CAFES OF BELGIUM..
AS FROM
DECEMBER 2018 THERE WILL BE NO MORE PUBS ADDED TO THIS PAGE
Including
Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Ostend and Poperinge.
For the location
enter full post code into the link below
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
If
the UK has its ales and Germany and the Czech Republic its lagers, then Belgium
must have the most interesting choice of beer styles in the world. Walk into
any Belgian café and you will always have at least 12 different beers to those
from on the beer menu; in the better cafes even more.
Here
is a list of beer styles and some good examples of those styles in brackets;
Red beer (Rodenbach)
Pale Ales (De Koninck and De Ryck)
Trappists
Beer (Orval, Rochefort and Westvletern)
Abbey
Beers (Maredous and Steenbruge)
Lambic,
Gueuze and Fruit Beers (Boon and Cantillion)
Strong
Golden Ale (Duvel)
White
wheat Beer (Celis White and Watou Witbier)
Scotch
Ales and Xmas Beers (Silly Scotch and Stille Nacht )
Blonde
Beer (Bink, XX Bitter and Quintine)
Export
Stout ( Guinness Special Export Stout brewed in Dublin at 8% )
Saison
(Dupont and Silly)
And
not forgetting your mass product lagers from Interbrew of Stella Artois and
Jupiler.
Most
of the specialist styles tend to be in bottles, more expensive and stronger in
alcohol strength than the standard Belgium lager, for example
Jupiler
at 5% will be 2.20 to 2.60 Euros
Duvel
at 8.5% will be 3.50 to 5.50 Euros
Prices
in November 2016 in Brussels
Most
Belgians tend to drink Juplier then round the evening off with a specialist
beer, us tourists tend to think we are in beer wonderland and want to drink as
many beer styles as possible. While some city centre cafes are large most
Belgium cafes are small and intimate and in most cases just as good as the beer
they serve. Cafes have waiter service: ask for a beer menu if there is not one
on the table.
Recent
visits
Antwerp
November 2018
Bruges
May 2017
Brussels
November 2018
Ghent
May 2017
Here
is a list of outstanding cafes in the following cities
ANTWERP
Antwerp
is Belgium's second biggest city after Brussels, in the Flemish part of Belgium
close to the border with the Netherlands. Whilst the main railway station in
the city centre is impressive, most of the best watering holes are in the old
town near the cathedral. The local ale brewery De Koninck beer is available in
most Antwerp cafes, ask for Bolleke. Last visited November 2010. Prices Bolleke
1.60 to 2.40 euros, regular beer 1.90 to 2.40 euros, Trappist beers 3.50 to 4.00
euros in November 2010.
Prices
for March 2015 are Bolleke 1.90 to 2.70 euros and Trappist beers 3.30 to 5.80
euros. Since my last visit, De Koninck is now owned by Duvel, but the brewery
is still operating in Antwerp.
Revisited
in November 2018 added some new places, as well as doing some old favourites. Prices
for November 2018 are Bolleke 1.60 to 3.00 euros and Trappist beers 4.00 to 6.70
euros
CITY
CENTRE
T’ Antwaerps
Bierhouse, 14 Hoogsstraat, Antwerpen 2000
Along with Bier Central,
this is another good beer outlet since my last visit in 2005. Close to the
cathedral, but easy to miss. For a new place, this café is very atmospheric it
is narrow at the front but does open out a bit as you go to the back. Low
lighting, dry hops on the ceiling and beer memorabilia on the walls all add to
the place’s atmosphere. It claims to
have 140 beers, including 9 on draught, with a sample tray of 4 beers from 9
euros, the pub also has a good selection of malt whiskies. Great find.
John 9/10 visit Nov 2010
Still with a nice cosy
atmosphere. Have a look at the impressive number of beers in the fridge to the
right of the bar. Had a Rochefort at 3.30 Euros.
John 9/10 visit March
2015
This place is now closed
_________________________________________________________________________
Beer Lovers, 105
Rotterdamstraat, Anterpen 2018
Nice modern place to the North of Central
Station, in other words a non-tourism area. A craft beer place with lots of
interesting beers on draught including two from the UK, can’t remember what the
bottled menu was like. Pleasant atmosphere. The Buxton Extra Stout was 4.90
Euros and was very nice too! Closed Tuesday, opens 1600 hours rest of the week.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
____________________________________________________________________________________
Best Beer Cafe, 18 Ernest Van Dijckkaai , Antwerpen 2000.
This cafe also known as the BBC, doesn’t quite
live up to its name. Beer menu is just above average, I had a Orval at 4 Euros.
Modern decor with bar stools along the side wall. Only 2 people in, watching
the German football on the large screen, with Latin music in the background
playing at the same time!
John 7/10
visit November 2018
______________________________________________________________________________
Bier Central, 25 De
Keyserlei, Antwerpen 2018
At long last a decent pub
with a good beer list close to Central station; only a few minutes walk away.
As well as good beer menu (or encyclopaedic as they call it) of over 300
bottled beers, there are over 20 beers on draught. The beers are mainly
mainstream but there are a few surprises. Large pub with Swiss chalet style
décor which with seating at the end inside a large beer barrel which has been
cut in half. The seating is half seating and
half bar stools, with low lighting and beer memorabilia on the wall.
Outside seating which seems popular even on a rainy day. When you go downstairs
to the toilets you can see the beer bottles store from the window. If coming in
from Central station this pub should be your first and last stop! Becomes a
more of a night club in the evening.
John
9/10 visit Nov 2010
Much the same as my last
visit. Good presentation on the beer menu. You can see all the bottled beers on
your way down to the toilets. Had a Saison Dupont at 3.30 Euros. Now needs a
second good beer place near the station to keep this one company !
John 9/10 visit March
2015
Still the same. Very busy, but it is a Friday
evening. A large, but standard beer menu. A Orval was 5 Euros.
John 8/10
visit November 2018
________________________________________________________________________________________
Berenbak,
17 Minderbroedersstraat, Antwerpen 2000
Attractive bar with collection of ties on
the walls. Food menu good and beer range too. Bolleke very nice! Lots of plants
and pretty fireplace with clock. Modern art paintings!
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 2001
A modern café of lots of wood panelling
and plants! A collection of ties is above the bar area. A good food menu, as
well as the beer menu. Nice laid-back atmosphere with good bar service. Just
outside the main centre' the road is off Minderbroedersrui, which is on most of
the tourist maps.
John 9/10
visit Dec 2004
Café was closed on my last visit, which was sad for two reasons;
one, it was a good café and two, it was pouring with rain and I needed some
shelter!
_________________________________________________________________________
Bille Bier Kafetaria, 12
Kiammenstraat, Antwerpen 2000
A modern take on a brown
café? Place has a modern airy feel to it, it does nice food and interesting
beer including some British craft beer. If busy there are places upstairs for
you. Bolleke is 2.20 euros and Trappist beers are 3.50 to 4.30 Euros (No
Rochefort). Had a Ranke Saison de Dottigniss at 3.30 Euros.
John 7.5/10 visit March
2015
The craft beer pub for Antwerp trendies. Lots
of reserved table signs, mange to sit at one which was reserved for later on. A
good choice of draught beers, I had a Bonny Beer IPA at 4 Euros.
John 8.5/10
visit November 2018
________________________________________________________________________________
Billenkletser, 22 Hoogstraat,
Antwerpen 2000
Café
close to the Antwaerp Bierhouse. Traditional place with an above average list at
reasonable prices; my Duvel was 3 Euros and included some crisps ( nice touch)!
Like the bottled beers lined up with their glasses as a window display.
John 7/10 visit March 2015
Traditional place off the main square. Large
beer menu with the usual Belgian suspects! I assume the mystery beer in the
Trappist’s section is Westy as it is priced between 18 and 25 Euros! Westmalle
Dubbel is 3.70 Euros.
John 7.5/10 visit November 2018
__________________________________________________________________________
Deco,
2 Torbrug, Antwepen 2000
Small place close to the
cathedral. While done out in a modern style (like the marble tables) it has a
traditional feel with a friendly barman and clientele. Small bar list but
strong on lambics: I had Boon Kriek on draught at 2.60 Euros. Nice place.
John 8.5/10 visit March
2015
Still with the marble tables and Lambic menu.
A Boon Kriek was 3.30, but I had a
draught Westmalle Tripel at 3.80 Euros.
John 8/10
visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Den Engel, 1 Grote Markt, Antwerpen 2000
Second bar of the two ' Engels '!Very busy
but other pub was packed! Ghastly 'cool' jazz and soul music did not impress
me! But good service and prices. VERY un-amusing toilet arrangements;- I don't
mind them being together but expect a door on the gents' part!
Sue 7/10 visit Feb 2001
Two bars next to each another, the first
bar was crowded so we went into the second one. Interesting paintings on the
wall, A tourist walk of Antwerp has managed to find its way in here tonight;
will the tour guide get them out? During the weekend full of tourists, but
weekdays it becomes a locals' place. Good atmosphere. Interesting Belgian
toilets!
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
Like the Oud Arsenaal this
pub is crowded on a Saturday afternoon with a lot of atmosphere; unlike the Oud
Arsenaal I manage to find a seat! Large traditional pub which is mainly full of
locals. Like some Antwerp pubs in this guide maybe not a great beer range (mind
you even the worst beer range in Belgium does have some good trappists or
Duvel), but another pub with a good atmosphere.
John 7.5/10 visit Nov 2010
Nice to see such a
traditional place in the touristy Grote markt. This is my first time on this side of the pub. Lovely
old café which looks like it’s been unchanged for years. Like the photos on the
wall, old and current. No great beer menu, 4 beers on draught and 17 bottled
beers. Had a Bolleke at 2.20 Euros, Duvel was 3.40 Euros.
John 8/10 visit
March 2015
_________________________________________________________________________
Elfde Gebod, 10 Torfburg ( 11th commandment ),
Antwerpen 2000
Web site www.elfde-gebod-antwerpen.be
Very unusual bar with church statues and
icons and cherubs dangling from the ceiling. Two storeys high and very crowded,
especially with figurines. Unusual beer ( brown ale style )-Giltenbier. Lively
bustling atmosphere.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 2001
This place is sometimes not on the tourist
maps, but if you walk around the cathedral you will find it. One of the most
original bars I have ever been into; place is full of church statues which
makes you feel like you're in a church and not a bar, especially with the
uncomfortable wooden seating and no radiators turned on! If crowded there is an
upstairs drinking area, with a impressive marble staircase.
John 9/10
visit Dec 2004
First the plus points: there
is a nice ivy covered exterior, a marble staircase and an impressive collection
of religious statues making it one the best interiors in any Belgian pub. Sadly
there are a lot of minus points; half the tables are taken up by knives and
forks, it is very expensive 4 euros for a Orval, 13.50 euros for a spaghetti
bolognaise and 2.40 for De Koninck when everywhere else is under 2 euros and,
finally, a poor beer menu. Place is half empty-wonder why? No summer tourists,
this time of year! This has never been a serious beer place-sadly less reasons
for drinkers to enjoy this place.
John 5/10 visit Nov 2010
_________________________________________________________________________
De Groote Witee Arend,
18 Reynderstraat, Antwerpen 2000
On previous visits to this
place I have not been able to get in here, because it was too crowded with
people, mainly eating food. But on a cold November day I have no trouble
getting a table this time! No bar area, but it is okay to have a beer at the
table. A close look at the food menu shows a beer theme in some of the meals.
There is a nice relaxing atmosphere with candles on the table, classical music
in the background and beer memorabilia on the wall. My Hopus beer came with
nibbles; nice touch! On a trip upstairs to the toilets I found more seats and
tables ( must make a note for next visit!). Nice courtyard entrance like the
Waagstuk.
John 8/10 visit Nov 2010
Still the same classy
place with classical music in the background. Still okay just to have a beer
especially as the place half empty on a Monday afternoon. Friendly waiter
service. I had a Rochefort 6 at 3.50
Euros, Bolleke was 2.70 Euros.
John 8.5/10 visit March
2015
_________________________________________________________________________________
Gollem
28 Suikerrui, Antwerpen 2000
Web
site- http://www.gollem.be/
The first Gollem in
Belgium. This cafe which is close to the Cathedral, has a great beer choice with
30 taps on draught and hundreds of bottled beers mainly from Belgium and the
Netherlands. Décor is mainly wood, but it has a nice white ceiling and
chandeliers. Friendly bar service on a busy Friday evening. Had a Westmalle
Dubbel on tap at 3.80 Euros.
John 10/10 visit March
2015
Love this place. A great beer menu with 30
beers on tap, Trappist beers from around the world and an interesting list of
Belgian bottled beers. They also do burgers. I had a hard to find Dutch
Trappist Zunbert at 6.70 Euros. Good waiter service.
John 9.5/10 visit November 2018
__________________________________________________________________________
Highlander,
21 Stadswaag 21, Antwerpen 2000. New address.
Web
site- http://users.telenet.be/cafehighlander/
New location for this
pub, but with the same format and décor.
Nice pub with a good cosy atmosphere and a good range of malts, as you
might expect. There is a cellar bar and
a first floor drinking area as well. Trappist beers were 3.50 to 4.60 Euros,
had an Orval. It is good there is a pub
close to the Waagstuk now.
John 9/10 visit March
2015
Highlander, 2 Pieter van Hobokenstraat, Antwepen 2000. Old address.
Nice cosy place with a Scottish theme.
It's a little cold outside, so it's nice to come into a warm cosy pub. Run by
an Anglo-Belgian couple who change languages effortlessly! The pub does have
some Scotch ales McEwans and Gordons strong red, as well as Belgian bottled
beers. As you expect it has a good range of Scottish malt whiskies. Guest beer
is John Smith's keg, I wonder what clan he belongs to!!
John 8/10
visit Dec 2004
I really like this pub,
unlike a lot of Irish pubs in Belgium which are large and showing sports on TV.
