Weekend Trip to Brussels Mini Travel Guide

From 2006 to 2012, I lived in Brussels. At first, the city was an acquired taste. I seem to get similar feedback from other travelers passing by the city. It took a while to figure out my favorite spots away from the Grand Place and the Atomium. For me, the best way to discover the city was having a pain au chocolat and a coffee in an anonymous square in town. Although there are some fabulous hotels in the city such as the Conrad Hotel and the Hotel Amigo, I feel an authentic experience would be to stay in an apartment to experience true feeling of the city. You can rent an apartment for the weekend at Place Flagey via a service such as House Trip.  If you stay in Ixelles, you can go for a run at Les Etangs d'Ixelles or walk to have a drink at Cafe Belga. For an extended trip, stay at an apartment near Place du Châtelain and shop at the afternoon market on a Wednesday to prepare a farm to table meal at home. Below are my tips of eating and drinking in Brussels for a short trip. You can also download the guide here for a quick reference during your trip. What is your favorite Brussels tip?