The Thirion bakery in Mons is located just inside the inner ring and a short walk from St Joseph…read moreHospital. They do some amazing pastries and there is quite a selection of them to boot. I usually settle for a very creamy eclair with strawberries although you will be spoiled for choice. On top of the pastries and selection of cakes, they also have some really delicious Belgian chocolates for sale. If your sweet tooth hasn't kicked in yet, you can also just get some bread and even some sandwiches. Sure everything is delicious but having been to many Belgian bakeries, I find that this one is probably one of the least expensive as well.

This franchise cafe seems to be popping up everywhere. There is now even one in the little city of…read moreMons, in the south of Belgium. It's a very "bio" place and of course bio usually means that they will charge you more than if it was non-bio. But for those who have a conscious about destroying the planet and causing tsunamis and earthquakes because of spraying pesticides on crops, well this is the place to go! I do like the place though and it ain't half bad! I remember going to this one last year when meeting a friend there. I ordered a large coffee and it was so large that it was served in what looked more like a cereal bowl than it did a cup. I looked at the menu when there yesterday and that big cuppa set me back 3.60 Euros. But that isn't a bad price. Also on the menu were lots of desserts, which is the places main business since it has "bread" in the name of the cafe. You can get a tartelette of lemon, caramel or strawberry for just under 5 Euro. I ordered a beer, a bio pils for 2.60. It was a local beer, from the town of Silly and the bottle held 25cl. This really isn't too much more than a decent Belgian lager/pils. To eat, I got a "poulet fume" with a bunch of dressing and zuccini on it. It was basically a couple of open faced sandwiches but oh so good. There is virgin olive oil and Atlantic salt and (not sure where from) pepper on the table to douce your food. My girlfriend had a cappuccino and a beef sandwich, pretty similar to the style of mine. The beef was raw mince meat. I know that filet americain is raw beef but this was a new one on me. Before we left, we took a couple pastries to go (and eat in the cinema across the grand place). The total bill came to something like 35 Euro. It sounds pretty expensive for a couple sandwiches, pastries and drinks but I think it was worth it. The place is very clean, cozy and for the ladies, my girlfriend said that they're probably the cleanest toilets that she has found in Belgium!

SOY LATTES IN BELGIUM! I was so excited to see Le Pain Quotidien was in Mons, as I'd enjoyed it a…read moregreat deal in NYC and around DC. The food is excellent -- we try to go there for breakfast as often as possible. The coffee itself is excellent, and we usually take home a few bags.

From the owner: Cuisine inventive (gastronomique).read more