Last weekend we had no idea what to do. As is our habit, we hopped onto Weekendesk to see what they had to offer. Since we only wanted to go away for one night, we simply ticked 'within 2 hours' and looked at the results.
One trip immediately stood out! A small hotel with breakfast in the city centre of Liège. A brand-new hotel with Netflix and a good bar!
Liège is a city full of allure, beauty and history. It's bursting with fairytale views and stately buildings. Yet it's also a city shaped by its inhabitants. A city of workers and students; a down-to-earth, headstrong city!
Since we had already seen the pretty side of Liège many times, this time we decided to go looking for that down-to-earth charm. Ideal for lazy summer days.
Getting there
Liège is extremely easy to reach by train. It's also quite an experience, because the station is breathtaking! So whenever we go to Liège for the day, we always take the train. This time it was the weekend, there were no children with us, and we decided to take the car for that road-trip feeling.
We parked directly opposite the Radisson Liège City hotel, where there was a small car park. Talk about a stroke of luck. If there's no space there, there's a large underground car park 100 metres away.
The city is very walkable, but there's also plenty of public transport for tired feet.
A stay full of allure
Liège is full of small hotels and rooms you can rent. We chose the Radisson Liége City Center. When you book a hotel in Liège, make sure you're in the area around the Opera or the Carré. If you're near the station, you're a long way from all the little cafés.
Especially in the evening, after you've dined and wined, it's nice not to have to walk too far.
The hotel we chose was perfect for a city break. No bells and whistles, but a very comfortable bed, Netflix, a comfortable bathroom, a delicious breakfast, a fabulous view and … probably the best cocktails in Liège!
I rarely drink cocktails in a hotel unless it has a proper bar, and I probably wouldn't have here either. But we were offered one and it was simply perfect: light acidity, a touch of sweetness, fresh and slightly bitter. The perfect summer cocktail.
Their menu also featured various cocktails made with local drinks. Really worth it!
Activities full of down-to-earth charm
You can see that Liège is packed with beautiful stately buildings as soon as you drive in. You can find various maps with all kinds of walking routes. There are also plenty of tours you can join. They show you the palaces, the museums and the famous citadel.
You'll find more authentic charm on the streets. Liège is a city that lives through the people who live there. Even during a short stay you can feel that charm.
These are our favourite more 'off-the-beaten-path' activities.
Marché de La Batte
The oldest market in Belgium and at the same time a large, beautiful Sunday market along the Meuse. You'll find everything there, from fabrics to food, clothes, knick-knacks, electronics, toys, … At the far end you can even find improvised terraces where you can enjoy a bite of street food or a cosy coffee.
It's not really a tourist market, but a market where you see plenty of local colour.
It takes place on the banks of the Meuse (La Batte) every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Urban Winery Luyck
Yes, right in the centre of Liège there's a winery with the creative name Luyck. This winery is run by a Fleming and is a real gem to see. The grapes are harvested in various places, but the wine itself is made by Belgian hands. From Wednesday to Saturday afternoon you can visit this winery to taste, look and buy.
Cité Miroir
Le Cité Miroir, the former swimming pool of Liège. In 2000 the baths were closed for safety reasons. Because the building and the (imposing) baths were of such historical value, the building was listed and a completely new project was started there in 2004. The former baths were repurposed as an exhibition space. The abundant natural light and the various levels make it a pretty spectacular spot.
This summer we also discovered a fun pop-up meeting point with various traditional games right opposite the entrance. Our favourites were the lounge chairs and the giant chessboard.
Sauvenière
A cinema the way a cinema should be. Small, with a popular but also alternative programme. Tasty drinks and snacks.
During the summer you can also enjoy a free outdoor film on the terrace of the brasserie (with remarkably good food, kudos for the vegan Liège meatballs). You don't need to sit at a table. You can simply take a seat on the chairs that are set out.
In our opinion, ordering something is definitely fun and tasty too.
You can find the programme here.
Good food, down-to-earth or with allure
Liège (like the rest of Wallonia) is known for its good food. Of course you have the Liège meatballs, but beyond that the food on offer is more urban than rural. Prices are also on the lower side.
Everywhere you'll find the typical and less typical chains, interspersed with more unusual establishments.
Most of the (affordable) cafés and restaurants can be found in a handful of streets: Le Carré.
Café Tam-Tam Bambou
A cosy jungle-themed café. Here you can drink fresh juices (uniquely served), smoothies and fabulous cocktails. The terrace is a little shabby, but just as cosy.
Pitaya Thai
A Thai street-food restaurant from a small chain. You can expect quick, tasty food, and typical and less typical drinks. Pleasant to sit inside or outside.
Grignoux
This brasserie is a winner for anyone who wants to eat classic food. The French-Belgian menu is executed very well.
We ate the vegan Liège meatballs and they were top-notch! A few chunky chips on the side and tuck in.
For enthusiasts there's also an extensive beer list, even with more alternative beers.
A bonus is the free open-air cinema (see above). It's also rather cosy sitting between the walls covered in climbing plants.
Get Your Mug
A kind of hipster café where the more artistic students hang out. Read: salads, toasts, granola, pancakes and a whole list of coffees.
We ate the falafel salad and the aubergine toast. Both are absolute recommendations. Also be sure to have a look at the sweet pastries of the day. We skipped them, but they looked delicious. Bonus: this little café is at the start of the shopping street as you come from the station. So ideal for recharging yourself before the shopping.
Merlix Cats Café
Pancakes, smoothie bowls, pastries, all kinds of unusual drinks and cats. I especially loved the cosy interior. It was a bit vintage. The cats wandering around naturally make it complete. A winner for any girly trip.
Une Gaufrette Saperlipopette
According to the locals, THE place to eat waffles and get a taste of local colour. So forget the stalls along the street and come here. Not that mad about waffles? No problem! They also have an extensive range of other pastries.
You can already tell, can't you … Liège is a city for foodies! A down-to-earth city! A city with allure, but above all a city of its inhabitants. When you walk through Liège, you still see Liège. There's no market of souvenir stalls, but one selling things a normal person buys. It's not a spectacle of guides pushing things on you, but there are flyers.
Although tourism is (rightly) growing in Liège, you can still come here for a down-to-earth experience.
