Where can you eat the best mussels and fries in Brussels?

Our selection: Brasserie Auguste on the Grand-Place, La Roue d'Or (rue des Chapeliers 26), Le Pré Salé in the Sainte-Catherine district (rue de Flandre 20) and Big Mama chez Thierry, steps from the Grand-Place.

How much do mussels and fries cost in central Brussels?

Expect from €18.90 for mussels marinière at Brasserie Auguste up to €24 at Big Mama chez Thierry — the best value around the Grand-Place.

Which restaurant has a view of the Flower Carpet?

Brasserie Auguste sits directly on the Grand-Place, with a view of the 2026 Flower Carpet (13–17 August).

Do I need to book during the Flower Carpet?

Yes. Booking is strongly recommended over the 15 August weekend; each address in the article has a direct booking link.

What to do in Brussels 13-16 August 2026: full guide

Four days, two Flower Carpets, an electronic festival at the Royal Palace, free circus in the Bois de la Cambre and a public holiday on 15 August right in the middle: the weekend of 13-16 August 2026 is the busiest of the Brussels summer.

🌸 Thursday 13 August — both Flower Carpets are inaugurated

The Brussels Flower Carpet covers the Grand-Place until Sunday 16 August.

2 pm — Official opening of both Flower Carpets, Grand-Place
6 pm — Opening of the second carpet at the Bourse (Belgian Beer World)
7 pm — BXLOVE drink (info: Bernard, +32 460 95 15 50)
9 pm — Sound & Light show on the Grand-Place
2026 scoop: a second carpet at the Bourse (Belgian Beer World), inaugurated at 6 pm — a first
The View Tower Experience — top-down view from the Town Hall, 13-16 August
Preview at Mini-Europe (Laeken), until 16 August

At night: Dancefloor Radiomix at Madame Moustache, Elliott Knuets Band at Toots Jazz Club.

🎪 Friday 14 August — classical, jazz and street arts

Brussels Dance Festival — starts 14 August and runs until 23 August: dance in public space at De Brouckère, the Bourse, the Town Hall and La Monnaie (official programme)
Brussels in Bloom — launch of the flower trail in the city centre, alongside the Flower Carpet (Enjoy BXL route)
Festival Théâtres Nomades 2026 — Bois de la Cambre, 13-16 August, circus and street theatre
XRDS Festival 2026 — Fuse, 14 and 15 August
Korpus Kwartet & Kristina Mascher-Turner — Notre-Dame du Sablon church
Ars in Cathedrali — St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, organ festival until 15 August
NØ STEAM — The Music Village · Late Jam with Joachim Caffonnette — Toots Jazz Club

👑 Saturday 15 August — public holiday, Flower Carpet and Hangar

Flower Carpet — Grand-Place, daytime, with the Town Hall balcony
HANGAR — Boris Brejcha b2b Eric Prydz, Royal Palace of Brussels · SOLD OUT
XRDS Festival — second night at Fuse
Théâtres Nomades — Bois de la Cambre, all day
Ars in Cathedrali — final organ night

15 August is a public holiday in Belgium: most shops closed, adapted STIB/MIVB timetables.

🌅 Sunday 16 August — last day, last beat

Final day of the Flower Carpet — Grand-Place and Bourse
HANGAR — Black Coffee, Royal Palace: tickets still available
Théâtres Nomades — closing day
Royal Palace visit — last day of free public opening
Guignolet dans le Parc and Reading in the Parks, Victoria Park (Koekelberg, until 17 August)

🧭 Practical tips

Grand-Place: shortest queue for the balcony early morning or late evening
Royal Palace on 15 & 16: metro Parc/Trône
Book your restaurant — the whole city centre is full this weekend

The most intense weekend of the whole summer 2026 in Brussels