This Scottish pub is cosy and quiet with an under-stated Scottish theme
including tartan curtains! As well as 120 whiskies on the menu, at the back of
the menu is a whiskey tasting menu with 4 malts for 16 euros. They have just
opened a terrace. Opening hours are
John 8/10 visit Nov 2010
_________________________________________________________________________
Huisbrouwerij Pakhuis, 76 Vlaamsekaai,
Antwerpen 2000
Antwerp’s only brew pub
which is about a 25 minute walk south of the city centre, the number 8 tram
terminal is in a parallel road. Very large and spacious for a Belgian pub with
a modern décor of glass doors, exposed brick wall, and copper brewing vessels
which are impressive. The Antwerp blond was 2.20 euros and served with nibbles. Sadly, like a lot of
other Belgian brew pubs the beer was average.
John 7.5/10 visit Nov 2010
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Cafe de Klok, 134 Pelikaanstraat, Antwerpen 2018.
Last cafe of the night is traditional cafe (as
in drink and no food), close to Central station. The cafe looks like it’s been
refurbished recently, as everything new and shining. Not too busy, some locals
are watching Belgium version of Dancing with the Stars. A De Konnick was 2.15
Euros. Closed Saturday.
John 7/10 visit November 2018
____________________________________________________________________
Kulminator, 32 Vieminckveld, Antwerpen 2000
Very impressed with the plants covering
the windows , the fresh roses on the tables, and the old tree in the centre of
the room. Abbey van t' park-great blonde beer- and selection is huge. Lovely
curved bar area, and every part of the bar full of interest-with hanging beer
decorations, pamphlets, pictures, glasses everywhere.
Sue 9.5/10 visit Feb 2001
A well-decorated bar, a little way out of
the centre, but beer lovers manage to find it-maybe because there are well over
500 beers on the menu! Reading the beer menu takes a fair bit of time; choosing
a beer takes even longer! Classical music in the background, the perfect place
to chill out. Bet you can't have just one beer. Look at the bottled beers in
the windows, on the way to the loos. The pub cat is called Arnold. Watneys
Christmas beer from 1981 is on the menu for 4 euros, but no takers! Excellent
bar service from the couple behind the bar. Great place. Like Arnie 'I will be
back'.
John 10/10 visit Dec 2004
Review based on two visits,
the first on a crowded Saturday night and second on a quiet Tuesday night. Both
were enjoyable visits in their own right. A great beer menu which has swung
towards aged bottled beers which keep the UK and US beer geeks happy! The
owners are a little like Basil and Sybil Fawlty; she smiling and keeping the
customer happy, him grumpy and with no customer service skills. I know two
English people who spoke good Flemish to him, but he replied back in English! They are great to
watch. Great beer served in a great
atmosphere what more can you ask for? One of the great pubs of the world.
John 10/10 visit Nov 2010
Another great visit.
This is a very bewitching place where you can get lost in time. Visited on a
Monday evening at 2000 hours and before I knew it was midnight. Still with the
classical music and plants. Good mix of beer geeks to talk to, from Greece,
Sweden, Vietnam, USA and even Antwerp!
While some of the aged bottled beers are expensive there are some
reasonable priced beers on the menu.
John
10/10 visit March 2015
This place has not lost any of its charm for
me. One of the first in at 1600 hours (how sad!). There are current beers on
the beer menu, if you are not interested in aged beers, but if you want to find
out what a Orval in 2003 tasted liked, here is your chance! Only 3 beer menus,
so the it might take a while for the menu to get to you! Had a
Pannepeut 2013 at 6.50 Euros.
John 10/10 visit
November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Miniatuurke, 11 Oude Koornmarkt,
Antwerpen 2000
A pub which lives up to its
name, not much bigger than some people’s front room! Luckily for me at 1700 on
a Saturday there are only 5 people in the pub so it is not too crowded!! As you
might expect some nice individual touches including a goldfish in a massive
beer glass on the bar! Not a great beer range but a nice pub none the less.
John 7/10 visit Nov
2010
Closed
in March 2015, but the sign outside said they are opening soon.
Last time I visited the cafe was being
refurbished, now I can see the results. They have done a good job, trouble is
it doesn’t make the cafe any bigger! Friendly Italian owner who doesn’t speak
much English or Flemish, but his wife does! De Konnick is 3 Euros.
John 8/10
visit November 2018
___________________________________________________________________________________
Oud Arsenaal, 4 Maria Pijpelinckstraat, Antwerpen 2000
Wonderful unspoilt boozer in a busy part
of town, with a market outside. Catering for the locals and not the tourist.
The décor is basic with the walls full of mainly beer memorabilia , but the
atmosphere is good. Reasonably priced beer menu keeps everyone happy. Closes
19.30 on Saturdays and Sundays and all day Thursday. Hard to avoid jokes about
boring 1-0 wins and offside traps! ( English joke! )
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
Previous visits to this pub
have been during the week when the pub has been half empty. On a Saturday at
1600 the pub is packed, might be because it is raining and no one can drink in
the outside seating area. Good atmosphere while the majority of drinkers are
senior there is a good mix of people here. The waitress deserves credit for
ducking and diving in such a crowded bar area to get everyone’s drink. De
Kininck was 1.60 euros. Close 1730 at
weekends.
John 8/10 visit Nov 2010
Closed
on the Monday I visited in March 2015.
Still as traditional as ever. Still with the
same strange hours. Interesting range of draughts, as well as bottled beers. I
had a Orval at 3.40 Euros.
John 8.5/10 visit November
2018
________________________________________________________________________
Paters'
Vaetje, 1 Blauwmoezelstraat, Antwerpen 2000
Crowded, lively bar with balcony seats
overlooking chandelier and busy bar area. Pretty bar signs round the walls.
Large mirrors, treacherous looking stairs! Leffe Blonde sampled. Rather naff
music.
Sue 7.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Small café near cathedral which was very packed
when we visited. Managed to get a seat in the upstairs balcony area, with a
nice view looking down onto the bar. Stairs not easy to get up. Well over a 100
beers served. Stove to keep us warm in the winter.
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
The first time I walked by this cafe it was crowded, so I went to
do a few more pubs. Back 2 hours later it is still crowded but I manage to get
a seat. This pub is at the front
entrance of the cathedral with a good atmosphere at the time of visit,
impressive marble tables to drink your beer on. Beer menu is big, but there are
no real surprises even if the prices are reasonable. De Koninck is 1.90 euros
here, at the Elfde Gebod 50 meters away it is 2.40 euros, might be why this pub
is packed with locals and the Elfde Gebod is not!
John 8/10 visit Nov 2010
Still the same. Despite
being close to the cathedral it still keeps its character and a good beer list.
Had a St Bernardus Trippel at 4.60 Euros.
John 8.5/10
visit March 2015
Always popular cafe next to the cathedral, not
for the first time I have had to come back later for a seat. I had a Hopus at
4.40 Euros.
John 8.5/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
De Pelgrim, 15 Pelgrimstraat, Antwerpen 2000
Interesting and original place, in an old
building. You walk in, you see a big fireplace and toilets. Go down the stairs
to a brick cellar, it's almost like a cave! The atmosphere is romantic helped
by the candle light. In December, with only two other couples around it's okay
to have a beer, but I am not so sure when it's busier. Because of the candle
light it's hard to read the beer menu and the prices, but maybe that’s the
idea!
John 8/10
visit Dec 2004
_________________________________________________________________________
Pelikaan, 14 Melkmarkt, Antwerpen 2000
A good locals pub in front
of the cathedral; good to see a pub like this doing well in such a tourist
area. No great range like Paters Vaetje, but it does have Westmalle Dubbel on
draught and a reasonably priced beer menu which puts the nearby Elfde Gebod to
shame! A small place nothing fancy here, but a good atmosphere none the less.
No food served so smoking allowed here, which might scare a few more tourists
off!
John 7.5/10 Nov 2010
Good to see this
small cafe is still a good locals place. Bolleke was 1.90 Euros- the cheapest I
found in Antwerp.
John 7.5/10 visit March
2015
Still a good locals pub close to the
cathedral. Draught beer range was above average, something I not notice on my previous
visits. I still had a Bolleke at 2.70 Euros.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
______________________________________________________________________________
Quinten
Matsijs, 17 Moriannstraat, Antwerpen 2000
First visit to this
café, on previous visits the place was closed.
Down a back street to the North of the cathedral. This café has been
open since 1565 and is the oldest café in Antwerp. If there was a mark for
history and tradition, this place would get a 10; sadly it is let down by its
beer list with only 3 Trappist beers! ( How hard can it be to put some good
beers in a fridge, most Belgium cafes manage it!) Décor reminds me of the Au
Bon Vieux Temps in Brussels, with etched-glass windows, wooden floor and
leather seats. Had a Bolleke at 2.10 euros. Nice pub, shame about the beer!
John 8/10 visit March
2015
________________________________________________________________________________________
Roden Coninck, 31 Vlasmarkt, Antwepen 2000
Interesting café with lots of character.
Dangling spiders etc spin when door opens! Average beer selection. Sports
trophies, fish tank and laid-back atmosphere - complete with hippy! Very
friendly feeling.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Nice old café with older clientele, who
give this place a nice friendly atmosphere on a Saturday evening. When the door
opens a spider spins around, surprising the visitors and amusing the locals!
Not a great beer menu, but makes up for it in atmosphere.
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
Sadly
now closed.
_________________________________________________________________________
Stamineeke,
23 Vlasmarkt, Antwerpen 2000
A small candlelit street-side café with an
excellent friendly atmosphere. Good service and attractive collection of
mirrors, signs ( and obscure dice game ) Not impressed by Blues music, but John
is! Or the 'experimental' jazz!
Sue 7.5/10 visit Feb 2001
From the outside, this place looks like a
restaurant, but inside there are lots of beer posters, bottles, brewery mirrors
etc and plenty of beer drinking by the patrons. Candles, checked tablecloths
and blues music ( which annoyed the mouse ) adds to the good atmosphere.
John 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Sadly
now closed.
_________________________________________________________________________
Uilenspiegel, 27
Suikerrui, Antwerpen 2000
Nice place across from the Gollem. Small bar
area inside, large drinking area outside with lots of heaters on, there are
lots of people drinking outside, albeit with their hats and clothes! A Rochfort
6 was 4 Euros. Closed on Tuesday.
John 7/10 visit November 2018
________________________________________________________________
De Vagant, 21 Reynderstraat, Antwepen 2000
Web site http://www.devagant.be/EN/tussenpagina.html
A cosy café which specialise in genever,
which creates a special atmosphere. Lively locals' atmosphere on a Monday.
Belgian genever is a little different from Dutch, so give it a try. Young cat
on the table, who knows already how to play cute for the customers! Classic
music in the background. Cool place.
John 9/10 visit Dec 2004
This is Antwerp’s specialist
genever café with over 200 Belgian genevers. Lovely traditional décor with a
relaxing locals’ atmosphere, with classical music in the background. Sadly
there is no pub cat on this visit. I had
a De Gent Oude Genever. Always order the old genever: the young is served cold
and is a little bland, the old is served at room temperature and is mature like
a whiskey. The friendly barman knows his
locals. No food served here, so smoking is allowed.
John 8.5/10 visit Nov 2010
Everything you
want to know about Belgian jenever is here in this place. It seems to have
every jenever in Belgium on its menu! A short beer list but this isn’t what
this place is about. Classical music and a pub cat adds to the atmosphere. Had
a Corsendonk Pater at 3.20 Euros and a 5 year Filliers jenever at 3.50 Euros.
There is a shop next door connected to the cafe (closes at 1800 hours) if you
want to take some jenever home! Nice place. Now no smoking.
John 9/10 visit March
2015
Foot Note
According to the café
menu, cafes in Belgium were forbidden to sell drinks over 22% vol until
1985.
_______________________________________________________________________
't Waagstuk, 20 Stadswaag, Antwerpen 2000
Web site http://www.waagstuk.be/
Attractive pub, dating to 1548 reached by
courtyard. Strange folk music - a cross between Irish and West Country! Good
service with extensive beer and food menu. Locals atmosphere but friendly.
Large collection of beer mugs.
Sue visit 8/10 Feb 2001
Nice old cobbled square leads to an old
courtyard outside the café, must be lovely in the summer. Atmospheric wooden
bar with jugs hanging from the ceiling. Belgian folk music playing in the
background on my last visit, this time it's jazz.! Good beer menu and bar
service. Usually I had a Joppen Hoppenbier, which is a Dutch beer. Opens from
14.00 until late. Great place.
John 9.5/10 visit Dec 2004
Love the courtyard entrance
to this pub. Nice cosy pub which is close to my hotel, so it makes a good last
stop. The pub opens until 0400 on a Saturday. Note to Daily Mail-editor there
were no drunken toss-pots at 0200 so there is no story here for you!! The pew tankards from the ceiling add to a
good atmosphere. They have a house beer called Zeppelin which was nice.
Underrated pub.
John 9/10 visit Nov 2010
Still the same charming
place, with good service and good beer. Had a XX Bitter at 3.50 Euros. Trappist
beers were 3.30 to 5.80 Euros and Bolleke was 2.30 Euros.
John 9.5/10 visit March
2015
Sadly this cafe is now closed, one of my favourite cafes in Antwerp.
________________________________________________________________
Ware Jacob,
19 Vlasmarkt, Antwerpen 2000
A nice traditional Antwerp cafe with a red
slated floor, wooden walls and old black and white photos of Jagger, Dylan and
Bardot. Good atmosphere, the background music was soft rock. Beer menu has over
100 bottled beers. I had a XX Bitter at 3.80 Euros. Opens 1800 hours Monday, 1500
hours the rest of the week.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
SOUTH AND EAST OF CITY CENTRE
Been,
26 Belpairestraat, Antwerpen 2018
The original back-street
café, small and cosy. Not a bad beer list, prices are reasonable as we are away
from the centre. Trappist beers are 3.50 to 4.80 Euros, I had a Bolleke at 2.10
Euros. Leonard Cohen is playing in the background to cheer us up! Close to De
Pelgrim.
John 7/10 visit March
2015
_________________________________________________________________________
Monbasa, 37 Moorkensplein, Antwerpen 2140
Web site http://www.cafemombasa.be/home/
It shows how popular the Cathedral area is,
that the new interesting places new beer places are opening near Central
Station. This cafe is 10 minutes to the
East of Central Station. Now I know where Antwerp young trendies go to!
