located in Rue du Bailli 1, it is a 10 minute walk from our hotel. If you are with a big group people you might want to make yourreservation at +32 2 644 61 21

If you are looking for live music this is undoubtedly one ofthe better places at walking distance from our Hotel in Brussels. Not every weekday you’ll find live music, but this could well be your best choice for the weekend. Aside from the music you’ll appreciate the very particular wooden interior with stylish decoration. Once you grab your Guinness, you’ll be immerged in a friendly and open atmosphere. It seems like everybody knows everybody and no one will ignore you if start a conversation. The staff is particularly friendly. This is, without a doubt, the most homely place in the area surrounding avenue Louise. Along with a very large beer selection they have good food and quality wines.

L’Archiduc

Conveniently located in the fashionable Antoine Dansaert’s Street 6, a stone’s throw away from the Stock Exchange it can be reached vía Metro in around 20 minutes from station Louise.

An Art Deco bar that is home to artists and hosts plenty of concerts, especially during the fall and the winter. Saturday’s “Jazz After Shopping” and Sunday’s “Round About Five”, both from 5-7 pm are must go in Brussels city music life. Opened in 1937, it became a jazz landmark in the 50s and 60s frequented by the likes of Jacques Brel and Nat King Cole. Lew Tabackin, Mal Waldron, Frank Black, Santa MacairoOrkestar, Luc Tuymans, Ann Pierlé are, currently, artists that you can often find here. Beers costs around 5 € (nothing spectacular for being Belgium). You should definitely opt for a cocktail (8,5€ / 9€ cost, but very high quality) or Whiskies (8€/10 € and wide choice). You’ll find a wide choice in the menu.

Upcoming events?On 27th of this month you’ll have the chance to enjoy the Jeanfrançois Prins Trio: Jeanfrançois Prins, Joris Teepe, Gene Jackson. On 3rd of February Riguelle & Hautekiet will exhibit in their very well known show “Un Premier Amour”. More info over upcoming events: http://www.archiduc.net/en/events

The Music Village

Enjoy a niche location at the very heart of Brussels, Rue des Pierres 50. This very stylish night bar offers lives concerts every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Thanks to live concerts with the very best of Belgian and International Jazz Stars (starting at 8:30pm), The Music Village offers any music fan a return to the Golden Age of international Jazz Clubs. Visit the website: http://www.themusicvillage.com/page2en.html

It’s a relaxed setting and offers dinner and drinks during concerts. You can book in advance by phone or online, reservations are recommended. Prices range from €7.50 to €20 depending on the evening. On Friday 1st February this year, Alexandre Cavaliere and his modern gypsy 5tee will be playing here. Click here for more information about the upcoming events:http://www.themusicvillage.com/page2en.html .

I hope you’ll enjoy the music and live shows during your stay in Brussels!

Top 3 Best Vintage Shops In Brussels

If, for you, shopping means sifting through a smorgasbord of ageless fabrics, colors and styles. If, in sum, vintage is your kind of shopping, you landed on the right page. Here you’ll find what you need to know about the best vintage shops in Brussels. Bring home some colored clothes, something strange, something fun, in one word, something…Vintage! Enjoy your stay at our colored hotel nearby avenue Louise.

Here’s a simple fact that clarifies our framework: Vintage Shopping is like treasure hunting. You might not find anything that fits perfectly, but you can be certain that you’ll find something special if you’re willing to put some time in. Read on to find out which are the best Vintage shops to visit…

Click here to see the directions from The Pantone Hotel.

Burlesque

Our first stop is Burlesque, rue du Midi 64. Probably one of the oldest Vintage stores in town! It is small but perfectly formed store where you can find some extremely exciting gems.

Laurence B., the owner, is a one of a kind character. Scottish from origin -not that hard figuring out once you have spotted the picture of the Queen on the wall- has been travelling the world for 30 years before setting base in Brussels. He also owns a club in town. During his career he has been working also as Dj and record producer. This is undoubtedly why, If you are rock’n roll or pin up, this is where you are going to find what you need! A final disclosure: they have a great collection of boots, handbags and hats.

Gabriele Vintage

It’s pity to have to leave the Burlesque store this quickly, but it is already time for a second stop: Gabriele Vintage, rue des Chartreux 27. Here the website.

