Le Cambridge
Just off Rue Neuve in the heart of downtown Brussels, this bar with a fantastic list of beers on tap is perfect for stressed shoppers wanting to chill out after a hard day's bargain-hunting.

Address: 37 Rue de Malines | Telephone: 02 217 0016 |

L'Ultime Atome
This bustling bar and restaurant with broad windows overlooking a quiet, tree-lined street, is the perfect place to wind down at the end of the day. It has a wide range of coffees plus newspapers in at least four languages and makes an excellent place to catch up on the news or just people watch.

Address: 14 Place Saint Boniface | Telephone: 02 511 1367 |

Madame Moustache
The mind-blowing interiors, including a 1920s fairground set and an American diner, are as varied as the sounds here. There's a long bar with an equally lengthy menu of cocktails and beers.

Address: 5-7 Quai au Bois à Brûler | Telephone: 04 8553 4494 |

Botanique
Set in the former Botanical Gardens and now a cultural centre, some of the best local bands and top European groups perform at the Botanique. All musical tastes are catered for, from rock through jazz and folk to electro and house.

Address: 236 Rue Royale | Telephone: 02 218 3732 |

You
This centrally located club is one of the hottest venues in the city and is jam packed on Fridays and Saturdays with a young crowd dancing to house music until late. Make sure you look cool to get in.

Address: 18 Rue Duquesnoy | Telephone: 02 639 1400 |

Goupil le Fol
This atmospheric bar is set in a three-storey building which once housed a brothel. It stays open until dawn, with French chanson, home-brewed liqueurs and high-brow philosophical discussion on tap.

Address: 22 Rue de la Violette | Telephone: 02 511 1396 |