The venerable and majestic Art nouveau building ‘Old England’, with its commanding spot on Mont des Arts, isn’t just home to the magnificent Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) – it also boasts a rooftop restaurant and terrace, offering one of the most beautiful views of Brussels. From the top of the building, the city unfolds before your eyes. It will take your breath away, though certainly not your appetite!

Not far from the MIM, in the garden on Mont des Arts, you’ll find the Royal Library of Belgium, known locally as ‘L’Albertine’ or ‘La Royale’. But did you know – and hardly anyone does – that the library also has a well-kept secret? The café on the fifth floor, and above all its terrace and kitchen garden, overlooks the historical city centre and offers a superb panorama. Perfect for lunch with a view and fresh vegetables growing at your feet.

This is what you might call one of the high spots of Brussels gastronomy! Located on the roof of the IT Tower, 120 metres above Avenue Louise and virtually at the entrance to the Bois de la Cambre, top chef Alexandre Dionisio serves up high-flying cuisine for you to enjoy with your head in the (Michelin) stars. Set in an impressive glass structure, you can enjoy the refined dishes while taking in the breathtaking 360° view. It’s an unforgettable experience, with a price tag to match.

As soon as the fine weather returns, the people of Brussels flock to the terraces. And one of them has been causing quite a stir since the summer of 2023. It's Rooftop 58 at the top of Brucity, the City of Brussels' new administrative building, offering a 360° view of the capital. With a surface area of 2,500 m2 and seating for almost 500 people, it is the largest rooftop in the country. In addition to the bar and snack bar, a panoramic restaurant is planned for the floor below. An address to keep an eye on!

The JAM Hotel is just the kind of offbeat phenomenon in which Brussels seems to specialise. It’s more than a hotel, it’s a concept, combining stark industrial architecture in wood and concrete with a young and laid-back ambiance. Each room is a discovery, not least the dormitory with nine double beds, which you can reserve individually. And when summer comes around, you can enjoy a cocktail with a view up on the roof by the unique one-lane swimming pool. Pump-up the JAM!

Located just behind the Botanique, in the white tower with its brutalist architecture that once housed IBM's head office, the Hoxton hotel is home to Tope on the 22nd floor (76 meters!), a rooftop that is attracting the crowds in Brussels. As well as a bar and live music, the place serves street food just like in Mexico City. It's always busy in summer, so book early!

For a perfect city escape, discover the newly renovated Secret Rooftop by Warwick and enjoy the skyline views while sipping on a diverse selection of drinks, from local and classic cocktails to exquisite Belgian gins and more. From this central terrace, the breathtaking view of the Grand Place takes center stage in a truly spectacular show.

As any cyclist will tell you, there’s a lot of hills in Brussels. The district known as Altitude 100 in Forest is a perfect example. To be fair, at 100 metres, it isn’t exactly Mont Blanc. But once you get to this highpoint in Brussels, you can’t help but enjoy the views. Go to the top of Square Lainé, between the Duden and Forest parks, just behind ‘L’Arc-en-Ciel’, and you will be treated to a unique view: a magnificent expanse of greenery, beyond which the city is picked out. Magnificent and poetic.

Was it so crowded that time you went to the Atomium that you didn’t bother going to the top to take in the view? Well, there’s an alternative that’s less busy, no doubt because it’s less well known. At a height of over 50 metres, just below the dome of the imposing Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg (an Art Deco monument locals either love or hate), you’ll discover one of the loveliest views of Brussels and the provinces beyond. And all that from the fifth biggest church in the world!

Place Poelaert is located at the foot of the Palais de Justice, another much-maligned building in Brussels. It was designed by Joseph Poelaert, nicknamed the ‘schieven architek’ (‘crooked architect’) in the local dialect by the residents of the Marolles, the neighbouring working-class district, who were the first to suffer when this stone giant was installed. Leaving aside these squabbles, the square acts like a terrace between the upper and lower town, and offers a magnificent panorama. After you’ve enjoyed the view, you can take the glass elevator on your left into the Marolles to explore its typical atmosphere.