Former capital of the Counts of Hainaut, chief town of the province and European Capital of Culture 2015, Mons is a charming little town that is well worth a weekend trip. As a resident of Mons, I had to share my tips for a nice weekend in our region with you. Am I being objective? Probably not. But have seventeen years in Mons taught me a thing or two? Absolutely.

In this series:

Part I:
Where to stay in Mons?
Where to eat in Mons?
Where to have a drink in Mons?
Practical information: ATM, public toilets, in case of emergency

Part II:
What to do in Mons?
Culture in Mons
The Great War in Mons
Romantic Mons
Artistic Route in Mons
Mons: The Hipster Trail
Frescoes of Mons
The Secret Garden of Mons
Other things to see and do in Mons
Shopping in Mons
Around Mons

Part III:
#Mons: Most instagrammable spots in Mons

Where to stay in Mons?

Mons is not a big city, so don’t expect a multitude of accommodation choices as you would in Brussels or Bruges as we only have five or six hotels. I have chosen two that I know well and that stand out from their competition. 

Martin’s Dream Hotel

Located in the former abbey of the Sœurs du Bélian, Martin’s Dream Hotel is perfect for those of you who are looking for an atypical setting in the city centre. The luxurious Martin’s Alterego Spa makes it possible to upgrade your stay with a massage (from €80 for a relaxing 50-minute massage), a scrub, a body or facial treatment, or simply enjoy one of the two private areas, each with a hammam, a jacuzzi and a sauna. 

The Dream Mons belongs to the Martin’s chain, which I personally like very much, and if you have already stayed in one of their establishments, you know exactly what to expect in terms of service and comfort. The little extra of the Dream Mons is of course the Best of Home room, located in the former attic of the church, where the majestic rose window will offer you a breathtaking view of the Belfry, not to mention its king-size bed and its whirlpool bath. Ideal for a romantic getaway! 

Van der Valk Hotel Mons Congres & Spa Hotel

If you prefer peace and quiet for a good night’s sleep after a day of wandering through the medieval streets of Mons, then the Van der Valk Mons Congres & Spa Hotel is for you. Like the Martin’s Dream Hotel, the Van der Valk, located near the train station, has a spa (massage from 75€ for 60 minutes) with a jacuzzi, sauna and hammam. The Van der Valk also has a swimming pool and a flotation tank.

Be warned though, the Van der Valk, or rather its bar, is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights; between theme nights and weddings, there’s always a bit of activity in the lobby and lounges at these times, but normally you’ll always find a table to sit at. I’m personally not a big fan of the Monty’s bar’s decoration (rather tacky boudoir portraits), but as they say, there’s no accounting for taste…

The Belfry’s hostel

Where to eat?

It’s hard for me to choose which places to recommend, because the range of restaurants in Mons is quite competitive, and there is something for every taste and budget. If you regularly spend weekends in Belgium, you probably already know what I’m about to tell you, but in case you missed it, I think it’s worth informing you that as a general rule when you visit a Belgian city, it’s best to avoid the restaurants located around its Grand-Place. Mons is no exception. Rather than being served an overpriced defrosted dish by a waiter who treats you as if you had desecrated the tomb of his ancestors, follow me and let’s get off the beaten track for a while. I’ll take you on a tour of my good addresses, but keep them to yourselves!

Le Jade de Chine

Don’t be fooled: the strong point of Jade de Chine is the fusion between Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Of course, you’ll find all the classics, from spring rolls to Peking duck, but not only that. Some of the restaurant’s greatest hits to whet your appetite are the chef’s style grilled salmon (brought to the table on a hot tipan), the Jade de Chine-style grilled beef served on an individual barbecue, or the Yah Tahlay, a plate of grilled seafood. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try the Kuy Poo Khown Fat, a grilled, caramelised and flambéed whole chick? You’ll be back for more, I guarantee it. 

Les Portes d’Orient

It was my colleague Najwa who introduced me to Les Portes d’Orient a long time ago. Without her, I would probably never have noticed the small façade on the edge of rue de Nimy. Years later, I still come back with as much pleasure as I did then. The atmosphere is fantastic and the food is authentic. My strategy, copied from that of Najwa, is to ask the waiter to bring me “a bit of everything” depending on the chef’s mood, and I have never been disappointed. Everything is fresh, delicious, and prepared with the utmost care. Beware, it’s a very small restaurant, so it’s probably best to book in advance.

