Like many European cities, Brussels is not known for having skyscrapers
Having just opened its doors in August 2023, the 58 Rooftop & Panoramic Eatery has already risen to prominence amongst locals for its unparalleled views of the entire city skyline of downtown Brussels. Though visitors are unlikely to have heard of it as it is still early days and there isn’t much information available outside of word-of-mouth. Indeed, I only found out about it by walking by the building that houses it on street level and seeing all the people on the balcony above me.
A quick look at Google Maps revealed that this was indeed open to the public, so I decided to make a quick detour to check it out – a decision anyone is unlikely to regret. As such, this makes this relatively unknown spot a great bucketlist addition for anyone looking to get some amazing free views of Brussels from a bird’s eye view – as it is inevitable that this spot will shoot up in popularity exponentially before long.
Amble seating is available throughout the rooftop
Basics
Since its grand opening back in August 2023, the 58 Rooftop & Panoramic Eatery is now Europe’s largest rooftop terrace – encompassing an area of 3000m².
How to Get There
Located in Brussels City Center where most of the tourist attractions are, there shouldn’t be any trouble getting to the area where the building is located.
The roof terrace itself is located on top of the Brucity Administrative Centre of the City of Brussels and is completely accessible to the public. There will be security at the door, though they are presumably there for those with appointments related to the offices located within the building, and they do not ask any questions to those entering the building.
Simply look for the glass elevators to the side of the main hall upon entering and hit the button for the top floor, and you are on your way! Upon exiting the elevator, you will be greeted by some glass doors leading out to the terrace – and it really is as easy as that to get there.
The rooftop is the perfect place to chill and enjoy the city sights
An example of one of the perspectives you can get from the rooftop
If you feel like you want sit back and relax then be sure to grab a drink or some food from the bar
The Rooftop
Hopefully you will find plenty of space to move around like I did. There are plenty of seating options across the entire rooftop, not just limited to the bar area. So, this should give you the opportunity to pick your favorite spot and just sit back to take in the spectacular skyline unfolding before your eyes, enabling you to get the best views from every angle.
Being one of the tallest buildings in downtown gives visitors the chance at a full perspective of the skyline on a crisp clear day
European cities are not known to have many skyscrapers or tall buildings, so such a wide-open space open to the public with elevated views of the skyline (the rooftop being the 9th floor) and beyond are hard to come by. This is what makes this place a true rarity within Brussels (and perhaps even historic European city centers as a whole).
Many of Brussels’ well-known attractions are visible while walking along the 360° perimeter – with the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Mont des Arts, the Grand Place and Palais de Justice all within eye-shot. Even the Atomium and nearby Japanese pagoda are identifiable, although they are much further away.
Anyone can look those famous attractions up online or in a guidebook, but what I really liked about having this vantage over the city was also being able to see a lot of lesser-known points of interest and other curiosities myself. Some quick GoogleMaps searches later, and I had about half a dozen more places to check out that I wasn’t aware of before.
The rooftop is easily reachable for anyone who is located in Brussels city center
The 58 Rooftop Bar occupies the right-hand portion of the terrace, and unlike many rooftop bars I have visited, there is no obligation to buy anything to be up there. Indeed, visitors are also free to walk through the bar area as well if you want to get some views from that side too. If you want to sit in the bar, however, then you will have to buy a drink or some food. Do not worry if you don’t want to though, as mentioned, there is ample seating located across the entire terrace.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
The rooftop and bar are both open weekdays 5pm-11pm, and weekends 12pm-11pm.
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