La Belladone — Restaurant in Saint-Gilles - Sint-Gillis

This used to be my (and everyone I know)'s favourite bar in Brussels-- we used to go nearly every weekend, so I was heartbroken when it closed during Covid--and was super excited to see it had opened again recently. But I was so disappointed when I went inside - they've managed to make a naturally stunning place ugly, with huge and very visually jarring pink framing everywhere that totally dominates and divides what used to be a cozy, gorgeous space.

That's a beautiful space, part of the Art Deco heritage of St Gilles - it should be treated with respect and allowed to shine. Im not at all against the mixing of old and modern but this is just ugly- it doesn't work.

For now, we aren't going there anymore - it has lost its charm. It's not irreversible, though, so maybe the owners will change it someday and then it will again be the beautiful Belladone...

Following an unnecessary 'refurbishment' and '#reconceptualisation', one of the cosiest places in Brussels has turned into an uncomfortable and poorly designed space, with metal bars throughout the enfilade, making you feel as if you are in a prison cubicle. This reconstruction deserves and anti-award for obliterating what one would have thought a timelessly classy atmosphere. Quel dommage,...

Quel dommage : belle déco, mais imposer une règle vestimentaire pour rester dans un café, c’est franchement triste. On peut se balader sans souci en Birkenstock, laissant respirer les orteils moites des bobos de Saint-Gilles, mais ôter ses chaussures pour rester en chaussettes propres devient soudainement "inapproprié". Une norme petit-bourgeoise, déguisée en décontraction, qui relève davantage d’une façade d’engagement que d’un véritable espace de liberté. Hypocrisie quand tu nous tiens. Laissez mes pieds en dehors de vos normes bourgeoises : free the nipples, bien sûr, mais aussi free the chaussettes. Mon commentaire peut sembler absurde, mais il l’est certainement moins que la conception du patron. Et qu’on ne s’y trompe pas : rien à dire sur les serveuses et serveur, ils et elles font leur taf à merveille.

Edit : si ce n’était pas une directive du patron, alors il faudrait considérer que ces directives venaient d’on ne sait où (manager, employé zélé ?), et ne mérite pas cette vilaine assertion envers le patron. Mes excuses, j’élève ma note, puisque je ne suis pas borné des pieds. En espérant pouvoir y remettre les...