Tap beers are listed above the bar has new interesting brews, but I selected a
bottle of Belgian Bitter at 4 Euros. Closed Monday, opens 1500 hours the rest
of the week.
John 8.5/10
visit November 2018
__________________________________________________________________________
De Pelgrim, 8 Boomgardstraat, Antwerpen 2018
Café next to the De Koninck brewery; it
only sells De Koninck beers on draught. At the time of my visit it had Bolleke,
Blonde and Winter on tap. All the beers were excellent as you might expect.
Unspoilt bar which looks like it hasn't changed much over the years. The front
part of the bar is non-smoking, the back is smoking. See if you can notice the
uneven bar top! Good beer, good atmosphere. A must for any serious beer
drinker.
John 9.5/10 visit Dec 2004
Since my last visit I
was worried about the makeover of this traditional place. The front is still
traditional and the back is a modern conservatory;which is not as bad as I
feared. Like the old brewery photos on the wall. What has changed is De Koninck
is now owned by Duvel, so the draught beer range is from the Duvel stable. De
Koninck Bolleke was 2.30 Euros and was good.
John 8/10 visit March
2015
The brewery is now doing tours, but this
brewery tap is well worth a visit, with the bollelle at 2.80 Euros.
John 9/10 visit November 2018
GETTING
THERE
This pub is a 25 minute walk out of town
or take the Number 7 tram southbound, from Minderbroedersrui in the city
centre.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Speciale Belge Taproom, 161 Lamorinierstraat, Antwerpen 2018.
Web site http://www.specialebelgetaproom.be/
A place which is 5 minutes’ walk from the
Pelgirms, but you need to add another 5 minutes to find it, because this place
is at the end of an alleyway with lots of building and is not very well marked!
Inside there are rows of tables and plotted planets. The beer menu is very
interesting, which is why you come to visit such an out of way place! Had a
Brussels Beer Project Wunder Lager at 4 Euros. Closed Monday and Tuesday, opens
1400 hours of the rest of the week.
John 8/10
visit November 2018
__________________________________________________________________-
BRUGES plus Emelgem and Damme
Bruges
is called ' the Venice of the North ' in the tourist brochures. Whilst not
going that far, it is the prettiest and most picturesque city in the Belgium.
Being close to the port of Zeebrugge means it gets a lot of weekend tourists
from the UK. Visited in June 2003.I have since revisited in April 2005, June
2006, July 2008, November 2009 May 2012 and May 2017. Yes I love the place! As
well as a lovely town, Bruges also has some great drinking places. A book
called ‘Around Bruges in 80 beers’ by Chris Pollard and Siobhan McGinn is well
worth seeking out. It has 80 places to drink beer in Bruges including
restaurants, beer shops and a boat! Well worth buying here is the link. http://www.podgebeer.co.uk/2009/02/around-bruge-in-80-beers-second-edition.html
On
my visit in May 2017 I manage 8 new entry’s, as it’s been 5 years since my last
visit, as well as some old favourites.
CENTRE
2be, Wollestraat 53, Bruges 8000.
Web site http://www.2-be.biz/en/index.php
Walk along the ‘beer wall’
to get to this place. The beer wall has a bottle and a glass from every Belgian
brewery in a massive glass cabinet. The small bar has a list of 6 draught beers
which you pull down from the ceiling! The bottled beers are listed above the
fridges. The small bar leads to a patio overlooking the canal; must be great in
the summer!. There tokens to use the toilets, worth a visit for the goldfish
bowl basin! Had a Golden Carolous at 3 euros. Unusual place.
John 8/10 visit May 2012
________________________________________________________________________________
@ The pub, Hallenstraat 4, Bruges 8000.
Just what Bruges needs
another pub in the centre selling over 100 bottled beers! Just joking honest! This pub opened in the summer of 2008. Pub
is down the right hand road
along Belfly as you are facing the Grote Markt. It is set back from the street
with an outside drinking area at the front.
The pub has modern décor
with comfortable seats and sofas, but is still building the beer memorabilia on
the walls. While there are over a 100 beers
on the menu, there are very
few surprises and prices are expensive. Opens from 1700 hours Friday to Monday
and 1900 hours the rest of the week.
John 8/10 visit Nov 2009
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bargeehuis,
2 Bargeweg, Bruges 8000
A beer café just inside central Bruges,
which is child friendly. The garden at the front has a sand pit and various other
things to kept the children amused. Inside there are more toys including some
cuddly teddy bears. For us adults, there is a good beer menu and a range of
Glenmorangie malt whiskeys on the bar. Small non-smoking area, definitely a
place with a different.
John 8/10 visit June 2003
To get to it walk along the canal by
Bruges station heading east. Popular pub for children. As you enter there is a
sand pit in the beer garden and inside loads of teddy bears. A good selection
of single malts, beer and food. Tiled floor and beamed ceiling. The closest
cafe to the station.
Stuart 7.5/10 visit June 2003
_________________________________________________________________________
Bauhaus, Langestraat 133/137, Bruges 8000.
Web site
http://www.bauhaus.be/
This bar is part of a
hostel, so there are a fair number of young backpackers in here tonight,
creating a noisy atmosphere. Décor
includes a interesting clock above the bar, as well as lovely old chandelier
and some floodlights over the bar. The beer list has a strong section of
trappist beers.
John 7/10 visit May 2012
______________________________________________________________________________________
Bierproeverij Cafe Cambrinus, Philipstockstraat 7, Bruges
8000
Formerly The Bier Tempel bottle shop, this place is now part of
Cambrinus café ,which is down the road. This is a bar which specialises in
draught beer, with over 20 beers on tap. Which is not a bad idea for
Belgium, as most Belgian cafes tend to
specialise in bottled beers. Trouble is, whilst the range is okay, it is not exactly exciting. Modern décor with beer
theme tables. Like the beer glass light bulbs!
Had a St Bernards Tripel at Ł3.25 Euros. Closed on Tuesdays.
John 8/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________
Bourgogne des Flandres, Kartuizerinnenstraat 6, Bruges 8000
Web site http://www.bourgognedesflandres.be/en
Bruges
has had two new breweries since my last visit in 2012. This brewery is right in
the city centre. There is a separate bar which backs on to a canal- side
terrace, which is doing great business on a hot day like today. The beer from
the brewery is a sour red beer ( at 3.20 Euros), which might not be to a lot of
people’s taste, if not there are also 4 other regular beers on draught and 2
seasonal draughts. Opening hours are
1000 to 1800 hours, except on Monday when it is closed.
John
9/10 visit May 2017
Foot
Note
Bruges
other new brewery is Fort Lapin, Koolkerkse Steenweg 32, Bruges 8000. It is
just outside the city ring road and is open Friday and Saturday afternoons. http://fortlapin.com/en/
_____________________________________________________________________
Bruges Beer Musuem, Breidelstraat 3, Bruges 8000
This bar is separate from the Bruges Beer Experience Museum; I didn’t go
into the museum part. There are 16 beers on draught but most of it was
mainstream. Had a Rodenbach Grand Guru at 2.50 euros. Lots of beer memorabilia
on the walls going up the stairs. This place is okay but seems to be lacking
something? Opening hours are 1000 to 1700 hours.
John 7/10 visit May 2017
________________________________________________________________________
Brugse Beertje,
5 Kemelstraat, Bruges 8000
Web site www.brugsbeertje.be
Well-known and loved by beer hunters (
Michael Jackson photo on wall! ). Collection of beer trays and unusual
paintings of brewing industry also on wall. Excellent beer menu - tried Straff
Hendrik and Hellekapelle. Classical background music.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 2001-
Wonderful place with an awesome list of
Belgium beers. Nice laid-back atmosphere with classical music. Lots of beer
memorabilia all around the place, including a photo of God - ( Michael Jackson
the beer writer ) with the owners above the fireplace. Open from 16-00 every
day except Wednesday, when it is closed. Great place.
John 10/10 visit June 2003
A world classic. Vast range of beers and
photos of Michael Jackson (the beer writer) on the wall. Small and busy inside.
It opens at 4.00 and by 5.00 it was packed. Serves excellent food.
Stuart 9.5/10 visit June 2003
Revisited John
What a pub. I have visited this pub many
times, and every visit is memorable. Yes it's overrun by tourists, but it's
great to see mainstream beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers taking a chance on
great Belgian beers and enjoying it. Great atmosphere chances are, you will
comparing beers with the people on the table next to you. Run with TLC by Daisy
and staff who offers excellent service. On one visit, the pub open at 16-00
hours, in 20 minutes the front two bars are full. If full go through the toilet
door, which is mark Bruges Beertje 2 there's another bar. This was full up in
45 minutes. Don't panic, people do move on after a while, but not us beer
hunters who have found beer heaven! A Bruges beer institution, no a Belgium
beer institution, no a world beer institution. Get the picture, I love the
place!!!
John 11/10 visit April 2005, June 2006,
July 2008, Nov 2009 and May 2012
My first visit since Daisy retired. Everything is still the same; beer menu, décor, atmosphere and classical
music. Let’s hope the new owners have heard of the phrase, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. A bottle of De Ranke XX
Bitter was 3.50 Euros. Opens 1600 hours, closed on Wednesdays.
John 10/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
Cambrinus, 19 Philipstockstraat, Bruges 8000
Web site www.cambrinus.eu
An old building
just off the main square, which in March 2006 opened as a beer café. Décor is upmarket including brass lights, bar
stools and wood panelling walls. The café as an amazing 400 beers on its menu.
Which gives you a great choice to find your ideal rare beer! Service was good, but café needs to have a
lived in feel. But off to a good start.
John 9/10 visit
June 2006
This
pub is now getting more of that lived in feeling. It is as modern as the Brugse
Beertje is traditional. According to one friend the décor is shades of
Wetherspoons, while I see what he means, the atmosphere is totally
different. The barman was very
knowledgeable.
John
9.5/10 July 2008
Still the same. Waitress may
have served one too many tourists! De Ryck Steenulke was 3.25 euros and Hopus
was 3.80 euros.
John 9/10 visit May 2012
Busy for a Monday night. Still with the large
telephone directory beer menu! I had a Waterloo Tripel at 4 Euros.
John 9/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Curiosa, 22 Vianmingstraat, Bruges 8000
Web site www.curiosa-brugge.com
Candle-lit 16th century cellar
bar with various niches containing flowers, bottles and an interesting
religious icon. Bar has arches and pillars through it like a church. Good
service and complimentary snacks-corned beef and radishes. Corsendonk Agnus in
good condition.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Atmospheric 16th century cellar
bar with nice lighting effects as well as candles on the tables, also
interesting gothic statues. May be a little food-orientated, but a nice place
to have a drink from their beer menu. On my last visit cheese was server with
my beer, now mouse-like!
John 8.5/10 visit June 2003
A dangerous bar to get into, with very
steep steps. As you enter the dark interior its seems pitch black. In fact it
took 5 minutes for my eyes to adjust in the cellar, which is lit by candles. It
has brick arches. A good range of bottled beer.
Stuart 8/10
visit June 2003
_________________________________________________________________________
Delaney’s Irish Pub,
Burg 8 Bruges 8000
Web site- http://www.delaneys.be/
Large
upmarket Irish pub with wood panelled
walls and a cosy atmosphere. Surprisingly, with Bruges so full of
tourists, this pub is only 1 of 2 Irish pubs. The pub has a fair range of
Belgian bottled beers; I had a bottle of Orval which was 4.20 Euros. For the
record a pint of Guinness was 6.50 Euros. This is the place for you to go to
watch Premiership football.
John
7/10 visit May 2017
_____________________________________________________________________
Dickies, 16 Vrijdagmarkt, Bruges 8000
A café on a busy square. Modern red décor
with a pleasant atmosphere to the place. Collection of beer bottles up on the
sleeves, as well as old photos of Bruges on wall. Good selection of beer
memorabilia all around, plus a '15 reasons why a beer is better than a woman!'
poster.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2003
Small café by a square with fountains.
Front and rear bars serve food. A gas grill at the back for cooking. The orange
walls are unusual.
Stuart 7.5/10
visit June 2003
_____________________________________________________________________________
Duvelorium. 1 Markt, Bruges 8000
Web site https://www.historium.be/en/duvelorium#
The
cafés in Markt tend to be for the tourists, but this one is different. This
place is a separate part of the Historium
Museum. It is on the first floor with a balcony overlooking Markt, with
a great view to people watch below. It is own by Duvel, so can drink beers from
the Duvel range of breweries, but it would be rude not to have a Duvel at 4.50
Euros. Opens daily 1000 to 1800 hours.
John
8.5/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
De Brugse Beerkaai, 9 Nieuwstraat, Bruges 8000
Home brew pub on side of canal. Had Brugse
Blond again-lovely beer! Restaurant bar, but food part closed down. Chequered
tablecloths and 'cool' music! But liked friendly atmosphere and locals were in.
Warm, comfortable feel, candle-lit.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Home brew pub of the Bruges Blonde
brewers. Lots of different rooms and places to drink. Sadly the best view of
the canal is taken up by the restaurant area. Brewery is to the right as you
walk in. Lots of modern wood panelling and lighting, a little bit yuppie by
Belgian standards but a nice pub none the less.
John 8.5/10 visit June 2003
A brew pub come restaurant with a range of
4 beers. Wooden interior with glass display cases. The pub is right by a canal.
It also does tapas for those who like to snack.
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003
Sadly
now closed, on my visit in April 2005
_________________________________________________________________________
De Belleman, Jozef
suveestraat 22, Bruges 8000.
An welcoming cosy pub which
is only 5 minutes walk from the busy fish market. There are tankards hanging
from the bar with water jugs and smoking pipes around the pub. The draught beer
is Primus with a few interesting bottled beers on the menu. This pub has a good
back street atmosphere with friendly barmaid and locals.
John 8/10 visit Nov 2009
Remember this place from
last time, close to the centre but with reasonable prices. The lasagne was 7.50
euros and the Orval was 3.50 euros. Good bar service, nice café.
