Brussels in the '50s - vidéo - The Louise area in the fifties

You are now at Porte Louise.
Go down the Avenue Louise and in "Le Goulet" (the bottleneck). There you will find Bouvy, a Belgian institution offering many international and Belgian labels. Opposite, treat yourself to a beautiful gem by the talented jeweller Holemans.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to lunch on Rue Jourdan: try Piccolo Mondo, renowned for its excellent Italian cuisine. Rue Jean Stas, a small pedestrian road, is the ideal place for lunch outside, at a terrace eatery such as Mamy Louise, or La Crèmerie de la Vache, with its delicious pastries and extensive selection of “Mariage Frères” teas. Should you need a little something to read while sipping your tea, the Librairie de Rome displays a large choice of international press, as well as literature. Next to it, the true "bobo" dream, Dille & Kamille, offers a vast array of kitchen tools, organic potted herbs, heirloom linens and wooden toys for children. Opposite is Yves Dooms’s fashion salon.
On Avenue Louise, tucked at the back of a "passage" and sheltered from traffic, The Greenhouse welcomes you for lunch and tea time. Weather permitting, you can even enjoy its terrasse, overlooking a quiet little garden. Next door, the team at Rousseau pharmacy will help you out with any health advice you may require. Opposite, you will come across Mer du Nord, a simple and uncluttered boutique, with casual clothing for women and children. Next door is the boutique Bruphils.

On Place Stephanie, the shoemaker Robert Clergerie maintains a hip and trendy status without compromising its traditional know-how and high quality. A period house is the setting for the Belgian designer Bellerose. Next door you will find Exki: fast food with an organic edge, serving only fresh and natural products.
On Chaussée de Charleroi, the Palais des Thés offers a range of teas from all over the world. A little detour Rue de la Source. At number 72, the restaurant of the great Japanese chef Inada will delight gourmets. On the way, discover the incredible décor of the restaurant Les Salons de l’Atalaide. A few doors away, Eatcetera offers a light and tasty cuisine, which you can sample while basking in the sun in a lovely garden.

At number 110, take time out to rest at the Manos Premier Brussels: this boutique hotel, oozing with charm, invites you to relax in its lovely surroundings. Its lounge-bar, its Kolya restaurant and its beautiful gardens will have you coming back for more. At number 92, is the second branch of Mmmmh, a bookstore, cooking school and gourmet shop dedicated to good food. For a business trip, consider the Hôtel Manos Stéphanie: its business centre will make it so much easier to organise meetings. Next door, Buss-Jadoul offers a marvellous tableware selection, as well as Lalique jewels. To enhance your home design, Vanden Bergh presents dream bathrooms.
Back to Place Stephanie. At the entrance of the Conrad Hotel is Mmmmh, a cooking school, where you can share its creators’ passion for good food. Sign up for one of their cooking classes, it's an experience you will never forget. On Avenue Louise, the magnificent Conrad Brussels Hotel attracts the rich and famous. Next door you’ll find the Loui lounge bar, the place to be seen in Brussels. At lunchtime, Le Café Wiltcher's offers one of the best buffet lunches around. From its terrace, you will have a fantastic view of Wiltcher's Place, which is transformed into a skating rink during winter, and into a sunny beach in summer. In the courtyard, Pierre Marcolini will entice you with delicious, beautifully made chocolates. Next door, check out the Luisa boutique with accessories by great designers. The Young Gallery is worth visiting for its intriguing exhibitions. Need to unwind? The Aspria health and beauty private centre offers an oasis of peace and tranquillity set around a beautiful pool. On the way out, revisit your childhood with both modern and traditional toys at Serneels, which has been attracting the young, and young at heart, for several generations now.
On the other side of Place Stephanie, at the corner of Rue de Stassart, you’ll find the two Tea & Eat spaces : a tea-room and a gourmet shop with a fine selection of quality products, including the fabulous chocolates by Laurent Gerbaud. On the corner of Rue du Prince Royal, give in to the luxury of wonderful massages in relaxing surroundings at the Serendip Spa to soothe away your shopping stress. For sportsmen and adventurers, Entre Terre et Ciel's motto is "an equipment for each passion". On Avenue Louise, the boutique Louise Fifty Four dresses the most elegant women with its exclusive selection from international designers. A little further on, Francis Ferent is an immense and original concept shop: international fashion, decoration, accessories and books, all under one roof. The event of the season is the opening of the new Essentiel Lifestore : 600m2 dedicated to fashion, beauty, home deco and culture. Women's wear, men's wear, children's wear and accesories, as well as a selection of exclusive beauty products, hip CDs, books and design objects. A few baby steps away, Noukie’s cute clothes and toys will entice mothers and kids alike.
Next door, Olivier Strelli presents his latest designs and accessories for men and women on three levels. On the first floor of the building, the Espace Gabriel Brachot, a contemporary art gallery, exhibits the work of upcoming talents. Bonpoint has adorable collections for good little boys and girls. A beautifully renovated period house is the perfect setting for the gorgeous Chine Collection. A little further on, you’ll find the new flagship store for the Sarah Pacini designer label, a beautiful yet simple coordinate collections which appeal to women with a timeless sense of elegance. Another Brussels institution is the hairdressing salon Maison Roger, where they can really work wonders. For a VIP treatment, try its Espace Prive.

