Le Petit Bon Bon

Brussels is having a moment and Antwerp-based interiors and branding studio WeWantMore launches a new brasserie, Le Petit Bon Bon, led by Michelin-starred chef Christophe Hardiquest, and located in the city’s latest new hotel, the luxurious Corinthia Brussels.

The building, which has been closed for almost two decades, was previously home to the city’s Grand Hotel Astoria – one of Brussels’ most iconic Belle Epoque destinations, and a place that hosted royalty and heads of state as well as luminaries such as James Joyce and Salvador Dalí. Le Petit bon bon is one of two dining destinations in the 126-room hotel.

At Le Petit bon bon, Hardiquest’s elevated menu mixes tradition and modernity, and the interiors reflect this by embracing and amplifying the cues of a classic Belgian brasserie. “Working within the shell of such an iconic building was very inspiring,” says creative director of WeWantMore: Ruud Belmans. “We wanted to create an interior to really bring out the flavours of Christophe Hardiquest’s cooking, but one which also felt respectful to the hotel’s history infused with a touch of modernity,” says lead designer Masha Nazarenko.

To get there, the team focussed on natural materials such as copper, marble and wood, which come together to envelope diners in a warm, earthy colour palette. A marble-topped bar greets visitors as they enter, with patterned floors in the classic brasserie tradition leading them to their tables. Grooved wooden panelling around the bar and other areas of the restaurant conceals an acoustic layer, to ensure noise levels in the 230m-square space are always at a comfortable level.

The restaurant can host 60 guests for fine dining. The finishing kitchen is enclosed in glossy copper panelling, which will acquire a beautiful, natural patination over time. Wall mirrors reflect the glow of the copper, and cast a soft light over leather banquettes, translucent alabaster table lamps and brass details – all of which come together to create a quintessential brasserie experience.

“WeWantMore delivered an exceptional, end-to-end service for the fit-out of Le Petit Bon Bon by Christophe Hardiquest. They perfectly captured the "Belgian Brasserie" vibe we highlighted in our design brief, creating an accessible yet refined atmosphere. Their expert project management, including supervision of the fit-out contractor, ensured the project was completed within an impressive timeframe. We were delighted with both the result and WeWantMore's refreshing approach.” www.wewantmore.studio