There are French village party vibes at Chez Franz, an iconic bistro in the Ixelles neighborhood now run by Sadri Rokbani, Mallory Saussus and Thomas Kok, the brains behind other iconic spots with just the right amount of bobo-itude (Maison du Peuple, Chez Richard, Tortue). Well-located between the buzzing Chaussée de Waterloo and Place Brugmann, the terrace keeps people happy all day long, with hot chocolate and coffee in the morning, followed by well-made lunches and small plates for sharing at night: roasted carrots and tahini, salmon gravlax, baked Mont-d’Or cheese… For us, the day we went for lunch: a street-food-inspired makloub sandwich with merguez, hot sauce and raw vegetables – not to mention the golden fries; and a Tuscany-Brittany fusion dessert that came in the form of a Breton shortbread covered in tiramisu and salted caramel sauce. Don’t miss the nostalgic pistolet sandwiches stuffed with grey shrimp on the weekends and the roast chicken served on Sunday nights. // Alain Maes

FEELING THIRSTY? A natural wine collection (also sold to go): a Muscadet from Les Vignes Saint-Vincent (€5.50 a glass), Tôette, an Anjou Chenin from Les Errances (€41 a bottle), Puszta Libre!, an Austrian red from Claud Preisinger (€38)… Along with Brussels beers (Ermitage, Brussels Beer Project, etc., ranging from €4 to €4.50) and Wide Awake coffee.
PRICE: Breakfast €2.20 to €8 (except Saturday and Sunday), plates €6-14 (lunch) and €5-21 (dinner), brunch €19 (Saturday and Sunday), roast chicken €15 (Sunday).