Flâne

Last October, I finally checked out Flâne – formerly known as Loading Popup, before the renovations.

Opened by the same team behind Pénar in Place Brugmann, Loading Popup used to be one of the few spots in Brussels where I never had a single miss.

Needless to say, I was beyond excited to go back and see the place in a whole new light.

On the design side, chef and owner Paul Ravet kept the best of Loading’s previous look, with wine bottles still on display, while completely rethinking the furniture and lighting to create an even cozier, sharper vibe. There’s now a bar where you can watch the chefs plating dishes, which makes the experience even more fun.

After scanning the menu – which offers 4, 5, or 6 courses – we went with the 5-course option, paired with two incredible bottles of white, including a super buttery Chardonnay with notes of toasted brioche.

All three of us fell head over heels for the raw bar with sorrel ice cream, and the tortellini with pecorino, mushrooms, and sage. Everything was spot-on from start to finish, no surprises there. For the three of us, the bill came to €323 – perfect for a special occasion… or just to treat yourself. One thing’s for sure: I would recommend this place with my eyes closed.