August 2022 update: Les Portes d’Orient now has a second restaurant on the main square (30 Grand Place) and it is as delicious as the original. Plus, it has a terrace.

Where to have a drink?

If you’re over sixteen and don’t want to age ten years in twenty minutes, avoid the Marché aux Herbes. It’s all very well when you’re young and don’t mind wading through beer and the overflow from the open-air urinals inexplicably placed upstream from the esplanade, but after a certain age, it becomes a bit sad. Try something else instead. 

I was telling you earlier to avoid the restaurants on the Grand Place, but if you want to have a drink in the sun and watch the colourful local personalities, there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned terrace in the centre. It doesn’t matter which one. Personally, I prefer the Excelsior for its service (and because you have a better view of said locals coming and going), but unfortunately, its terrace is in the shade, so you might choose one of the cafés opposite the town hall. You’ll be served pretty much the same alcoholic beverages (“Nope, I’m all out of Triple Karmelite”) or non-alcoholic drinks (“I don’t have Coke, is Pepsi okay?”) with pretty much the same attitude everywhere. Apart from those places, which you can find on your own, I recommend two bars that I particularly like: Modjo and Cuba’r. 

Modjo

In my humble opinion, there is really only one stylish cocktail bar in Mons and it is Modjo. A recent addition to the infinite number of bars in the city, Modjo stands out for its relaxed atmosphere without falling into the pitfalls of a bar that has become too popular overnight. People come here for the top-of-the-range cocktails, prepared by barmen and barmaids who are all professionals in the field, graduates of European bartending schools, and with strong personalities (which is always a plus as far as I am concerned). Fortunately, the Modjo gives them the freedom to create their own recipes (I’ve ordered “something that would remind me of Fox Mulder, but like in the early seasons of the X-Files, with bourbon and maybe a bit herb-y” and received the best cocktail of my life); a special mention should be given to Gavin, the head mixologist of the place, who is a real artist.

In the end, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for — a lovely evening spent sipping classic or extraordinary cocktails, in a nice setting, with quality background music.

I’m actually a bit sorry I told you about it, because I don’t really want there to be no tables available the next time I go, but it’s a risk I have to take for the sake of my readers, I guess. 

Good to know: The Modjo also serves antipasti platters to die for. Preferably to be shared. 

Cuba’r

A real oddity in the Mons landscape, Cuba’r is, as its name suggests, a Cuban bar. It is rarely crowded, but always has excellent music, classic cocktails and, occasionally, exceptional cigars. The bar is located in a vaulted cellar, which gives it a bit of a naughty speakeasy atmosphere that I love. It feels like you’re doing something forbidden, which is always fun. The prices are reasonable, and the clientele is always a little different from elsewhere.

#Mons : Most Instagrammable spots in Mons

Let’s face it, at least one of you is here for this, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share with you the places that will make all the difference on the ‘Gram. 

Practical information

ATM

Public toilets

There is no point in denying it: as far as public toilets are concerned, the centre of Mons is a bit of a disaster. There are in fact only three, among which only two are accessible to women and only one is accessible to people with reduced mobility. On a cranky day, I would say that this says a lot about the way the city sees itself, but as I am feeling generous today, I prefer to think that this is rather a temporary problem which, of course, will soon be the object of all the attention of the authorities. 

In case of problem

In case you need help, Mons has two hospitals and a police station. Saint-Joseph Hospital is located at 5, avenue Baudouin de Constantinople (at the bottom of rue d’Havré). Ambroise Paré Hospital is located at 2, boulevard John Fitzgerald Kennedy (across the boulevard). For all intents and purposes, the number to call to contact a doctor on duty is 1733 (112 remains valid for emergencies like everywhere else in Europe). Finally, the police station is located at 76, boulevard Sainctelette. 

Texts & pictures ©Ms. Unexpected. No post on Ms Unexpected is sponsored. Ever.

Last update: 26/08/2022