I moved to Brussels from Toronto, and I didn't expect to find my favourite neighbourhood so quickly. Sablon — the area around Place du Grand Sablon and Place du Petit Sablon — felt like a European city distilled into a few walkable streets. Here's what keeps me coming back.
1. The weekend antique market
Every Saturday and Sunday, the Grand Sablon square becomes a flea market with antique dealers selling everything from small furniture to art, silver, and curiosities. Dealers like Tollemans and Maison Costermans are worth seeking out for quality pieces. It's the kind of market where you can find something genuinely original — or just enjoy the browsing.
2. Exceptional food, at every price point
Sablon manages to combine authentic Belgian (Lola, Le Vieux Saint Martin) with refined dining (Senzanome) and casual bites (Richard's friterie, Beli's Lebanese). The range means you can eat there for years without repeating yourself.
3. World-class chocolate
Major names like Neuhaus, Godiva, and Côte d'Or are present, but the artisan producers are the real draw: Pierre Marcolini, Maison Dandoy, Maison Wittamer (whose Black Forest cake is worth making a dedicated trip for). This is Belgian chocolate at its most serious.
4. Museums within walking distance
The Magritte Museum, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Musical Instruments Museum, Jewish Museum, and Bellevue Museum are all within a short walk of each other. On a single afternoon, you can move from Surrealism to medieval paintings to a view of the Royal Palace gardens.
5. Sunday shopping
Most Sablon shops open on Sundays after 11am — which is rare in Belgium and makes it a reliable destination for a slow Sunday exploration, combining shopping with the antique market and a long lunch.
6. The Marolles neighbourhood next door
Rue Haute and Rue Blaes, just below Sablon, are the heart of the Marolles — one of Brussels' most characterful neighbourhoods, with a famous daily flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle. The contrast between Sablon's refinement and Marolles' rougher charm makes the area feel richer.
Rezidentz in Sablon
We opened our Sablon residence in April 2023 — fully furnished studios a few steps from Place du Grand Sablon. A rare opportunity to live in one of Brussels' most sought-after addresses.