On the corner of rue de la Longue Haie, indulge yourself at Senteurs d’Ailleurs, a refined and unique boutique dedicated to designer perfumes. Opposite is Basile et Boniface, a wonderful shop for good children, with its enchanting windows.
A block further leads you to Accessoire, which carries its own woderful shoe brand, as well a few selected others. On the corner, Mariella Burani, a refined ready-to-wear line for women, is recognizable by its bold mix of colours.
Stop off at Fahrenheit, which has everything to create your dream kitchen, from professional equipment to cooking classes. Opposite, the interior design shop Ebony offers contemporary furniture and unique accessories for your home. Fans of good coffee will love Nespresso, which houses the complete range of machines and a selection of coffees from around the world. At No 158, Edouard Vermeulen presents his designer collections for women at Natan Couture. Not far off is thewhitehôtel, a new design-hotel concept at reasonable prices, with each room decorated by talented Belgian designers such as Xavier Lust and Charles Kaisin. Need a bite to eat? Discover the world of Rouge Tomate, a refined and natural cooking concept with a superb décor. In the summer you can eat out in one of the capitals finest gardens. A bit further on, the delicatessen and restaurant l’Atelier de la Truffe Noire is the perfect spot for fans of truffles ; their lunches are delicious. Opposite is Tinok, a colourful shop where you’ll find everything you need for babies and young children. On Rue de Belle Vue, the restaurant La Table de l'Abbaye serves up sophisticated dishes and behind, La Suite, a charming lounge bar, is the perfect place for an aperitif. Don’t miss their Tea dance on Sunday afternoons. Avenue Louise, at No 404, the poetic florist Thierry Boutemy will show you his passion for flowers. La Meilleure Jeunesse is the ideal place to work your magic on a new girlfriend : a delightful terrasse, candles and discretion.

On the other side of the avenue, at No 381, in a decor signed Jacques Garcia, the lounge bar in the Warwick Barsey Hotel welcomes you and your friends for drinks, while its restaurant, under the creative spell of chef Jean-Philippe Bruneau, suits the quick business lunch as well as the gourmet dinner. For 20 years now, the Maison Degand town house, at No 415, has been the place for classy guys to find a unique style, with three boutique areas: tailor, casual and business. La Porte des Indes is the ideal place to enjoy the flavours of traditional Indian cuisine in an authentic decor, straight out of a Maharajah palace... Opposite is the Tribeca Kitchen & Bar, with its grandiose decor on two levels : a restaurant downstairs and a lounge bar on the first floor. If you are looking for an oasis in the midle of the city, take the time to discover the relaxing gardens at l'Abbaye de La Cambre, which are the setting for the renowned Ecole de La Cambre. Not far off, at the foot of the imposing IT Tower, relax on the terrace of the delightful Callens Café, before heading towards the Bois de la Cambre.