Brussels Mum Survival Map

1. Coffee, Tea & Connection  

• Lulu Home Interior & Café - I love their drinks & spacious seating options. Super friendly staff and some toys for your kids to play with. Bonus: You can even browse their furniture while you sip your latte.

• Café de la Presse  - I like this café because it’s always busy. You can be anonymous and still feel like you are a part of the hustle and bustle. Bonus: it’s next to the Bois de la Cambre.

• BUDDY BUDDY – Nut Butter Coffee Bar - Not the cosiest but great drinks! I love their almond butter chai and opt for takeaway most of the time.

• BOUCHE Specialty Coffee - Also not the cosiest, but they have some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.

• Café Colombia Specialty Coffee Roaster Uccle - I go here with the kids after a walk in the forest nearby. They have great drinks and pancakes + a little kids corner with books.

• TULIPE - Specialty Coffee - I go here after dropping off my kids to school, to meet up with other mums or to kill some time before kids pick up.

• Moka Moon - Cosy neighbourhood café with a little kids area. I mostly go here to work.

• Honest Brussels - Good coffee and healthy & honest food options.

• Karsmakers Coffee House - Cosy atmosphere and international crowd.

2. Healthy Eats & Quick Bites

• Knees to Chin - If I don’t have time to cook, I often take some spring rolls home. Quick and healthy. Tip: eating in means unlimited sauces.

• The Sister Brussels Café - Seasonal food, organic & vegan options

• Tan - Part shop, part restaurant, with workshops and a fresh take on food

3. Green Escapes

• Cloître Rouge – Roode Klooster - This is one of our favourites and definitely worth the trip. Nature, gardens, 2 playgrounds and horses, donkeys and goats. + a café with delicious ice creams.

• Bois de la Cambre - Great for walking, looking at ducks, interacting with dogs. Car free on Sundays. This is nature without leaving town.

• Forêt de Soignes – Zoniënwoud - Brussels has a backyard forest – nature right next door. Perfect for long walks.

• Outdoor playgrounds - Brussels is full of playgrounds – big, small, sandy, grassy. Just open Google Maps and type ‘playground’ and you’ll find plenty.

4. Rainy-Day Rescues & Overall life savers

• Pause and Play Indoor Playground Café - This place saved my life! The kids play and I take a moment to relax. Small enough that even little ones can wander safely. Reserve your slot in advance.

• Monde D’Ayden Uccle - Another lifesaver. Reserve in advance!

• Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences - One word: dinosaurs! (and so much more). Kids <4 enter free. We have a yearly subscription and go at least once a month.

• Your local Community Center - Brussels has 22 of them, each with free or low cost- activities. Check N22 for what’s on.

• Tour & Taxis - Often hosts family-friendly events, like Bubble Planet Brussels.

5. Sports & Relaxation

• Aspria or David Lloyd - Family-friendly clubs with childcare and kids’ sports. You get to work out or relax while the kids are busy.

• Shanti Home - My favorite yoga spot, offering yoga and wellness classes for all levels

• SuperMums - Fitness classes for new mums, pre- & postnatal

• Harmon House - A boutique hotel with a small basement spa that leaves me zen.

• Dolce by Wyndham - forest walk, spa swim and a bite in the restaurant – all in one place.

6. Everyday groceries for a healthy lifestyle

• The Barn Bio Market - Lots of fresh organic fruit & veg at reasonable prices.

• Bio Shanti - A well-organized organic shop with plenty of choice.

• Bio V - A smaller shop with an amazing assortment.

• Be-Here - An indoor market hall, with shops and activities. Up front you’ll find Fermenthings and Nuuhere for your daily probiotics; at the back is a bio shop.

7. Areas to browse

Brussels is unique and diverse - with the best and the worst in one city. Check out this map to see the touristic areas of Brussels. My favourites: Châtelain-Bailli and the Royal Quarter.

8. Schools & Daycare

Brussels has a French-speaking, a Dutch-speaking and a smaller German-speaking system. Plus loads of international schools. The expat welcome desk has a clear overview.