Taking you on a whirlwind tour of Bruges at Christmas....
If you are looking for somewhere to go as a last minute festive trip then I cannot recommend Bruges more!
Last December for my boyfriend's birthday I surprised him with a birthday trip to Bruges. I wanted to go somewhere that neither of us had visited before, that made us feel Christmassy (his birthday is the 17th!), had fantastic places to dine, was picturesque, and was also close enough to be able to go for a weekend (I wasn't asking for too much?!) - Bruges ticked all of the boxes and so it was booked!
We were traveling by Eurostar which was a first for both of us and so we eagerly arrived at St Pancras in plenty of time for our 8.58am train and decided to grab some breakfast to fill us up for our journey. We chose Le Pain Quotidien for their delicious and fresh menu and bustling atmosphere.
Two hot chocolates, one granola and yogurt and one croissant later, we were boarding our train. I have to say the two hour journey flew by. Check-in was so quick and easy and the journey was so relaxing that it really got us excited for out mini-break. Although the carriages themselves are quite basic the seats are comfortable, boarding is fast and the service is friendly, I cannot recommend the Eurostar highly enough.
We got off at Bruxelles-Midi station and jumped on a connecting train to Bruges. If you are planning this journey do make sure that you check your connecting train and their times, although your Eurostar ticket takes you all the way, their information doesn't.... Luckily for us I was well prepped! Within 10 minutes we were en route to Bruges!
The journey takes an hour from Brussels to Bruges on double decker trains (similar to ones in Paris), we obviously took the top deck! The train was quiet and you could easily find a seat and so we settled in and watched as the scenery of Brussels turned into that of Bruges...
Arriving in Bruges we got off the train and joined the queue for the taxis, after a seamless journey this was probably the most boring part, however, the taxi's are continuously appearing and we finally started our ride to the hotel. As we drove through Bruges, among the cobbled roads surrounded by beautiful heritage buildings I relaxed into the seat and let my excitement build for the exploring that lay ahead.
We pulled up outside our hotel, the lovely Grand Hotel Casselburgh Bruges, which was ideally situated in the heart of the city. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas with gorgeous furnishings and a very relaxing bar area that we would be sure to enjoy later on!
After checking in, with a very friendly woman behind the desk, we quickly dropped our bags and set off to explore the delightful city!
First stop, chocolate waffles...
IN-CRED-I-BLE!!
We strolled around the city, taking in the culture and the beautiful scenery and feeling more and more festive by the second! Horse-drawn carts trotted by as we passed many chocolate shops, Christmas shops and lots of enticing cafes. I felt like I had walked into a Christmas film!!
With tummies starting to grumble we chose to eat at Restaurant Tom Pouce, a beautiful looking restaurant just off the square, next door to the Basilica, their windows looking out on to a huge Christmas tree and the many passers by.
We ordered a glass of wine for moi and a beer for C. When asked if he'd like small or large beer, C went with large, it was his birthday after all!! However 'Large' was not quite was we expected..... 'Huge' would have been more appropriate!!
C wasn't complaining!!
Knowing that we were going to be having a large meal in the evening we went straight to Main Course - large pots of fresh mussels with a portion of fries to share! They were divine!
It was the perfect warming, satisfying lunch that we had hoped. I have to say that the service wasn't the friendliest that I've experienced, and it really is a bugbear of mine (I would never dream of not being friendly to one of my clients!!) and so I was a little disappointed in that aspect. However, the food made up for it (or the very large beer and glass of wine may have helped!) and so I would give them the benefit of doubt and upon returning hope for a different waiter!
Keeping warm in my amazingly long fur scarf purchsed from Spirit of Christmas Fair, navy Jack Wills double breasted jacket
After lunch we really explored the city properly. We went into chocolatiers like I have never seen before, the most beautifully crafted chocolates and delicacies were on display and the incredible chocolate aroma filled the air. You can see shop assistants hand-making fresh chocolates from behind the counters, and if you're lucky they may give you a taste or two! There seems to be a chocolatier on every corner (be warned - if you are dieting do not visit Bruges!) The chocolate is the best you may find anywhere in the world.
The main shopping street is full of larger shops and names that you would recognise but being away we wanted to stick with the boutique, cultural shops. We headed for the 'Christmas Market' that was buzzing with people, food stalls and music. The atmosphere was wonderful however I had hoped for beautiful handcrafted baubles and Christmas decorations, wooden figurines and snow globes... however it was more your usual 'market wares' such as scarves, fur hats and toys. We soaked up the atmosphere a little and as it was now getting late we decided to head back to the comfort of the beautiful hotel lounge and it's log fire for a refreshment.
We headed upstairs to change and after a quick glass of champagne we were out into the night and heading for dinner. I had pre-booked Restaurant Au Petit Grand because of it's fabulous recommendations and it did not disappoint. I had been e-mailing Line (one of the owners) prior to our visit and when we arrived at the door they treated us like old friends, gave us the perfect table in the window and presented us with two large glasses of bubbly! It set the tone for what was to be a truly exceptional meal.
I didn't take too many photos of the food whilst dining unfortunately (I was far too distracted!) so I have stolen some of the restaurant's pictures (shhh!) to give you an idea of what you have in store if you ever visit - and if you are in Bruges, you MUST visit!!
We had the 'All-In' menu that did exactly as it says on the tin! It includes five courses, bubbly, wine and coffee, all for 63 euros (about £53 to us Londoners), and it was incredible!
I have to say, I think that this is one of the nicest meals we have ever had (and we have been quite spoilt by restaurants in the past!). Each course was absolutely delicious, the staff couldn't have been friendlier or more efficient and the value for money was fantastic! Promise me if you are in Bruges that you will look them up?
After feeling sufficiently full and quite merry we decided to have a stroll around the beautiful city and along the canal to walk off some of that delicious meal before retiring to bed.
The next day we woke early and decided to make the most of the city before our train back that evening. We had pancakes with chocolate sauce for breakfast on the square before heading to The Chocolate Factory. Here we learnt the history to chocolate, what goes into making it and why pralines are so famous in Bruges. Towards the end we also watched a demonstration of how the pralines, that Bruges is so famous for, are made and the passion that goes into them. We even got to sample one (my favourite bit!). The museum was 7 euros (£6) in and was quite interesting if basic. As we didn't have too much shopping to do (and definitely no more eating!) it was a nice history background for us. However if you are not in Bruges for very long and there are other things you'd like to do I would maybe give this one a miss...
We spent the next few hours finding some unique gifts for family back home and purchasing some delicious chocolates. We also had the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted from the Godiva store on the square - creamy, rich and oh so more-ish!
Overall our whistle-stop tour of Bruges was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there! I actually don't think you need too much longer than a couple of days to explore the city, however you could dine forever! I left feeling very festive, relaxed and content. As a city Bruges isn't too cheap and so be prepared to pay a lot for meals and drinks, especially in the cafes and restaurants on the square. However, I would go back at the click of a finger, if only for that hot chocolate.......
I booked our trip (hotel and travel) all through Eurostar, which was a very good deal. I highly recommend planning your trip this way, it was faultless. Bookings here.
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