John 7/10 visit May 2012
Le Cerveza, Langestraat 54, Bruges 8000
While only 5 minutes away
from Brug, this is a locals café. An average beer list, but the price of a good
bottled beer here is 3.00 euros instead of 3.50 euros in the city centre. Noisy
but friendly local was trying to help me select my beer- he wanted me to drink
Chimay.
John 6/10 visit May 2012
________________________________________________________________________________________
Erasmus, 15
Wollestraat, Bruges 8000
Web site www.hotelerasmus.com
A unlike place for a good beer café. A
small upmarket hotel bar, done out in modern décor. Half the place for eating,
half for drinking. A good beer menu and 9 beers on draught makes this a
excellent place. Friendly bar service as well.
On each visit the owner has taken a keen interest on the beer I was
drinking. Never judge a book by its
cover! How many pubs have automatic doors?
John 8.5/10 visit June 2006
An hotel bar selling a wide range of
bottled and draught beer, including Chimay and Augustina. There is a rear
courtyard and main bar by the front door. A nice touch is the small bowl of
peanuts served with the beer.
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003
The
entrance has been moved, but apart from this nothing has changed too much.
There are 10 beers on draught; none of them are mainstream beers. I try a Bush Blonde. While owner was in the
background, the waiter was very knowledgeable.
John
8.5/10 visit July 2008
_________________________________________________________________________
Estaminet,
5 Park, Bruges 8000
Pub across the
road from a park which is a little of the tourists track, while still in the
centre of town. Outdoor drinking area at the front, ideal for today which is
heat wave weather. TV inside showing World Cup football. Average beer range.
The low ceiling gives the café a cosy feel.
John 8/10 visit June 2006
Flore,15 Hauwerstraat, Bruges 8000
A pub with wonderful naff
décor, which includes the following
things; flowered wallpaper, plastic tablecloths, old albums, paintings, pink
walls and an old birdcage. As there is no food served here the pub is smoky.
Most of the people in the pub are around the bar. Just east of t’Zand, there is
a market outside which adds to the atmosphere.
John 7/10 visit Nov 2009
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gare, 1 de Garre, between 12 and 14 Breidelstraat, Bruges
8000
Wonderful old café down an alley.
Approaching the building you feel like you are going somewhere special, and you
are. It's small and cosy downstairs, there is also a upstairs drinking area if
crowded. Original beams and brick walls makes is lovely place, worth visiting
alone , but the good beer menu is a welcome bonus. Great place.
John 9.5/10 visit June 2006
Stunning café down a tiny alley serving a
massive range of beers. Its intimate inside and has old brick walls adorned by
jenever bottles. I had an incredible Lindemans peach beer on draught - best
eaten with custard !
Stuart 8.5/10 visit June 2003
On this visit I
am up on the top floor for the first time. There is no bar on this floor, so
the waitress is kept fit going up and down the stairs every five minutes or so!
No mainstream beers here, only an impressive list of good Belgian beers.
Pricing is a little strange with Bush 12 (the strongest beer in Belgium) only
2.75 Euros, with less strong beers more expensive! Food is only light snacks.
This old building creates a lovely atmosphere. Cheese served with your beer.
John 9.5/10
visit July 2008
Still as civilised as ever!
Looks like a restaurant, but just serves classy Belgian bottled beers on trays
with cheese. Prices vary: not a one size fits all place. One of Bruges best
cafes: if busy come back in a few hours.
John 9.5/10 visit May 2012
Still with the classical music, still with the cheese cubes with the
beer, still with the good service and still a classic café, Beware; the house
beer is 11.5%, but lots of people seem to be drinking it! I had a Maredsous 8
at 4.25 Euros.
John 9.5/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
Graeneburg,
Markt, Bruges 8000
Attractive café on main square- rather
expensive but nice interior. Brightly lit, in contrast to previous café, but it
improved the friendly atmosphere. Log bench-style tables, but window ones look
out onto life in the square; floodlit at night. Chandelier lights and stained
glass windows. A warm, friendly bar.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 2001
A big café on the main square, a good
place to look out onto the impressive buildings in the square and people-watch!
Any place on the square is going to be tourist orientated and not full of
locals, but this place seems more into drink than food, and has a pleasant
atmosphere.
John 8/10
visit Feb 2001
_________________________________________________________________________
Halve Maan, 26 Walplein, Bruges 8000
Web site www.halvemaan.be
Home of the Straffe Hendrik brewery. There
are brewery tours on the hour during its opening hours, between 10-00 and 18-00
hours. An nice courtyard entrance is a great place to drink on a hot summers
day. Inside is upmarket, but pleasant with a nice collection of beer bottles
all around the place. The blonde and brown Staffe Hendrik beers are nice drinks
as well.
John 8/10 visit April 2005
You enter by a cobbled court yard with a
half covered seating area. Brewery tours are available. Inside is further
seating area for beer and food. Full of inquisitive visitors taking the hourly
brewery tour. The two beers, a blonde and brun are very drinkable.
Stuart
8.5/10 visit June 2003
The beers were contracted
out, but the Bruges Zot which is seen around the city is brewed here, making
this brewery the only one in Bruges.
John visit July 2008
Previous visits to this
place I have been drinking in courtyard. This time I did the brewery trip,
which is 6.50 euros and includes a drink in the bar at the end. Which might
explain why when I have previously been drinking in the courtyard, the bar is
full of people getting their free drink! The tour is round the old part of the
brewery; it also takes you up on the roof giving you some great views of
Bruges. The tour guide was very good. Bruges Zot is 3 euros if you do not want
to do the tour.
The beers were contracted
out, but the Bruges Zot which is seen around the city is brewed here, making
this brewery the only one in Bruges.
John visit July 2008
Previous visits to this
place I have been drinking in courtyard. This time I did the brewery trip,
which is 6.50 euros and includes a drink in the bar at the end. Which might
explain why when I have previously been drinking in the courtyard, the bar is
full of people getting their free drink! The tour is round the old part of the
brewery; it also takes you up on the roof giving you some great views of
Bruges. The tour guide was very good. Bruges Zot is 3 euros if you do not want
to do the tour.
John 8.5/10 visit May 2012
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Holland
Vismijit, 4 Vismarkt, Bruges 8000
A locals pub
next to the fish market which today (being Sunday) is being used to sell books
etc. This remains a true locals pub
because it doesn’t sell food. All credit to the owner for keeping the pub this
way; when he could make easy money selling food in this location. Tour de France is on the TV with the volume
low. Karaoke background music with Glen Miller, Elvis and Little Richard.
Average beer list with 30 or so bottled beers, which are reasonably priced with
no bottled beer over 3 Euros. Good atmosphere, enjoyable visit.
John 8.5/10 visit July 2008
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jerry’s Cigar Bar, Simonstevin Square
13, Bruges 8000.
Web site- www.jerrycigarbar.com
It is always
good to drink in somewhere which is a little different, and this is a case in
point. A cigar shop which has most of its space taken up by an upmarket bar.
There are glass cabinets along the walls which are taken up by Scotch whiskey
bottles, tobacco and, of course, cigars. The beer menu is short and mainstream
except for Kwak and Karmelliet, but there is an impressive malt whiskey list.
Smoking is allowed, of course! Opening hours are on the web site.
John 7.5/10 visit Nov 2009
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Kleine
Nachtmuziek, 60 Sint Jakobsstraat, Bruges 8000
You know this
place is going to be a little different, when you see the empty bottles and
cases of malt whiskies displayed in the window. Inside there are two pianos,
candles on the table, Guinness posters and an old guitar! Menu is in a lever arch file and includes a
history of Irish coffee, as well as a impressive beer list which has Roman
beers are the house beers and a great choice of Scottish malt whiskies. An
eccentric sort of pub with a laid-back atmosphere. Open from 1800 hours, closed Wednesday. A
great place.
John 9/10 visit
July 2008
CAFÉ IS NOW
CALLED VOLKSCAFE-SINT JAKOBS. SEE REVIEW BELOW
Volkscafe-Sint
Jakobs 60 Sint Jakobsstraat, Bruges 8000
This café changed its name since my last visit; I review it under the
name Kleine Nachtmuziek. The empty
Whiskey cases have gone but its looks pretty much the same. This is now a
locals’ place with live local music and
album covers on the wall. Like the budgie in the cage at the end of the bar.
This café does Roman beers on draught, which is rare for Bruges, but I had a
Orval at 4 Euros. Closed Thursday, opens 1100 hours most days, but closes at
around 2000 hours, except Friday and Saturday.
John 8/10 visit May 2017
Foot note.
Got talking to the friendly barman, who was the barman at the Bruge
Beertje for Daisy’s last 9 years. He told me some funny stories about the Bruges beer scene.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kluiver, 12
Hoogstraat, Bruges 8000
From the
outside this place looks like a restaurant. While it does do snacks it is okay
to have a drink in here! The name of the pub comes from a sail from a sailboat;
hence the sail on the ceiling and nautical theme. Exposed brick and candles on
the tables add to the laid-back atmosphere of the place. Not a great beer list,
but it covers all the bases. Friendly locals at the bar. Closed on Tuesday and
Wednesday, opens 1600 hours other days, except on Thursday at 1800 hours.
John 7.5/10
visit July 2008
NOW CLOSED
De Kelk, 69
Langestraat, Bruges 8000
Web site http://www.dekelk.be/
A small pub on
the road which is going away from the main square. Outside the pub a bike race
is going on, with the road shut down to cars. The locals are outside cheering
the riders. The friendly locals told me they organised this to annoy a local
yuppie who wants to close down the pub and everything on the road. The décor
inside is dark gothic, with a good atmosphere. The beer list was great with
some old favourites on it. The barman had a Westvleteren 12 for special
occasions. I visited this pub at the
right moment. Opens 1700 hours: closed on Monday.
John 9/10 visit
July 2008
Good atmosphere last time I
visited here. This visit was later in the evening, good atmosphere in this
Belgian brown café, with low lighting and soft music. Good beer list,
especially if you like the lambic beers.
John 8.5/10 visit May 2012
Had heard this place was closed, so it’s good to see it still open. The place has had a makeover since my last
visit; the bottled list is down to 40
odd beers and it now has a cocktail list. There are a lot of locals here, which
is good to see. Looks like the Est since 1909 on the windows means something. A
Viven Smoked Porter was 3.80 Euros. Closed Sunday and Monday, opens 1500 hours
the rest of the week.
John 7.5/10 visit May 2017
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Kuppe,
Kaiperstraat 19, Bruges 8000
Web site www.dekuppe.be
Menu claims it does 100 kinds of beers. A
good section of Bruges breweries on draught, but the beer menu is mainly
mainstream beers. Modern décor with black beans, wooden ceiling and lots of bar
stool seating. Unlike a lot of pubs in Bruges, this one doesn't do food. Looks
like they are still working on the beer memorabilia around the walls. Opens
14-00 hours, Saturday and Sundays.
John 8/10 visit April 2005
Still the same as last time.
Still over 100 beers. I had a Waterloo Tripel at 3.80 euros, most of the
bottled beers are that price.
John 7.5/10 visit May 2012
_________________________________________________________________________
Le Garre,
Markt, Bruges 8000
Come in by accident whilst looking for a
café, but worthwhile as it's possible to have a beer! Warm with open fire,
lovely views of the town square, and very friendly service. Bruges Blonde
excellent.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 2001
Nice upmarket café on the main square. Old
place with wood panelling, paintings on the wall and a nice fireplace. More
into food than drink , but it's okay to have a drink - at least on a week-day
in February when it's not very busy!
John 7.5/10 Visit Feb 2001
_________________________________________________________________________
Leopold, 26
t’Zand, Bruges 8000
T’Zand is where
the coaches drop the tourists off to go into centre of Bruges. So there is a
row of cafes and restaurants waiting for those people who can’t wait to eat and
drink before they go into the centre of Bruges. The Leopold is near the end of
the street and has a better beer list than most of the cafes along this street.
Not so crowded after 1900 hours when most of the coaches have gone off. Closed
on Wednesday and Thursday.
John 7/10 visit July 2008
___________________________________________________________________
La Trappiste, Kuiperstraat 33, Bruges
8000
Web site http://www.letrappistebrugge.com/
This
café is the new kid on the block, since my last visit. The café is aiming at
the craft beer market, with its own IPA list; there are also 20 beers on tap
from various countries including Goose Island and Brew Dog. In the bottled
section they have the Westervleteren beers, priced at between 12 and 14 Euros.
This a cellar bar, which is dimly-lit with candles in bottles on the table. I
like the curved brick ceiling. I had a Saison Surfin on draught at 4 Euros.
Opens daily at 1700 hours.
John
9/10 visit May 2017
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Nieuw Museum, Hooistraat 42, Bruges 8000.
You need a little luck to
find this back street local; you need even more luck to find it open! My
B&B was only a stone’s throw from this café; I visited in the evening for 4
nights running (Monday to Thursday) and only found it open at 2245 hours on
Thursday! The barman claims they are
only closed on Wednesday! Most of the diners had gone and there was time for me
to have a beer. ( Karmeliet Tripel at 3.50 euros). Nice traditional place with
a beer menu of 40 beers and a friendly owner, barman and locals! Worth visiting
if open!
John 8/10 visit May 2012
Opkikkertje,
Westgistelhof 13, Bruges 8000.
Web site www.opkikkertje.be
A back street local to the
North of Bruges centre off the beaten track, which might explain why Duvel is
2.60 euros! Only two people and me are here
on a Saturday night plus a
Labrador dog who is sitting on his cushions in the corner- how cute! The beers
are on display on a shelf to the left of the
bar. Nice place which is not
going to be full of tourists.
John 7/10 visit Nov 2009
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ovenne, 6
Braamberstraat, Bruges 8000
Friendly café not far of the central
square. Good beer menu which was big on Chimay and Corsendork, unfortunately
they seem to think having Bud on it, is a big advantage! Bit of a football
theme with various football memorabilia involving the local club, FC Bruges.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2003
Cheaper priced beer. A friendly local with
a football theme and fuseball machine. A birthday party was underway when we
were there.
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003
NOW CLOSED
_________________________________________________________________________
’Poatlersgat, Vlamingstraat 82. Bruges
8000.
