La Place du Châtelain: a buzzing place
© Zoé de Meulemeester
A New Place du Châtelain
After two years of construction work, the removal of 130 parking spaces, and some frustration from locals due to the relocation of the weekly market, La Place du Châtelain has, since February 2025, regained all of its vibrant energy.
La Place du Châtelain: a Must-See in Ixelles
Deserted for two long years, the square has finally come back to life. The Wednesday market, which had moved to nearby streets during the works, is back in full swing on the Châtelain, with its stalls lining both sides of the square. The new layout is smart and easy to navigate for pedestrians. Stalls, street food, local produce, greengrocers and butchers, world cuisine: Wednesday visitors are drawn in by the delicious smells of live cooking and sit down at the scattered tables to enjoy the food.
La Place du Châtelain has thus become the place to be on Wednesdays for anyone who wants to dine outdoors in a car-free, green space. But that’s not all!
A Cultural Destination
From Wednesday to Sunday, La Place du Châtelain is also a cultural hotspot. With three major venues—a contemporary art center, an art gallery, and an auction house—visitors can enjoy photo exhibitions at Hangar, discover artworks at Arthus Gallery, or browse comic art at Huberty Breyne. Around the square, other contemporary art galleries such as Michel Rein round out the perfect artistic tour, ideally ending on a café or restaurant terrace.
Great places to eat at Place du Châtelain
The local dining scene is especially diverse and high quality. Some of our favorites: Malmo and its seafood menu, the iconic Peyrassol for its pasta, Pepette et Ronron for a friendly aperitif, Gratin for a quick bite, La Chatelaine du Liban for its delicious falafels, and the much-anticipated Maison Poesy, the newcomer set to take over the former Campo location and be linked with the Hangar. Visitors to the photo art center and Hangar gallery can continue their experience with coffee, lunch, or dinner in this iconic spot. For beer lovers, l’Impasse, right at Hangar’s entrance, is the go-to with its excellent selection of craft brews and relaxed vibe.
Shops you don’t want to miss
La Place du Châtelain and its surroundings are full of great shopping opportunities. Hangar’s bookshop is a destination in itself for fans of photography books. Hopono concept store feels like Aladdin’s cave, full of the trendiest and most original items. Rue du Bailli is also booming with clothing stores, cafés, bakeries… It’s the kind of neighborhood where you can spend entire afternoons strolling. So why not turn a photo exhibition at Hangar into a full artistic outing, followed by some shopping, coffee, or a bite to eat? There’s plenty to choose from!
And one last tip: when arranging to meet friends, suggest the deck in the center of La Place du Châtelain. Bathed in sunlight and facing the fountains where children laugh and play, this teak platform offers a total escape. And Hangar’s front door is just a few steps away!
