Doing business
Belgium is often referred to as the meeting place of Europe, and Brussels is one of the most prosperous
(per capita) economies in Western Europe. As the headquarters of many EU institutions, as well as NATO, it's not surprising business is big in Brussels.
It's a multilingual city but language is a sensitive subject in Brussels. French speakers do not like to be addressed in Dutch or vice versa. Belgian business culture, along with attire, is formal, and first names are rarely used. Meetings are structured and punctuality is valued.

Cool hotel
Be Manos (www.bemanos.com) is a waffle’s throw away from the Thalys and Eurostar terminal. The metropolitan design is 60s with a futuristic twist: green cowhide walls and perspex chairs. The 60 minimalist and monochrome rooms offer free broadband and wifi, low-cost internet phones and a laptop-sized safe with a charging socket. There are three meeting spaces catering for up to 70.

Hip restaurant
Brussels has more Michelin-star restaurants per head than Paris, and Comme Chez Soi (www.commechezsoi.be), or ‘just like home’ is often rated as the best in Belgium, let alone Brussels. Diners can eat in the cosy Art Nouveau dining room, a wood-panelled private room or at the kitchen table, where you can watch chef Pierre Wynants create duck liver with gin and rice pop pearls, seabass with snails, squid and crustacean béarnaise sauce and strawberry soup with peppermint and sweet spiced sorbet – not your average home cooking for most Brits.

Happening bar
Bars in Brussels are known as ‘estaminets’ and many date back to the 18th century. A La Mort Subite has remained virtually unchanged for 100 years. The gleaming gold bar serves beer ranging from blonde to dark – and even cherry – under vaulted yellow ceilings. Waitresses serve hearty plates of cheeses and sausages.

Getting there
Daily flights between the UK and Belgium are operated by British Airways, Brussels Airlines, bmi and CityJet. Eurostar links London St. Pancras and Brussels in just under two hours with up to nine daily departures.

Getting downtown
Brussels Airport is located in Zaventem, 12km from the city. The airport train station has four trains an hour to Brussels North, Central and Midi. Metered taxis carrying a blue and yellow emblem are found in front of the arrivals hall. The fare to the city centre is around 45 euros.

The details
Brussels is one hour ahead of the UK and has a similarly changeable weather pattern. Just a two-hour train from London, it's no less hassle than a trip to Manchester.

Must-see Sights
Visitors will find a city full of contrasts, from the Michelin-star restaurants to the smoky beer halls, the elaborate baroque facade of the Grand Palace or the business-like buildings that house the EU offices and headquarters of multinationals.

The Carbon Cost
A return flight from London to Brussels will cover 762km and produce 0.16 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The Carbon Neutral Company from £1.60.

THE INSIDER'S TIP
“The first meeting is mainly for building a working relationship. Small talk is used to establish trust, but don’t over-emphasise your achievements, as self-importance is generally disliked”
uk trade & investment

Compiled by Tom Hall on behalf of Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com

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