It’s not a secret anymore: climate change is real and it’s coming for us. Stopping it goes through simple changes in your habits, such as buying food without any packaging, choosing more local and seasonal products or increasing your consumption of organic food. But finding such products in your regular supermarket can be tricky; yes, big companies are starting to shift towards less waste, but it sure is too little, too late.
So we did the job for you — yeah, as always — and compiled a list of places in Brussels with a more sustainable vision of food and consumption:
1. La Ruche qui dit Oui!
La Ruche qui Dit Oui! (literally “The Hive that says Yes!”) is a concept that comes from France and that wants to eliminate as many industry intermediaries as possible, while reconnecting consumers with producers. They’re very present in Belgium with around 100 stores, out of which more than 15 are scattered all over Brussels.
Now, La Ruche qui Dit Oui! Is way more than just an organic shop filled with bearded hipsters riding electric scooters. First of all, you need to personally register online to “join a hive” in your neighborhood.
Once registered, you can place an order online. You buy whatever you want out of a carefully selected list of local products: fruits, vegetables, bread, cheese, meat, beer, soap… Each hive has their own pick-up time, so that everyone meets and gets the opportunity to talk with the local producers supplying the hive. So yes, it’s way more than just a shop.
La Ruche qui dit Oui, all over Brussels. More info and hives addresses on laruchequiditoui.be.
2. La Grainerie
If you’re looking for a quiet spot with local products and vegan food, you might never wanna leave La Grainerie, in Ixelles. Everything here is fresh and as raw as possible — wink wink, amazing raw cakes — and you can enjoy energy balls or a vegan cheesecake with your latte. Oh, and the coffee beans come directly from OR Coffee Roasters, probably the best coffee in Belgium, roasted and prepared locally.
But La Grainerie is not only a healthy canteen, it’s also an organic and zero waste grocery store! Here, you can buy olive oil, vinegar, nuts, cereals, dried berries, vegan milks, etc. without any packaging.
La Grainerie, 112 rue de Tenbosch, 1050 Ixelles. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 19:00, and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. Info on lagrainerie.be.
3. Le Relais du Triporteur
This restaurant coupled with a grocery store offers tasty meals, made from organic and seasonal products. They promote sustainable development and focus on the economic, environmental and social impact of what they sell, and hence buy from local producers. On top of that, 90% of their products are certified organic. At Le Relais du Triporteur, you can either test the dish of the day or shop sustainable products at the grocery store.
Le Relais du Triporteur, 120 and 124 rue Middelbourg, 1170, Boitsfort. Grocery store open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12:00 to 19:00. and Saturday 12:00 to 17:00. Restaurant open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12:00 to 14:30 and 19:00 to 21:30, and Saturday 19:00 to 21:30. Info here.
4. Marché des Tanneurs
This place has become the Mecca of organic food lovers in Brussels. In a magnificent building of the Marolles neighbourhood, you can find a huge assortment of seasonal fruits and vegetables, local products, cold cuts, juices, cheese, breads, honey and even organic wines! It’s basically organic and local food paradise.
I see you coming: “Oh my, this sounds like a rip off, I’ll have to take a second job to afford food from the Marché des Tanneurs.” Well, you’re all wrong! The prices are not higher than in supermarkets, and are actually lower than in many similar shops. Last but not least, they’re completely plastic-free.
Marché des Tanneurs, 60 rue des Tanneurs, 60, 1000 Brussels. Open Tuesday to Friday 11:30 to 18:00, and Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 to 16:00. Info on terrabio.be.
5. The Barn Bio Market
The Barn is one of the most recent organic hotspots in the capital city. At the back of a little courtyard, The Barn is a friendly place entirely built from recycled materials. The market is pretty big with a lot of room to wander around. The selection is broad and the prices are fair. Here, the customers can choose among products that taste like actual food and learn more about where they come from. Actually, some producers are present each Saturday to meet The Barn’s clients directly.
The Barn Bio Market, 38 place St Pierre, 1040 Etterbeek. Open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 20:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. Info on thebarn.bio.
6. Färm
Färm is a belgian concept of organic and cooperative stores, and that cooperative aspect is what sets them apart from the other sustainable addresses we mentioned. Färm brought together all the actors of the organic food sector, from producers to customers, investors and employees to create that cooperative, and anyone can buy shares of it.
Färm’s offer is obviously mostly organic, sustainable and Belgian. When, for one reason or another, it’s not the case, the product label clearly indicates it. What we love most at Färm stores is the bulk offer, always very diverse and freakin huge! Long story short, Färm is a great mix between a classic supermarket and a local organic shop: you have the wide selection of the first, and the quality of the second.
Färm, 7 stores scattered all over Brussels. Info and addresses on farmstore.be.
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