Since my last visit to
Bruges. Bruges has gained two more pubs with over a 100 bottled beers. The
first is @The pub and this is the second. This pub is in the basement of a
church! Only in Belgium-must be the Trappists connection! The steep steps lead
to a lively bricked cellar bar with a marble floor. As with most cellar bars
the lighting is low, creating an intimate atmosphere. As well as having some
interesting beers on the beer menu, the beers are sensibly priced according to
strength. No waiter service here.
John
9/10 visit Nov 2009
Still the same. Had St
Bernardus Tripel which was 3.50 euros. Still no waiter service.
John 8/10 visit May 2012
Still a likeable cellar bar. It is a hot day today so they are not so
busy, as there is nowhere to drink outside. Saison Dupont was a reasonable 3.30
Euros. Opens daily at 1700 hours.
John 8.5/10 visit May 2017
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Rose Red Café, Cordoeaniersstraat 16,
Bruges 8000.
Web site http://www.cordoeanier.be/en/rosered.php
This café is a new addition
to the Bruges beer scene since my last visit. Whilst a few minutes walk from
the busy Grote Markt, this café is down a quiet back-street and in a different
world! Looks like a restaurant from the outside, but no food is served here.
Good laid-back atmosphere with ‘cool’ jazz music, candles on the table and
uniquely red roses (fake) hanging from the beams. Good beer menu which is very
strong on trappist beers; as well as this the café has 4 non- mainstream
Belgian beers on draught. The friendly
owner is glad to see you, and used to beer geeks from all over the world coming
here! There is a nice outside terrace around the back; the café is part of a
hotel (see web site). This café is off to a great start, long may it continue.
John 9.5/10 visit May 2012
Last time I was here this café was the new kid on the block; after 5
years it seems to have settled in well. Well thought out beer menu, with some
beers which are expensive and some beers which are reasonably priced. Still
with the plastic red roses on the ceiling and still popular with US beer geeks!
Fort Lapin Tripel was 4.50 euros.
John 9.5/ visit May 2017
__________________________________________________________________________
Snuffel, 47/49 Ezelstraat, Bruges 8000
Web site http://www.snuffel.be/
This is a backpackers
pub which is open to all. This means the barman is also a hostel receptionist!
The beer list of 30 beers includes the contract brew Oxfam dark and blonde.
Prices are the cheapest in Bruges, with a bottle of Duvel only 2.40 Euros,
compared to 3.20 elsewhere in Bruges. Décor is basic and boring who needs green
walls! As you might expect a good international crowd including Aussies and
Italians. Had an enjoyable visit.
John 8/10 visit
July 2008
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cafe
Stokekershis, 7 Langestraat, Bruges 8000
A pub which is
easy to pass and hopefully a lot of tourists do just that! The name of this pub
means distillery house which means it specialises in Belgian genver. While
décor is nicely olde worlde, including wood panelled walls and low lighting,
the pub does no food. Nice cosy
laid-back atmosphere. Opens 1830 hours; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
John 8/10 visit
July 2008
Still a very charming place.
A atmospheric bar makes up for an average beer list. A little out of the centre
so the prices are more reasonable with Orval and Bruges Tripel at 3.30 euros
and Jupiler at 1.80 euros.
John
8/10 visit May 2012
Nice traditional café, just a little way out of town. Mainly full of
locals and just as I remember it. No great beer list here, but as with a lot of
Belgian cafes you can always have a Trappist beer to get by. I had a Rochefort
8 at 4 Euros. Closed on Tuesday and
Wednesday, open 1900 hours the rest of the week.
John 8/10 visit May 2017
_____________________________________________________________________________
Struise
Bruges Beer Shop, Burg 15, Bruges 8000
Web
site- https://struise.com/
This
place is an off licence, but it has 3 draught beers and a table and some chairs, so I will count it as a café!
The reason people come here is because it is owned by the beer geeks’ favourite
De Suisse. There are 3 draught beers, all at 10%, 2 from De Molen and 1 from
Mikkellar. I had De Molen Barley wine at 5 Euros. The bottled beers in the shop
are not the usual Belgian suspects-they are from micro-breweries from all over
the word. This place is in a central Bruges location, but the opening hours are
1300 to 1900 hours Thursday to Saturday-strange!
John
7/10 visit May 2017
Foot
Note
The
man behind the counter told me De Suisse
are close to opening a café in Bruges soon.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
T' dreupelhuisje, 9 Kemelstraat, Bruges 8000
Wonderful geneve bar of great character,
lots of different types of geneve on the menu including lots of fruit ones!
most starting at 2 euros. Nice cosy candle-lit atmosphere, mural on the wall
involving geneve is colourful! Featuring geneve from the Cockney distillery, as
I am London born, the least I can do is drink it!
John 8.5/10 visit April 2005
Very close to the Brugs Beertje.
Specialising in geneve. Most are 2 euros. Friendly bar service and peanuts
gratis. Painting of drunken scenes on the walls with a steep staircase. Worth a
try as a warm up for the Brugs Beertje!
Stuart 7.5/10 Visit June 2003
NOW CLOSED
_________________________________________________________________________
Terrasttje,
45 Genthof, Bruges 8000
Café which is
close to the canal and has a outdoor drinking area to watch the boats go by.
Nice hideaway café in is small inside but this doesn’t stop the owners doing
good bar snacks. Not to crowded on my visit. The café had a relaxed atmosphere.
Close to the Vlissinge which is next on the list.
John 7/10 visit June 2006
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T’ Ezeltje,
118 Ezelstraat, Bruges 8000
A small narrow
pub with a low ceiling, giving it a cosy feel. There is an outside patio
drinking area at the back of the pub, which will be handy if Belgium ever gets
a smoking ban in pubs! The pub has a donkey theme, but no photos of Tony Adams
along with the other donkeys on the wall- clue any other Tony Adams jokes!! No
great beer list, but a good atmosphere. Pub is about 10 minutes walking from
the main square, on the edge of the city limits wall. Closed Tuesday, opens
1900 hours Saturday and Sunday, 1200 hours the rest of the week.
John 7.5/10 visit July 2008
________________________________________________________________________________________________
T’ Monk,
Vlamingstraat 37, Bruges 8000
Modern café with a lot of beers on draught; while most are mainstream
there are a few interesting ones like Westmalle, Chimay and La Trappe. As well
as last 3 beers, the café has a good Trappist beer list, including
Westvleteren, so the café lives up to its name! There is also a good bottled
list for local breweries. There is a pool table upstairs, unusually for Bruges.
John 7.5/10 visit May 2017
___________________________________________________________________
De Verloren Hoek, 178 Carmerstraat, Bruges 8000
Traditional
cafe on the edge of the city limits with a green and a windmill across the
road. Not too many tourists get out this way. Traditional décor including wood
panelled walls, wooden chairs and tables. Despite it being July it is cold and
wet, so the heating being on is welcome! Local beer Bruge Zot is on draught in
dark and blonde, most cafes in Bruges only have the blonde. Locally brewed Zot
is 3 Euros where nationally brewed Cristal Alken is 1.70 euros! Nice café.
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
John 7.5/10
July 2008
___________________________________________________________________________________
Vlissinghe, 22A Blekerstraat, Bruges 8000
Web site www.cafevlissinghe.be
A wonderful café established in 1515,
inside you can feel the history. Nice décor including old prints, old fireplace
and old bric-a-brac. Beer garden around the back is great for the summer. A
little of the tourist track , but well worth making the effort to find. Not a
great beer menu, but a place soaked in atmosphere. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
John 9/10 visit April 2005
A café has been here since 1515.
beautifully panelled wooded interior with a large fire place. Freezes on the
walls with scenes of time gone by. Flaking paint, studded leather chairs and a
simple beer menu. Food served till late. WC is outside and a bit too close to
the beer garden.
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003
Bar was crowded this time,
so I visited the beer garden for the first time. This garden is spacious and
has glass, unlike a lot of Bruges beer gardens. It is almost a Bavarian beer
garden!
John
8.5/10 visit May 2012
What’s not to like about Bruges
oldest café? Wise owners have left everything the same. No great beer range
here, but a great place to drink. On the beer menu there are some great photos
of the café in the 1900’s. Nice pub dog, but there is a poster up telling us
not to feed him! Fort Lapin Tripel was 3.80 Euros. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
John 9/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
Zolder, 53 Vlamingstraat, Bruges 8000
Cellar bar café, which seems to have
similar décor to the Curiosa just down the road. Dimly-lit cosy atmosphere,
with an old map of Belgian regions, as well as various beer memorabilia on the
walls. St Brenardus Tripel on draught makes for a nice bonus.
John 8/10 visit June 2003
Another cellar bar with an impressive
fireplace. The stairs are again very steep and you risk hitting your head if
you are over 5'10". Good beer selection
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003.
Another Vlamingstraat café
which is a cellar bar. A low lighting, candles on the table, wooden floor, dry
hops on the ceiling sort of place, creating a good atmosphere. Claims to be a
Blues place, which is proved true by the music being played in the
background. A ‘short but sweet’ beer
menu including Westmalle Dubbel on draught and 25 or so bottled beers,
including Hopus which seems to be the It beer in Bruges at the moment.
John 8/10 visit Nov 2009
Zwarte Kat, Balstraat 43, Bruges 8000.
A museum with a bar must be
in Belgium! The black cat museum is a museum of Bruges life throughout the
ages, with a black cat in residence. It costs 2 euros to get in. The bar is
small and atmospheric, with some reasonable prices even after your entrance
fee; a standard pils is 1.25 euros and a bottle of Steenbrugge is 2.25 euros
from the small beer list. The museum is shut Mondays and opens daily between
0930 to 1645 hours. The bar was closed between 1145 and 1400 hours during my
visit, but I came back at 1400 hours. I
did not see the black cat!
John 7/10 visit May 2012
EMELGEM
Thanks to Google map it is easy find this pub from Izegem station,
it’s only a 5 minute walk. The train ride is 30 minutes from Bruges
Kroegske,
Vijfwegenstraat 63, Emelgem, 8870
(Izegem)
Web site http://www.kroegske.be/
The Belgian pub scene has
everything unique called a hobby bar, briefly the owners have jobs during the
week and open weekend evenings (see web site for times). The décor for this pub
is wonderfully thought out with low lighting, slated floor, wood panelled
walls, dry hops, empty beer bottles and beer memorabilia on the wall-need I go
on! Also there is a fire in the winter. The beer menu is different with labels
and photos of each beer and brewery, as well as a great choice of bottled
beers, there is no draught beer. Friendly owner Danny is hoping to start
brewing soon. A great place, great pub
with great beer. Worth the effort if you a serious beer hunter, because this is
one of the best pubs in Belgium!
John 10/10 visit Nov 2009
____________________________________________________________________________________-
DAMME
Damme is a half hour boat ride from Bruges. The start point is
on the Northern outskirts of Bruges or take the 43 bus from the central main
square in Bruges. Damme is a small
village with everything centred around the Central Square.
Oude Speye,
7 Kerkstraat, Damme 8340
This place
seems to be into its food. There are some drinking tables and stools next to
the bar. This is a lovely old building
with genuine old beams going through the ceiling and some interesting paintings
on the wall. The beer list with the menu was small, althoughr beer guides claim
it has a large list. Crisps are served with the beer. Closed Monday and Tuesday
from September to June.
John 7.5/10
visit July 2008
___________________________________________________________________________________
Goldies,
18A Kerkstraat, Damme 8340
An upmarket
café which has marble table tops and wicker chairs. Oldie records are the theme
here. Vinyl records are on the walls and oldies playing in the background.
Service was slow, but it was raining outside and I wasn’t in a hurry. Whilst
crisps and peanuts were served with the beer, my beer, Orval, was 4.20 euros
making this more expensive than Bruges! Good barman, who did the waiters job.
Closed Thursday.
John 6/10 July 2008
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Cafe t’Wapen Van Damme, 23 Kerkstraat, Damme 8340
Friendly café
overlooking the main square; unlike a lot of cafes in Damme this one is not
into its food. While the beer choice was average they did have a section for
local beers. I had the Kapel viven. Wood panelled walls with photos of old
Damme. Seems very much to me to be a locals café. Beer served with nuts again!
Pub did seem to have in bit of a fly problem at the time of visit!
John 8/10 visit July 2008
BRUSSELS
CITY CENTRE
While
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and Europe, if you don't drink and enjoy the
cafes below it's probably one of the most boring cities in the world !
Brussels' road signs are in Flemish and French; the guide is using the French
road names.
Around
Brussels in 80 beers by Joe Strange and Yvan De Baets is a useful guide to have
in Brussels. You can get from this link. http://www.booksaboutbeer.com/beer-books/around-brussels-in-80-beers/
The
alleyway pub crawl
All
the pubs are down an alley and are close to each other. Start at a Le Becasse,
on to the L’Imaige de Nostre Dame, then on two doors to the Au Bon Vieux Temps.
Then on to the back entrance of the Toone which is 66 Rue Marche Aux Herbe,
passing the excellent beer shop Bier Tempel at number 56.
The city guide
is now reasonably up to date at the moment, with most cafes in the City Centre,
St Catherine’s, St Gilles and Ixelles having been visited in September 2016! A
regular draught pilsner was between 2.20 and 2.60 Euros and a bottled Trappist
beer was between 3.50 and 5.50 Euros.
In November
2018 prices in the City Centre were A regular draught pilsner was between 2.40
and 3.20 Euros on average about 3 Euros and a bottled Trappist beer was between
3.50 and 6.00 Euros on average about 5 Euros.
CITY
CENTRE
Where most of the tourists
go ! The Grand Place is very impressive; away from the Grand Place every
other shop seems to be a chocolate shop! Lots of classic Belgian cafes to
choose from!
A La
Becasse, 9 Rue Tabora, Brussel 1000
Web
site http://www.alabecasse.com/
Another old favourite with -wood-panelling
. I think the name is French for a dunlin - a wading bird. Very lively, with
singing patrons, and crowded. Extremely atmospheric.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 1999
Kreik served in stoneware jugs. Rows of
wooden tables remind me a little bit of Bamberg's rauchbier hostlery.
