The Markt

The Markt ("Market Square") of Bruges is located in the heart of the city and covers an area of about 1 hectare. Some historical highlights around the square include the 12th-century belfry and the Provincial Court (originally the Waterhall, which in 1787 was demolished and replaced by a classicist building that from 1850 served as provincial court and after a fire in 1878 was rebuilt in a neo-Gothic style in 1887. In the center of the market stands the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck.

In 1995 the market was completely renovated. Parking in the square was removed and the area became mostly traffic-free, thus being more celebration friendly. The renovated market was reopened in 1996 with a concert by Helmut Lotti.

Around the Markt are numerous restaurants, cafes and bars where you can sit and take in the sights of the many historic medieval buildings and sample some of the Belgian food and beer.

Kedai Makanan Yut Kee

There's nothing to beat a Sunday visit to one of KL's old-style kopitiams (coffee shops) such as the renowned Kedia Makanan Yut Kee on Jalan Dang Wangi. Take in the local atmosphere as you dine on traditional staples such as noodles, fried rice, curries, french toast and that curious holdover from colonial days, 'chop'. Chicken chop, lamb chop, beef chop, pork chop, fish chop - this plate of pan-fried protein doused with a thick gravy and served with potatoes, peas, and carrots, is one of Yut Kee's most popular items.

The area also has some interesting old shophouses some of which have been renovated into offices, others like this just left to ruin as the modern KL grows up around them.

You can also still see some traditional old Malay style houses down close to the river.

Cap Square is a new development in this area comprising up-scale apartment residences and a new shopping centre with restaurants.