Get a local's perspective of Brussels and stay in Saint Gilles!
My partner and I agree that Daan's flat in Saint Gilles is one of our top 5 nicest airbnb's we've stayed in (and we've stayed in many and done lots of traveling together). What an elegant, beautiful, fully stocked 1 bedroom flat in an incredible neighborhood! There's also a small garden where we had morning tea and a separate terrace facing the street (where we had breakfast). Every part of this flat is well decorated and intentional.
While Saint Gilles is about a 25 min walk from the city center, it's well worth it to get away from the tourists and experience a local's view on Brussels. The Horta underground station is very close by along with overground trams which is a less than 10 min ride to the city center or Brussels Midi. We went to local bars, cafes, and bakeries in Saint Gilles and still felt like there was much more to see. Le Bar a Jeux is a fun neighborhood place with a huge beer selection and a massive selection of board and card games you can play while you're there. We went 2 nights in a row because it was such a wonderful way to wind down after sightseeing. Up the hill by the church are food trucks and air markets with fresh veggies and fruits - highly recommend. Momo restaurant is a Tibetan restaurant that was so incredible, especially if you're a veggie/vegan. I also recommend heading to Brugge for a day trip while in Brussels - very easy from Brussels Midi and a vert unique part of Belgium.
Daan was very accommodating as we arrived in Brussels earlier than check-in time. We were able to put our luggage down and explore the neighborhood while he got the flat ready. Very nice and kind guy!
Brussels really took us by surprise. We didn't expect to fall in love with it the way we did, and we absolutely want to come back! For those from the US, brush up on your French before arrival. While everyone is very kind and speaks English, knowing key phrases in French and at least putting forth the effort (bonjour, merci) goes a long way, especially if you're trying to be more in the local's scene (which I highly recommend). Our only regret is that we didn't stay longer! We could've easily done 5 days - 1 week.