Stuart 8/10 visit Nov 1999
Nice old café down an alleyway with the
prices and list of beers outside. Seating in rows of wooden chairs and tables,
rather like a German beer hall which makes it atmospheric. Specialist Kreik
place, which serves it in stoneware jugs.
John 8/10 visit June 2006
A nice atmospheric pub which
has not changed since my first visit here in 1990. There is sometimes a lady in
the downstairs toilets who expects some money for keeping the toilets clean!
John
8/10 visit Nov 2010
Still the same. Love the
neon sign directing you down the alley to this place. Had a draught Timmermans
Zoete lambic at 5 Euros. 3 guys behind the bar, only 2 customers; like my
chances of getting served!
John 8/10 visit March 2015
Large cafe with not many people in on a Sunday
afternoon. Lambic Doux Timmerman in a standard earthware jug is 5.20 Euros. Old
1930’s music in the background.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Au
Brasseur, 9 Rue des Chapelier Brussel 1000
A
café in a cobbled street just off Grand Palace, prices are not too bad
considering, with all the trappist beers between 3.60 and 4.00 Euros. There are
11 beers on draught and 50 bottled beers on the menu. A lot of the bottled
beers are international mainstream (does a Dane really want to drink Carlsberg
in Belgium!) but the draught are good.
The usual beer memorabilia is around the café plus some American car
plates. Had a Waterloo Doulbed at 3.60 Euros served in a proclaim jug, another
original beer drinking vessel for Belgium. Good find.
John
9/10 visit Sept 2011
Just off the Grand Palace, this place is busy.
A large beer menu, but no real surprises. Italian football on the TV at a low
volume. A Duvel is 4 Euros and it comes with peanuts. Music is loudest I have
heard in a pub for a while.
John 7/10
visit November 2018
_____________________________________________________________
Au Soleil, 86 Rue du Marche au Charbon, Brussel 1000
A students' bar near the Halloween; very
lively and friendly, if a little basic. Pretty view onto the cobbled street, to
the church opposite.
Sue 7.5/10 visit Feb 1999
A café in the centre of the city with
reasonable prices for beer and food, which attracts a lot of students who in
turn give this place a lot of atmosphere. Beer menu is on a blackboard below
the bar; good waiter service.
John 8/10
visit Feb 2001
Still
the same as my last visit with the good students and local’s atmosphere.
Crowded with people sheltering from the rain.
John
7/10 visit Sept 2011
Still with the same Hippy/student vid. Prices are good for the city
centre, my Senne Zinnebier on draught
was 3 Euros. There are 2 Senne and 2 Chimay beers on draught. Friendly pub cat.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
_________________________________________________________________________
Au Bon Vieux Temps, Impasse St Nicolas off 12 Rue Marche
aux Herbes, Brussel 1000
A beautiful old pub in an alleyway off the
centre. Stained-glass windows and panels were stunning. Wood-panelling with
beer names on - very atmospheric. Huge fireplace with jugs and jars over it.
Lots of cosy corners. Had a locals' feel to it.
Sue 9.5/10 visit Feb 1999
The interior had bright red upholstery -
bit like a British pub. Wood panels and if you want to go to the toilets the
bar maid presses a button to let you go in!
Stuart 8/10 visit Nov 1999
Another café down a alleyway, with wood
panelling, red plastic seating around the sides, and a fireplace makes this a
little like a English pub. Friendly locals around the bar and friendly bar
service. Nice place.
John 8.5/10
visit June 2006
The secret is out, if you
want to try Westvleteren 12 and are willing to pay 10 euros, then this is where
you can drink. A nice hideaway pub, where you can forget about the troubles of
the outside world.
John 8.5/10
visit Nov 2010
Still the same. Love the
etched-glass windows. Still selling Westvletern, but had a Orval at 5
Euros.
John 9/10 visit March
2015
The beer list is getting shorter, but this
place has not lost any of its charm. Still with the Westy at 15 Euros a bottle.
I had a Orval at 5.50 Euros.
John 8.5/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Bebo,
2 Avenue de Stalingrad, Brussels 1000.
Classy café to the South of the city centre, about 5 minutes walk from
the Moeder Lambic. The café is located at the start of a tree-lined Boulevard.
Good choice of draught beers including Silly, Malher and Westmalle plus over 80
bottled beers. Had a Westmalle Dubbel at 3.50 Euros. Orval was 4.50 Euros here,
while the much stronger Rochfort 10 is 3.80 Euros!
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
Still the same. No waiter service and no
credit cards suits me! I had a Westmalle Dubbel on draught at 3.50 Euros.
John 8/10
visit November 2018
___________________________________________________________
Bier Circus, 57 Rue de l’Enseignement, Brussel 1000
Web site http://www.bier-circus.be/
Opening Hours
12-00 to 14-30 18-00 to 24-00 –Tuesday to Friday
18-00 to 24 Sat
Closed Sun and Mon
A small and unpretentious frontage, but,
inside, a café with a huge collection of beer posters and glasses. A very
friendly barman helped us choose Hellekapelle, Witkap ,Quintine, L'Abbeye de la
Bonne-Esperance , so an interesting mixture! Very good atmosphere.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 1999
Unlike most of cafes in the centre, which
are close together, this café is about 10 minutes walk from the centre and has
restricted opening hours ( see above ) but is well worth finding, for some of
the best choices of beers in Brussels. As well as a great beer menu, there are
some really nice old beer memorabilia all around this impressive cafe, and
friendly bar staff who are more than willing to help you find your perfect
beer. The reasonably priced food menu has some beer flavoured dishes. Draught
beers are 2.50 euros on last visit. Great place.
John 9.5/10 visit Dec 2003
The
café has moved literally down the road to a bigger building since my last
visit. I was worried this place was
becoming more of a restaurant, but there is a fair sized bar to the right hand
side for drinkers to enjoy the excellent beer menu, with some good beers on
draught. So the diners and the drinkers are happy. Good atmosphere on a busy Saturday night.
Worth the walk from the city centre. Hours 1200 to 1430 hours and 1800 to 2300
hours Tuesday to Friday, 1800 to 2300. Hours Saturday, closed Sunday and
Monday.
John
9/10 visit Sept 2011
Visited about 22:30 on a Wednesday evening,
last stop of the night, my hotel was nearby. No one is dining and there are
about 6 to 7 people in the bar area. I understand the surrounding area is
popular with people who work for the EU. I did not make a note of my beer!
John 9/10 visit November
2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Brew Dog, 20 Putterie,
Brussel 1000.
Web site- https://www.brewdog.com/bars/worldwide/brussels
Brew Dog pub close to Central Station. Large
place, with the clientele mainly younger. Standard Brew Dog decor and beers, I
had a Punk IPA at 4.30 Euros. A different
beer choice for compare to most places in Brussels, but I prefer the Belgian
bottled beers every time!
John 7/10 visit November 2018
_____________________________________________________________________
Le Cambridge, 37 Rue De Malines, Brussel 1000
Café to the North of the centre with a
outside drinking area. Inside is clean, but basic with very bright lights -
(unusual for a Belgian café,) which might be for the chess players! Improving
beer choice with Malheur 6 and 10. Two pinball machines by the bar.
John 7.5/10 visit April 2003
Le Cercueil, 12 Rue des Harengs, Brussel 1000
Web
site http://www.lecercueil.be/
On
a small side street to the north of the Grand Palace, this is a nice gothic
bar. Walking into the place is like walking into a cinema- it is that dark!
There are coffin tables, gothic like paintings and coffin lids on the ceiling.
The beer menu is not easy to read in the dark, and low lighting, the waiters
creeps up on you when you are reading the menu (all part of the charm) Nothing
special on the beer menu, except 4 beers from the Bush Brewery. Heavy metal
soundtrack fits in well including Hell Bells and Highway to Hell! Not as good
as the much missed Halloween. Orval was 4 Euros.
John 7.5/10 visit Sept 2011
____________________________________________________
Chez Moeder Lambic
Fontainas, 8 Place Fontainas, Brussels 1000
Web site http://moederlambic.eu/
This is the best new outlet
since my last visit to Brussels by a royal mile! As the waiter tells me he has over
46 micro beers on draught and no industrial beer here! There is a range of
guest beers from micros from Italy, Spain and Schlenkerla Rauchbeir from
Bamberg. The bottled beer section is mainly large lambic bottles. A long narrow pub with a modern décor of
exposed brick and black and white photos on the wall. Friendly staff that are
not only proud of the beers they are serving, but took time to show their
cellar to an American couple and me. They hope to have Stones from the USA and
cask beer from the UK in the future. Motto of the pub is ‘beer is the answer’
(hear, hear). Only opened a year ago but already a classic pub. Next to
Anneessens metro station.
John 10/10 visit Nov 2010
Good
to see this place this still keeping up its high standards from my first visit.
Most of beers on draught you would be by glad to get in bottles, so tasting
them in draught form is an extra bonus.
Not sure about the background rap music; serious drinking people are not
exactly your gangster rap crowd! A beer
drinker’s paradise.
John
10/10 visit Sept 2011
While a little South of the city centre,
a lot of overseas beer geeks ( me included) seem to get here. Standards
are still high and the waiters were friendly and knowledgeable. Music on my
last visit here was hip hop, tonight it is classic rock. My hotel was next door
, so one or two last drinks here! Dupont Saison Dry Hopping was 3.90 Euros.
John 10/10 visit Sept
2016
Still up to its previous high standards. Like
the beer menu sections, like Blond, Mild and Light and Blond, Bitter and
Strong. Waiter was impress with my choice of No Science Heavy Porter at 4.10
Euros, which was a nice beer.
John 9.5/10
visit November 2018
_____________________________________________________________________________
Coming Soon, 34 Place de la
Vieille Haux aux Bles, Brussels 1000.
Web
site- http://www.lecomingsoon.be/home.php
Up the hill from the Manneken Pils. The owner was a photographer and
there are photos of various current Hollywood stars at film premiers on the
wall, as well as Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin. Wasn’t open on a Sunday
when I went past, but today is Thursday.
Had a Omer at 3.90 euros.
John 7.5/10 visit Sept 2016
________________________________________________________________
Corbeau, 18 rue Saint Michel, Brussel 1000
Web site- http://www.lecorbeau.be/
This is a fairly large cafe by Belgian
standards. Decor is traditional which means lots of wood. I understand the cafe
can change from dining to a night club, but there are not many people in when I
visited at 16:50. There are a few interesting beers on draught, I had a
Westmalle Dubbel at 3.30 Euros. Classy place. Closed on Sunday.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
__________________________________________________________
Delirium, 4A Impasse de la Fidelite. Brussel 1000
Web site www.deliriumcafe.be
Down an
alleyway, which is not sometimes on the tourists maps. Go to 8 Rue De Brouches
you will find the café. Only opened recently but this cafe is already the beer
Mecca of the Belgian beer world. Most cafes all doing well if they stock 200
beers, this café has 2,000 beers, yes 2,000. All breweries in Belgium are
cover, except Westvleteren!! Lots of beers from countries all around the world,
strong on Dutch and German beers. Beer trays all over the café including the
ceiling! Makes the beer memorabilia different. Non smoking section on the
raised platform area. No waiter service,
just ask for the impressive size beer menu. The place to drink great
beer.
John 10/10
visit June 2006
This time I am in the ground
floor bar, which is less noisy and less crowded than the basement bar. Good
beer memorabilia on the walls in this bar as well. A shortage of beer menus
means you might have to wait for one. Bar staff are a little indifferent to the
beer they are selling, or maybe I have been spoilt by the staff at the Chez
Moeder Lambic Fontainas!
John 9.5/10 visit Nov 2010
The
last stop of the night. This time I am in the basement bar; it seems to have
more lighting than my previous visits or this is a lack of smoke, from
Belgium’s new smoking ban! Great beer choice as always, while crowded not as
busy as my previous visits. There are 4 barman behind the bar coping with the
customers easily on a Sunday at 2100 hours.
John
9.5/10 visit Sept 2011
The alley you go down to get to this café now has a sign saying Delirum
Village, as there are so many Delirum bars here now! I am in the original
Delirum cafe. The beer menu is as huge
as ever; some of the beers on the menu are marked Delirum choice, limited
stock and vintage. I had Saison Silly at 2.80 euros, which did not take too
long to find. Service was good for a
busy night.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2016
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Falstaff, 17 Rue Henri Maus, Brussel 1000
Web site http://www.lefalstaff.be/
Very posh place, but friendly. Many people
having a meal and we noticed several old ladies dining by themselves. Something
you don’t see in 'Blighty'.
Stuart 9/10 visit Nov 1999
This is a very high-class café/restaurant
with a nice feeling of grandeur about it, but it's perfectly okay to have a
beer or a coffee here. The beer menu is not as good as it once was. Impressive
mirrors and stained glass windows add to the atmosphere; lots of seating
outside for the summer.
John 8/10
visit Dec 2003
Only
in here for a minute left when I saw the Duvel was 4.80 Euros. Still a classy
place.
John
no mark visit Sept 2011
CAFÉ
CLOSED IN SEPTEMBER 2016. MAYBE IT’S THE PRICES!
________________________________________________________________________
Fleur en Papier d'Or, 55 Rue des Alexiens, Brussel 1000
An interesting sectioned-off café on a
hill! Café cat very cute. Nice small bar area. Hundreds of paintings and photos
on the walls.-Collection of totally random objects! Locals' atmosphere of
chatting and groups of people.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Two small rooms with one woman service.
Lots of prints on the walls.
Stuart 8.5/10 visit Nov 1999
Nice old traditional café, with lots of
different areas to drink. Various bits of old bric-a-brac all around the place
adds to the traditional feel; as do the locals and the efficient bar service.
John 8.5/10 visit Nov 1999
The
beer menu is okay here, but what this place lacks through a big beer menu it
makes up for in charm and character, both with a capital C! Just looking at the
walls and ceiling and what you can see is a genuine old brown café. I have to
say this is the perfect place to relax in. Not easy to find, up a hill on a
non-descript road but plenty of tourists find this gem, as well as the loyal
locals. On the way to the toilets you
will notice a modern extension at the back, interestingly everyone is sitting
at the old part at the front. (Wonder why!) Had Horse Ale at 2.50 Euros and
Orval at 3.70 Euros. Great Café. Café is
closed on a Monday.
