A former bank with a brutalist look combining concrete, wood and steel, abandoned by its former owners and transformed into a lively social hub by UAU architecture studio, where gastronomy, art and clubbing converge? It took nothing less than the wunderkid Elien Gielen (who lived life in the fast lane at Apotek 57 in Copenhagen) to invest in the place and set up her café-restaurant, Brousse. The day we went for lunch, served on one of the stainless steel tables: a kimchi buchimgae, a sort of crispy Korean pancake made with homemade kimchi, parmesan and a soy sesame dip; a classic British crumpet pimped out with fromage frais, avocado, pickled onions and a perfectly runny soft-boiled egg; a tahini sesame cookie; plus a slice of chocolate coffee cake with whipped cream to seal the deal. Hasselt locals have clearly got themselves a new HQ! // Lina Megalinia
FEELING THIRSTY? Homemade ginger and pear iced tea (€5 a glass), a cortado made with Rush Rush coffee and Melkerhei milk (€3.70), or a cold-pressed adaptogen drink from Juicy Lucy (€6 for 250 ml). Otherwise, there’s a small selection of easy-to-come-by natural wines from Altrovino, such as Turi Rosso, a nero d’avola from Salvatore Marino (€7.50 a glass, €35 a bottle).
PRICE: Mains €10-20, desserts €4-6.
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