Relaxation in Brussels is less about retreat and more about ease. Because the center is compact, the city rewards a slower pace: coffee in the old quarter, a later lunch, time back at the hotel before the evening, and bars that do not require major logistical commitment. For men who travel well, that makes Brussels surprisingly restorative. It may be a capital, but it is not always demanding. Stay central, keep the trip compact, and the city becomes much more comfortable than its official image suggests.