John 9.5/10 visit Sept 2011
Read the history of this place in previous reviews. More tourists here
than on my previous visits. Shut on Monday and closes at 1900 hours on Sunday. Had a Hopbus at 3.90 Euros.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2016
Old favourite which was busy on a Wednesday
evening. This time I am in the new conservatory part at the back, but the place
still has a good atmosphere. A Westmalle
Dubbel was 4.30 Euros.
John 9/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
28, Gare Central
Station, Brussel 1000
Nice modern bar at the main entrance of
Central Station. At the time of my visit 15:30 the atmosphere is relaxing and
the place is surprising spacious. There are 20 beers on draught ( the beers are
above the bar). All the Trappist are here, (including Westy at between 9 and 15
Euros, if you are interest) I had a Saison Dupont at 4.50 Euros. Closed
Sundays.
John 7.5/10 visit November 2018
_____________________________________________________________
Gist, 30 Place de la Vieille Halle Aux Bles , Brussel 1000
Web site https://gistbeerandco.business.site/
Interesting new place up the hill from the
Mannkin Pils. All the brews are non-mainstream especially the draughts. Modern
decor attracting the young craft beer geeks. Expensive but the beers are
interesting! I had a No Science Fade to Glory at 4.70 Euros. Closed Tuesday, opens 1500 hours the rest of
the week.
John 8.5/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________
Halloween, 10 rue des Grand Carmes, Brussel 1000
The ultimate pub for lovers of fantasy and
horror. Huge demonic statues with lights thrown onto them have impact as soon
as you enter. Winged demons above and around bar, lit by blood-red oil lamps
set into modelled skulls. Huge paintings of fantasy characters. Enormous plants
and stone plinths contribute to the effects. The waiter is dressed as a monk!
Absolutely excellent!
Sue 10/10 visit Feb 1999
Unusual café with a large collection of
grotesque statues created by the owner. Candle-lit interior makes for an
interesting ambience.
Stuart 8.5/10 visit Nov 1999
Whilst this place is not really ' my cup
of tea ' I do find it very original and different. Dimly-lit with lights
shining on the statues and waiters dressed as 'mad' monks add to the character.
Opens at 16-00 which meant Sue the mouse was unable to get in here last time we
visited.
John 8/10
visit Nov 1999
Now sadly closed
_________________________________________________________________________
L'Imaige de Nostre Dame, Impasse des Cadeaux, 8 Rue
Marche aux Herbes, Brussel 1000
Another very pretty pub with cosy corners
and stained glass windows. Tiled fireplace with large mirror and candle style
lamps. Prints of old-time Brussels on walls. Friendly service.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Very fancy fireplace in a modest building.
We had some croquettes but they did not fill us up! No surprise! Old beams and
stained glass windows. We almost left without paying!
Stuart 8/10 visit Nov 1999
Old café down an alley which seems to have
a lot of its original fittings, including a nice tiled fireplace and stained
glass windows. Bar staff were in very good humour with the tourists! Matheur is
beer of the month here. Non-smoking area by fireplace.
John 8.5/10
visit June 2006
One of the alleyway pub
crawl pubs. Nice old pub with traditional decor, but with some cold outside
toilets! Beer list is average, but 2 of the 4 draught beers were interesting.
John 8/10 visit Nov 2010
Whilst still
traditional this place has had a lick of
paint and a clean-up and it looks all the better for it! Even the infamous
outside loos have had a makeover! Draught Kwak was 4 Euros.
John 8.5/10 visit March
2015
Still the same. Not as cosy as Au Bon Vieux
Temps, in the next alley along, but that might be because the Au Bon Vieux
Temps has leather seats and this place has wooden ones! You can have 4 beers
plus cheese for 15 Euros.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Le Cirio, 18-20 Rue la Bourse, Brussel 1000
A very grand hotel,(divided into smoking
and non-smoking areas), but not expensive! Drinks were poured in a very
professional way! Huge mirrors and red-patterned furniture with cases of
glasses and silverware. Pretty plants, lamps and photos of old Brussels.
Amazing self-cleaning toilet seats!
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
You must go to the toilet. They revolve,
but not while you're on them!
Stuart 9/10 visit Nov 1999
This café is a little like the Falstaff,
on the opposite side of the Stock Exchange, but a little smaller in size. A
very grand place, but like the Falstaff it's okay to drink in here - in fact
the majority of people at the time we visited were drinking. The perfect place
to read your newspaper if you are Belgian or look at your guide map if you are
a tourist. After my last visit, I am sadder to report there are now, no more
revolving toilet seats!
John 8/10
visit Dec 2003
The
décor is nicely upmarket, but at the same time it is okay to drink in here. An
above average beer list, but you come here for the atmosphere. The waiters with
their white apron uniforms almost make this café seem like it is lost in
time-then you see the 2011 prices. They are not too bad for central Brussels,
with an Orval for 3.90 Euros, a lot cheaper than the Falstaff across the road.
! A place which is well worth visiting.
No more revolving toilets!!
John 8.5/10 visit Sept 2011
One of the things I like most
about Belgium is that you can go into some grand places and it’s okay just
to have a beer; this café is one of these places. The décor is
plush restaurant, but the menu is just snacks and most people are just
drinking, be it a beer or a coffee. They had some Watneys Scotch on draught,
but I wasn’t feeling adventurous! So I had a Westmalle Double on draught at
4.10 Euros instead. Friendly cat adds to the place.
John 8.5/10 visit Sept 2016
It’s hard not to like this cafe, which has
been around since 1866. The pub cat is still around, as is the Watneys Scotch!
Orval is 5.40 Euros.
John 9/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Les
Brasseurs, 23 Rue de la Colline, Brussel 1000.
Web site http://www.les-brasseurs.com/en/info.html
Brew pub just off the Grand Place. You can
see the brewery as you walk in, on the left hand side. Lots of different
drinking areas in this new café, including a dining area at the back. For a
brew pub the beers were very average. The service was also poor. The café has
something different, but doesn't seem interested in selling itself.
John 7/10
visit April 2003
NO LONGER A BREW PUB
_________________________________________________________________________
La Lunette, 3 Place
de la Monnaie, Brussel 1000
I
have been to this café before, but for some reason I have not reviewed it yet.
A traditional café which is close to the Opera House and is on 2 floors. Very
busy in the afternoon with shoppers, it trails off a little in the evening. The
place has an average beer list, but makes up for this with a lot of atmosphere.
Orval is 3.80 Euros.
John 7.5/10 visit Sept 2011
__________________________________________________________________
Little
Delirium, 9 Rue de marche Aux Fromages, Brussels 1000
Web site http://littledeliriumcafe.com/
Just around the round
from Au Brasseur. The name says it all, a smaller version of its bigger
brother! What it does have is 30 interesting beers on draught ( only 30 bottled
beers) at some reasonable prices for the centre of Brussels; with Duvel at 3.55
Euros and Orval at 3.20 Euros. Had a Buffalo Stout at 3.70 Euros. TV and loud
music I am sure will attract the younger crowd later on tonight.
John 8/10 visit March
2015
Like before there are 30 beers are
draught, and are mostly are between 8%
and 11%! Snooker is on the TV, which was on last time I visited here ( I
think!). Had a draught St Bernadus ABT 12 at 4 Euros.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
_______________________________________________________________________________
Lombard, 1 Rue de
Lombard, Brussels 1000
Like the Falstaff, this
place looks more like a restaurant than
a pub, but once you look at the impressive beer menu with 20 beers on draught
and 150 bottled beers, and see more people drinking than eating, you know you are
in the right place! Pink elephants around the room means this place might have
something to do with Delirum! Had a Westmalle Dubbel on draught at 4 Euros.
John 8/10 visit March
2015.
A good café with a big choice of beers, with good waitress service. Had
a draught Silly Pils at 3 Euros. The urinals are Victorian and come from Hanley
in England. (not sure if you ladies want to know that!)
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
Solid place with lots of taps and a good
choice of bottled beers. Busy due to it being a public holiday, I was lucky to
get a seat. Food menu is snacks. No beers writer down.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
_______________________________________________________________________________
Lop Lop, 29 Rue de L'Ecuyer, Brussel 1000
The closest Brussels gets to a
international bar. Whilst most of the beers are global brands, there are some
interesting beers if you look for them. Noisy, hip and trendy, but beer
drinkers are not unwelcome, if you want to buy a alpop or breezer this is the
place for you. Upstairs drinking area if busy, sky sports on the TV. Happy hour
21-00 to 22-00, but prices are not reasonable. Opening hours are 09-00 to
04-00! Different from most places it is guide!
John 7.5/10 visit Dec 2003
CURRENTLY A ENGLISH PUB CALLED CHURCHILL’S
_________________________________________________________________________
Mokafe, 9 Galerie du Roi,
Brussels 1000.
Café in a historic shopping arcade. Most times I have walked past this
place; during the day it is busy with diners. When I walk past at 2030 hours
today it is half empty, so I decide to give it a try! Décor is similar to the
Mort Subite and Circo, plush old school. Beer list is just above average,
that’s the thing about Belgium; get yourself 10 specialised bottled beers (
Duvel and some Trappists) and chances are you have got something drinkable!
Desserts which were on display in the centre were very tempting! I had a Bruges
Zot Blonde at 4.20 Euros.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
____________________________________________________
Mort Subite, 7 Rue Montagnes aux Herbes, Brussel 1000
Web site http://www.alamortsubite.com
An old favourite café. Had Speciale Palm
and Duvel. Impressive bar with ' gin palace ' feel to it. Huge mirrors,
garlands, and paintings with flowers, with Corinthian columns along the
room,and stained glass windows.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Exceptional café which serves superb fruit
beers. You must try the peach! Although the front is narrow, the café extends a
long way back. The bar is half way down the right side of the café, and is
surrounded by wooden tables. It gets busy in the evening.
Stuart 9.5/10 visit Nov 1999
Wonderful Brussels institution. It feels
like nothing has changed here since the 1920's including the waiters! Wooden
tables and chairs, plus mirrors which makes this narrow café look bigger than
it is. Mort Subite fruit beers are no longer home brewed, but worth a try.
Great cafe, great character, great atmosphere! New Marble front on last visit,
but inside is still the same. Good value snack menu.
John 10/10 visit June 2006
It is nice to know this time
warp café has not changed one bit! Apart from having normal or grand choice of
beer on the menu! Classic place.
John 9.5/10 visit Nov 2010
Good to see nothing much
has changed at this old favourite. I had a Palm at 3.20 euros. Trappist beers
were from 4.50 to 6.20 euros.
John 9.5/10 visit March
2015
Back to the old favourite. A short beer list, which is expensive; my
Duvel was 5.20 Euros, but still a grand place.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2016
The prices are expensive, 5.20 Euros for a
Duvel and 6 Euros for a Orval, but it is worth staying for one drink, to take
in the lovely decor. Beer menu says it is now in fourth generation ownership.
John 9/10 visit November 2018
________________________________________________________________________
Nuetnigenough, 25 Rue du
Lombard , Brussels 1000.
Web
site-
http://www.nuetnigenough.be/
Must admit from reading the reviews of this place I thought I might find
it a little too foody for me, and I was right. Luckily there was space for me to drink at the time that I
visited. Décor is not fancy and the café does have a cosy feel about it. The
good beer list has Alvince on draught and 9 bottled beers from the local Senne brewery. Opens 1700 hours during
the week and 1200 hours weekends. Had a bottle of Senne Sineke at 5 Euros.
John 7/10 visit Sept 2016
________________________________________________________________
Petit Philou, 12 rue Duquesnoy,
Brussel 1000
Small locals cafe close to Central station,
with locals prices to match. The cafe is full of wood and beer memorabilia like
most Belgian cafes. There is an even smaller upstairs drinking area. They also
have Westy at 13 Euros. I had a draught Hapkin at 3.70 Euros. Closed Sundays.
John 7/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Poechenellekelder, 5 rue du Chene, Brussel 1000
This café is situated near the
Manneken-Pis, a much photographed weeing child. All the photos and postcards
relate to the statue. Toilets quite worrying, down a narrow flight of stairs.
Puppets from the Toone theatre hang up on the walls. Plants, photos and
drawings cover the walls.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 1999
Right by the 'pissing boy' you have to go
upstairs. When we were there it was exceptionally busy, but we managed to find
a seat. Puppets adorn the walls.
Stuart 9/10 visit Nov 1999
This café is very close to the Manneken
Pis statue and by rights should be a bit of a tourist trap, like the cafes on
the Grand Place, but it's not. Walking through the modern glass doors, it's
hard to imagine there's a traditional café upstairs, but there is ! The café
does have memorabilia about the Manneken Pis, but it also has puppets from the
Toone theatre.
John 8/10
visit June 2006
It’s
raining outside, so the café’s large outside drinking area is empty, which
means everyone is drinking inside. There is a small drinking area downstairs
which is half empty; which means I can get a seat. Nothing like a bit of local
knowledge! While the beer menu is good this is much more touristy than the
Tarverne Mannekin Pils across the road, with higher prices; the Orval is 4.70
Euros. They still have the puppets on the wall. There is
a range of cheeses on the menu.
John
8/10 visit Sept 2011
Known by Stuart and me as the puppet café or the café by the pissing
boy, let’s face it the name is hard to pronounce! While overrun by tourists,
this café has a good beer commitment, with over 100 bottles. Had a Orval at
4.30 Euros.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
Tourists tap cafe which opts for a large
interesting beer menu, instead a short boring one. If busy there is a room
downstairs. I had a Oud Beersel Lambic at 7.50 Euros.
John 8.5/10
visit November 2018
Foot note
I notice the price of Orval is higher than most other Trappists beers,
which is strange as it is one of the weaker Trappists at 6.2%.
_________________________________________________________________
Porte Noire, 67 Rue des Alexiens, Brussel 1000
Web site http://www.laportenoire.be/
Very atmospheric underground bar. All
brick-work, with dark tables surrounding a central bar, with rows of bottles
and glasses. Stands out in dim candle lighting. Music odd - David Bowie and Led
Zeppelin!