With its unique style, you’ll feel like you have walked onto a movie set. What an amazing shop. In such a welcoming and dreamy interior, Gabriele offers a superb collection of extraordinary clothing from women’s ball gowns, dresses, blouses and coats, to men’s shirts, jackets, raincoats and tailcoats. No detail is overlooked. To accompany these outfits, Gabriele has collected matching accessories and hand bags. You’ll find tiny pearl-encrusted evening bags intermingled with 1950’s snake-skin bags and brightly colored patent leather examples from the 1970s. You’ll also find an unique collection of jewellery and sandals.

The soul of this store is of course Gabriele. Gabriele Wolf, the owner, comes from Germany and originally arrived in Brussels as a costume designer… Her enthusiasm for vintage clothes led her to open this sprawling showroom. This was our second tip!

Ramon & Valy Vintage Shop

Third and last stop for today…The incredible Ramon & Valy Vintage Shop in Rue des Teinturiers 19. Guess which is the owners name?

This Spanish / Belgian couple, Ramon and Valy, are pioneers of the Brussels vintage scene. They own a very beautiful boutique with unique and beautiful vintage clothes. If you are searching for a very special dress then this is the place to go. Here you will not only find regular vintage clothes, if regular vintage clothing exists that is. Here you’ll find unique pieces by Chanel and Dior. Do not expect these pieces to come cheap, but be sure that you will find an extraordinary piece and get a chance to make a good deal.

I hope you’ll enjoy a great afternoon of shopping in the best Vintage stores in Brussels!

Sales! Cheap Shopping In Brussels

From 3rd to 31st January, the shopping streets in Brussels are bustling with winter sales activity, if you are a shopping lover don’t miss a visit! Sales in Brussels are,by law, actual sales: this means that traders, including those really cool Belgian boutiques, can only sell products in a “sale”, “solden” in Dutch, or “soldes” in French. Our hotel close to avenue Louise is the perfect starting point for a couple of days of shopping.

Shopping in Brussels in the month of January is, more than ever, all about fashion and design. Don’t expect huge savings though, the discounts usually go up as the sale period goes on. So the first week, you may find many things marked down only 15% or so; by the end of the sale period, the stuff that hasn’t moved may be marked down 30% to 40%. Still you’ll be able to make great deals during the sales in Brussels!

Where to go? Here our list of shopping districts and boutiques

Louise

Of course we must start with Avenue Louise: possibly the best and most varied shopping district and the closest to our hotel, just five walking. The international brands are very well represented here alongside high-end local shops. Must visit shops are, without a doubt: : Delvaux, Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Hermes, Tod’s, Vuitton, Wolfers, Tiffany’s, Diane Von Furstenberg, Max Mara, Serneels, Crossword, Hall of Time… and there are many more that could be mentioned. Here you’ll be able to get great deals on top brands. Discounts may even go up to 50 % discount, but only by the second half of January!

Dansaert

The fancyDansaert district plays host, in bold spaces, to original contemporary fashion projects. First stop is Stijl, a store that showcases the best in Belgian design. The studio boutiques of young designers showcase impressive personal and unexpected styles. The sales here are well worthwhile for fashion-fans looking for unique and affordable pieces. Other must go shops are: AnnemieVerbeke, Christa Reniers, Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs, Le Fabuleux Marcel andValérieBerckmans.

Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert

The oldest and most prestigious shopping arcades in Europe offer a selection of specialist shops. This is a really well-known glazed shopping arcade and so you’ll likely find other tourists here. This Italian Neo-Renaissance arcade is considered one of Europe’s oldest “malls”. Charged by King Leopold I with its construction in 1837, young architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaars converted the entire Rue Saint-Hubert into the airy arcade that you see today. Our must sees for shopping: Tropismes, Delvaux, Longchamps, Neuhaus, Mary chocolatier, la Champagnothèque,GanterieItalienne.

Sablon and Marolles

So close and yet so different, these two districts are a real gold mine for art lovers, collectors or bargain hunters. You can find anything from antique dealers and vintage shops to chocolate creations by famous chocolatiers! Pierre Marcolini’s chocolate shop is worth visiting even if only to dream about the wealth of flavour. Here chocolate collections are introduced every season like a fashion line, with new concepts, interiors and flavours to choose from. What else to visit when in these neighbourhoods: Wittamer, Patrick Roger, Leysen, Costermans, Flamant Home Interior, Baobab, Au Bon Repos, Marcolini, Espace 161.

I hope you’ll enjoy our shopping tips during sales in Brussels!