• INTRODUCTION • OPENING HOURS • GENERAL INFORMATION • HISTORY • COGELS OSYLEI •

Dear guests,

We welcome you with open arms in our new restaurant, Lavina. A place we hope you can call your second home soon.

Our restaurant is located on the corner of the famous Cogels-Osylei, a neighbourhoud that fortunatly was saved by the hippies in the sixties from total destruction.

Since that time poets, writers, painters, photographers, architects, actors and musiscians rediscovered the neighbourhoud. The area is filled with people blessed with diverse intrests and talents.

The building we welcome you in was built, like most of the other houses in the area, in the beginning of the nineteenth century in a brethtaking Art Nouveau style. Every house is a masterpiece on it's own, a piece of art by the architects. Feel free to admire our original fresco's on our walls. Without any doubt you will recognize Dionysos, God of wine and the playfull Pan, surrounded by his forest nymphs. Other fresco's refer to the four seasons. We are very proud to say that our fresco's are protected and are officially part of the cities heritage.

The building has always been a place for people to meet and mingle over a drink. It started out as Café du Vélodrome, a reference to the velodrome or cycling track on the end of the street, these days it is used by the public transportation company De lijn as a bus station. A parallel street of the Cogels-Osylei is still called the Velodroomstraat.

Lavinia is the ideal place to be to get to know this unique area. All you have to do is glance at the decor and you will be taken back to the authentic Belle Epoque. The comfort we offer you is on the other hand - and maybe for the best - very contemporary. Do not hesitate to communicate your wishes for we will do everything we can to grant them and fulfil all your needs. We are honoured to serve you.