You can buy anything or everything at Les Abattoirs et Marchés d'Anderlecht. As a tourist, it is a good place to see where the locals shops for their staples. Seriously, it is like a flea market, antique market, farmer's market and much much more. Everyone here with their shopper carts on wheels shopping like there is no tomorrow! There is also live stock: rabbits, ducks, chickens, pigeons (And I keep wondering do they sell them as pets or as food?) The experience can be quite overwhelming but it was worth going there and checking it out if you have time. A Carousel with Real Donkeys?! read more

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After my friend did a little bit of lagging from the overseas long haul. We headed off to a local Marchés on Sunday, one of our farthest point-of-interest from city centrale. Who doesn't love visiting a foreign Meat Market, right? But from the massive scale of this Market, we got side-tracked and detoured away from Vleesmarkt - Marche aux viandes. What I did see was a never-ending sea of locals, mostly ethnic origins in a frenzy packed like sardines moving forward at a frantic pace through the non-existent openings of walkway blocked by people after people, merchant after merchant. Imagine New York City density, market the size of a small airfield, the products for sale of a bargain flea market. - Fruits: Occupies a quarter of the space, but why every stall is repetitive? - Goods: Low quality clothing, toys, antiques, old machinery, furniture - Spices: A few stalls of selling Middle eastern spices and dried fruits - Prepared Food: Meat and charcuterie where most people eat a type of hotdog - Animals/Pets: Affordable animals, a popular stall for children and tourist alike It was a cultural experience more than a shopping experience in my opinion. My friend kept wondering why all the food stalls were lined with Men-only purchasing food but it turns out this is an African area district. I can see why it was so popular amongst the locals in the area and the cars align the outer streets even risking traffic tickets. Along my trip strolling through centrale Brussels, I did notice smaller local convenient shops displaying fruits and vegetables outside their shop doors and now I know where some of them get their produce. Is it worth your weekend to possibly get trampled and pushed around to purchase directly from the Market itself rather than your local shop depends on how adventurous you really are. If you're looking for a touristy market like Jatujak in Bangkok, you're in the wrong place but if you're looking to be part of a local flavor and excitement in a market where the ground is littered with smashed fruits giving off that orangey scent, this is for you! Previous: Hotel Ibis Brussels http://www.yelp.ca/biz/hotel-ibis-brussels-bruxelles-2#hrid:9mgfrKPJgSQ0_rCF-nB7Og Next: Friterie Tabora http://www.yelp.ca/biz/friterie-tabora-bruxelles#hrid:rw7rFXejF0gkjNfYEi96YA read more

I haven't really experienced the whole market yet but the meat area is simply great. A lot of choice, cheap prices (especially if you buy a lot of meat), and the sellers are always in good mood. Definitively to try at least once. Excellent if you are planning a bbq, if you have a big freezer and do not mind freezing meat, or to share big cuts of meat with some friends. Almost the paradise for meat lovers... read more

If you want too see a bit of the real Brussels, where locals of every flavor buy the cheapest meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables in town, than this is for you. Hectic, packed and vaguely reminiscent of SE Asian open air markets, this is not a charming high end French type market like those found in other parts of town. The meat section is not for the front of heart with lots of whole animals, heads, and a huge variety of innards as my southern grandmother used to say. Many of the vendors offer free samples of their fruits which is cool. The neighborhood next door has a large variety of excellent Lebanese restaurants and bakeries. Gritty, or as gritty as you can get in Northern Europe. Really cheap organic farm raised quail by the box of ten, if you are looking for, or can make use of that. I certainly would if I lived in Brussels. If you can't stand another french fry, waffle , or beer, come here for something completely different. read more