Birthday in Bruges: Part Two

We've arrived at the second (and final) part of my Bruges travel diary, and I'm already itching to re-pack my bags and return to the historic city!  I miss the colourful buildings and clip-clopping sound of horses navigating through the streets, though at least I have a ton of photos to swipe through whenever the place pops into mind.  Speaking of which, Part One ended on the afternoon of my birthday, so let's pick things up from there...





Considering the mass of sweet treats I'd indulged in throughout the day (oops), I wasn't too keen on the idea of a huge birthday dinner.  Instead, we opted to return to one of my personal favourites, Brasserie de Carré, a lovely restaurant located in the very heart of Bruges' Markt.  I've never actually opted to sit indoors and instead have always chosen to enjoy views of the gorgeous Belfry of Bruges (the medieval bell tower) from the outdoor seating area.  With room for sixty people, at 7pm it was fairly easy to get a table before the restaurant became much busier an hour later; perfect for quick service and a quiet no-frills meal.  Birthday girl gone wild...

Brasserie de Carré
Markt 26
8000 Bruges
Belgium

After dinner, the next couple of hours were spent meandering through the cobbled streets of Bruges.  There truly is nothing I enjoy more than immersing myself in a city and taking in every last tiny detail.  In particular, I noticed how quickly the sun set once it made the decision to disappear, and how beautifully bright everyone's clothing seemed to be that night.  Armed with a bag full of macarons and flower-shaped chocolates from Stefs Chocolatier, we eventually headed back to our Hotel Dukes' Palace for evening drinks.

Stefs Chocolatier
Breidelstraat 7
8000 Bruges
Belgium

This was probably one of my all-time favourite 'hotel returns' to have ever experienced.  The late-evening's wander back through Bruges ended with the sight of what looked like a dolls' house set against the midnight blue sky.  Within, cosy lighting lit up bouquets of flowers and gem coloured sofas, while bar staff busied themselves taking final orders.  There was something magically slow-paced about the midweek's night - the perfect end to a perfect day.

Wrap Body - Dorothy Perkins

Skirt - Zara Midi Skirt

Sandals - Dune

Bag - Chloé 

L'Occitane toiletries  |  Mii Cosmetics Celestial Skin Shimmer Aurora c/o  |  Dauphines of New York for Anthropologie Gingham Headband c/o 

After an undisturbed night's sleep, a similar breakfast to the day before awaited (see my Instagram!) before checking out and continuing to squeeze a few more hours out of Bruges.  Time seems to go by so quickly when in the city - it's true, time flies when you're having fun!  Seriously though, I don't think I'll ever tire of its beauty; there's always more to discover, more to admire, more to eat...

With the journey home just hours away, we had enough time to visit the Begihnhof (Beguinage), which although has long seen the last Begijn pass away, is now home to a convent of Benedictine nuns.  The 'whitewashed garden complex' is a beautifully serene place for a sense of calm and quiet reflection; the perfect place to spend twenty minutes or so, wandering through the small square and sitting quietly in the church.

Afterwards, I found myself once more drawn to the busy Markt of Bruges, this time opting for ice cream at the Häagen-Dazs Tearoom within Merdian3 Brasserie.  With an insane amount of tasty options on the menu (most set around 12 euros), I opted for the Chocolate Brownie Explosion, an undeniably indulgent option that sees warm brownies placed alongside scoops of ice cream, all of which is topped off with chopped hazelnuts and drizzled chocolate sauce.  Though, apparently the Belgian Waffle Dream option is also de-lic-ious and also true to its name -  a waffle-lover's dream!

Merdian3 Brasserie & Häagen-Dazs Tearoom
Markt 15
8000 Bruges
Belgium

Psst!  If you're ordering from the Merdian3's Häagen-Dazs during the day, ask if you can be seated upstairs.  There's no chance of going forgotten - and as we watched downstairs fill up, we had the entire upper-floor to ourselves!

This birthday-prompted visit to Bruges really was perfect from beginning to end; and it definitely won't be the last time I visit West Flanders' capital.  Have you ever visited Bruges?  Let me know what you thought of the Belgian city!

With love,

Gabrielle x