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Interesting dimly-lit cellar café, with a
lot of character. A big beer menu is on offer, but they don't always have the
beers on the menu behind the bar. Nice laid-back atmosphere like candles on the
tables etc, adds to the ambience. Last time visited in November 1999 -not open
on a Saturday night!
John 9/10
visit Feb 1999
Long time, no visit to one of my favourite cafes. Mainly because of the
café’s opening hours at the weekend.
Basement bar with a circular ceiling, and the low lighting which makes it
atmospheric. Friendly staff and good atmosphere at the time of my visit. You
will need to order at the bar. A Rochfort 6 was 3.50 Euros. Opens 1700 hours,
but it is closed on Sundays.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2016
Still the same. Busy for a Wednesday evening.
A Orval was 4.50 Euros.
John 9/10 visit November 2018
_________________________________________________________________________
Postiers, 14 Rue du Fosse aux Loups,Brussel 1000
Web
site www.lespostiers.com
A
traditional café in the heart of the city centre. Love the white marble tables,
white tiled floor, wooden seating and mirrors. Most people are in the outside
drinking area at the front. An above average beer list on the bottle side,
including Hopbus at 3.30. Friendly waiter service.
John
7/10 visit Sept 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Scott’s Bar, 2 Rue Montagne
aux Herbes Potageres , Brussels 1000.
Web
site- www.scottsbar.be
Opposite the Mort Subite this place is as modern as the Mort Subite is
traditional. While basically a cocktail bar, this place is comfortable and
has 7 draught beers on from local
breweries Senne and the Brussels Beer Project, plus the usual Belgian suspects!
Music is retro blues. Brussels Beer Project Delta IPA was 4 Euros.
John 7/10 visit Sept 2016
___________________________________________________________________
Sister, 3 rue Chair Et Pain, Brussel 1000
Small place off the Grand Palace, with a good
food and beer menu. The beer menu is
large but doesn’t have the usual Belgian beers like Trappist and Lambic
beers. The wooden beer menu as cocktails
on one side and beer on the other side, but the staff they left the cocktail
side facing the customer on the table. Nice modern paintings. I had Silly Pils
at 3 Euros.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
________________________________________________________________________
Taverne Manneken Pils, 33
Rue
des Grandes Carmes, Brussel 1000.
Web
site http://www.mannekenpiscafe.com/
A
cafe opposite one of Brussels most famous landmarks the Manneken Pils or the
peeing boy! By rights this should be a tourist trap, but at the time of my
visit (Sunday 1300 hours) there were a fair number of locals and the café has a
locals feel. The beer list is above average, the café is full of character,
with lots of wood and a good lived-in feel. There is a collection of bank notes
above the bar and around the beams.
John
8/10 visit Sept 2011
_____________________________________________________
Theatre Royal De Toone, 6 Impasse Schuddevelde off 21
Petit Rue des Bouchers, Brussel 1000
Web site http://www.toone.be/
Small bar in a alley underneath a puppet
theatre with animated puppets duelling in a glass case. Pretty paintings of
puppets and street-life. Drank Orval. Nice beermats to collect. Good service.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 1999
Amazing place with its own puppet theatre
in a rear room. During performances rows of seats are extracted for the
audience. Mechanical puppets keep you occupied during a drink!
Stuart 9.5/10 visit Nov 1999
A café which is not easy to find, which is
down an alleyway. Three different drinking areas which are all very nice. It's
well worth checking out the children's puppets in the middle bar. A café in a
children's puppet theatre - how nice for mums and dads! A small beer
garden/courtyard leading into Marche aux Herbes.
John 9/10
visit April 2003
Still the same. I had a
Hopbus at 4.50 Euros; the Trappist beers were between 5 and 6 Euros.
John
8/10 visit March 2015
_________________________________________________________________________
Zaggeman,
116 Rue de Laeken, Brussel 1000
HOURS MON
to FRI 1100 to 2000. CLOSED WEEKENDS
A large street-corner bar with friendly
atmosphere. Interesting service of Kriek from a basket. Wood panelling and
mirrors very impressive. Strange decorations, including a pair of football
boots and figurine, and old beer bottles.
Sue 8.5/10 Feb 1999
Café about 5 minute walk from the city
centre, which specialises in fruit beers and Kriek, which they serve with the
bottle in a basket. I am not a big fan of Kriek, but the Boon Kreik was very
nice. Good traditional feel from mainly older clientele gives this place a lot
of character, as well as the old bric-a-brac around the walls with Gueuze and
Kreik memorabilia . It's a shame about the opening hours, but this café grows
on you on each visit. Underrated café, which is well worth a visit.
John 9/10 visit Dec 2003
NOW CLOSED
OUTSIDE
BRUSSELS CITY CENTRE
This
is done by area, for the more adventurous beer hunters. You will need a good
map as most tourist maps only cover the centre.
EUROLAND
Where the EU constitutions are, cafes tend to close at the weekends..
La Galia, 22 Rue Jaques de Lalaing, Brussel 1000
OPENS MON
TO FRI 1000 to 1900. CLOSED WEEKENDS
Exterior is a modern class front. The
interior is traditional and cosy, with nice red leather seats. Chairs and
tables in rows, low lighting and brewery mirrors all ad to the café. Reasonably
prices as it is away from the tourist centre.
John 8/10 visit Dec 2003
_________________________________________________________________________
Old Hack
Pub, 176 Rue Joseph II, Brussel 1000
MON TO FRI
1200 to 1500, 1730 to 2400 CLOSED WEEKENDS
More of a restaurant than pub, so why call
it a pub? Small place with a high white ceiling and various black and white
photos of famous people. Disappointing despite the nice De Koninck on draught.
John 3/10 visit Dec 2003
_________________________________________________________________________
HEEMBEEK
Achtsten Hemel, 1 Peter Boenoit,Neder-over-Heembeek,
Brussel 1020
Get
the 47 bus from De Brouckere at Hallenstraat (Tim and Joe if you said this in
your guides it might have been easier to
find!) to Peter Benoit stop. The café is opposite the stop. So this is what the
Brussel’s suburbs look like! Most of the places in this guide are in the city
centre or areas nearby;
this
café is a long way in a modern square. An upmarket place, with upmarket
prices! With Maredsous Blond and Westmalle
Dubbel at 4 Euros, and
a
bottle of Orval at 4.70 Euros, these prices wouldn’t go amiss in the city
centre! The beer list is strong on lambics. Pleasant place but I am not sure
if
it is worth the 25 minute bus trip. I was the only one here on a Saturday at
1330 hours. Closed on a Sunday.
John
7/10 visit Sept 2011
______________________________________________________________
IXELLES
To the South East of Brussels
Inner Ring Road. There are 2 drinking areas; for first group get the 2 and 6
metro to Port de Namur station. From there get the 71 bus to Flagey (a big
square which you cannot miss) for the second batch of cafes.
CAFES NEAR PORT DE NAMUR METRO STATION
L’Athenee, 2 Rue Jules
Bouillon, Brussels 1050.
Old school back street local with lots of character; only minus points
are the ripped seats and the graffiti covered toilets. A good beer list which
is on the blackboard as you walk in. Had a Dupont Saison at 3.30 Euros.
John 7/10 visit Sept 2016
________________________________________________________________________
Beer
Mania, 174/176 Chausee de Wavre , Brussels 1050.
Web
site- www.beermania.be
A beer shop with a great choice of bottled beers from all over Belgium,
with a small bar at the back. The beer menu had a few Trappists; I had a Orval
at 5 Euros, but I am not sure if you can select a beer from the shop. Not too
busy at the time of my visit, but the jazz music was relaxing.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
____________________________________________________
Stemelings,
7 Place De Londres, Brussel 1050
A nice cosy place, maybe a little too
cosy, because the tables are so close together it's hard to walk through! A
little student-like in feel, but a nice atmosphere. Various theatre posters
around the walls, a big teddy bear by the window and a nice dog add to the
ambience.
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2001
_________________________________________________________________________
Ultime Atome,
14 Rue St Boniface, Brussel 1050
Web site http://www.ultime-atome.com/
A large lively popular place, where
drinkers and diners seem to be happy to mix together in a good atmosphere. Very
busy when visited on a Saturday night, with at least 4 waiters trying to deal
with everyone.
John 8/10 visit Oct 2001
Large classy café off the main street, but is down a side street with
plenty of other cafes and shops. Impressive menu which is well presented. Nice
relaxing place with friendly staff. I had a Hopbus at 3.80 Euros.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2016
__________________________________________
CAFES NEAR FLAGEY
Amere
a Boire, 8 Rue du Belvedere, Brussels 1050.
Modern place with a good vibe and a good beer commitment. The beer menu
which is all around the café on various blackboard has a good range of beers.
One part of the pub has beer crates as seats and beer barrels with a flat wood
top as tables. I had a Musketeers Jacks IPA on draught at 3.30 Euros. Opens
daily from 1700 hours.
John 8/10 Sept 2016
_______________________________________________________
Black
Sheep, 8 Chausee de Boondael, Brussels
1050.
The sign outside says ‘ craft beer and fish and chips’; I am not so
sure! Modern pub with lots of
comfortable seats and a good atmosphere. The beer menu is mainly Belgian, with
an international section, the draught section is the most interesting with
Gosse Island from the USA on. Rare for
Brussels the toilets are on the ground floor ( worth a mention!). Closed Monday
and Tuesday, open 1700 hours the rest of the week. I had a Senne Tores Boulba
at 4 Euros.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
__________________________________________
Murmure, 18 Rue du Belvedere,
Brussels 1050.
Old school café which has a student atmosphere/décor. There is a Smoking
booth at the back of the café. Beers are on a blackboard above the bar. Belgian
bottled beers are reasonably priced, the Brew Dog ones are not! Had a Senne
Zinnebier at 3.50 Euros. Opens daily from 1600 hours.
John 7.5/10 Sept 2016
____________________________________________________
Pantin, 355 Chausse d’Ixelles
, Brussels 1050.
Web
site- http://www.lepantin.be/
This café is on a busy main road, but once you get inside it is nice and
relaxing. Décor is wood and low lighting. You can tell you are away from the
tourist centre, as no bottled beer is over 4 Euros! Had a Rochfort 6 at 3.50
Euros. Nice place.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
_________________________________________________________________________
MAROLLES
To the South of the city, but
inside the inner ring road
Brocante, 170 Rue
Blaes, Brussel 1000
A
traditional café close to a flea market, in Place de Jeu de Balle in the
Marolles area. Like the cafes in St Giles this café has a jazz band outside,
creating a good atmosphere in the market. Beer list is strong on guezes and
lambics. Café was very busy for an early Sunday afternoon. Problems with the
service; my food came but not my beer and my get-by French is not working here!
Orval was 3.50 Euros. Hours are 0500 to 1900 hours daily.
John
7/10 visit Sept 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Chez
Marcel, 20 Place de Jeu de Balle, Brussel 1000
A
small café on the market square with bags of atmosphere and character, from the
old locals standing at the bar to the tobacco stained walls. Seems to be a
meeting place for guys with long moustaches judging by the photos on the walls.
They also have a Whitbeard brewery mirror- but we can forgive them for that.
While there’s food on the menu, most people are drinking, Hopbus was 3.20
Euros. Waiter who served me looked a little like Fabio Cappello; so this is
what he does between England matches-surely not! (Don’t call me Shirley!!)
John 8.5/10 visit Sept 2011
__________________________________________________________________
Warm Water, 25 Rue des
Renards, Brussel 1000
Web Site www.hetwarmwater.be
A
small place, with a small beer list. The café mainly does snacks on the menu.
Nothing special here beer-wise.
John
4/10 visit Sept 2011
____________________________________________________________
MIDI
STATION
L'Orient Express, 11B Ave Fonsny Fonsnylaan, Brussel 1060
Café close to Midi Station. For beer
choice look at the bottles behind the bar. The Duvel was the cheapest I found
in Brussels that day. As the name suggest it's done out in a grand style with
marble tables, black leather seats, palm trees, and red curtains. At the back
are some pinball machines, which seen a little out of character for the place.
Nice wood carvings behind bar. Nice café. Mixed clientele on last visit.
John 7.5/10
visit Dec 2003
_________________________________________________________________________
Labourer, 3 Place de la Constitution, Brussel 1060
Good traditional café, 5 minutes walk form
Midi Station or across the road from Lemonner Metro Station. Long narrow café
with rows of tables, and a covered pool table and table football at the end.
Wood panelling along the side of the walls, as well as large paintings of rural
scenes. Every thing is reasonably priced on the food and beer menu- not many
tourist around here! Worth dropping in, if you are early for your Eurostar
train. Was closed on a Saturday on my last visit.
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2003
_________________________________________________________________________
ST
CATHERINE
Boulevard Anspach is the main road
going through Brussels. To the east is the touristy city centre; to the West is
the not so touristy St Catherine’s.
Au Labourer, 108 Rue De
Flandre ,Brussels 1000
Au Labourer means the worker and this is a good workers’ café. While not
a dive bar, the décor is old school Belgian café, very brown with old photos on
the wall. It is a sunny day and most people are drinking outside. As with a lot of Belgian cafes, the draught
range is global and the bottled list has a few interesting beers. I had a
Senne Stouterik at 3.80 Euros.
John 7/10 visit Sept 2016
_______________________________________________________________
Bizon, 7 Rue Pont de la Carpe7, Brussels 1000.
Web
site- www.cafebizon.com
A modern version of a brown café, there are no wood panelled walls here!
The walls are bare-brick ,with low lighting and beams with bank notes on them.
Nice cosy relaxing place for a city centre café. The beer menu is strong on
trappist and lambic bottled beers, while
there are only 4 draught beers, 2 are Trappists and 1 is Guinness. Had a Achel
Blond at 4.20 Euros. Opens 1600 during the week and 1800 at the weekend.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
_________________________________________________________
Booze ‘n’ Blues, 20 Rue des
Riches Claires , Brussels 1000.
Opens at 1900 hours and in many ways this is the perfect late night
drinking spot with low lighting, neon lights, R ‘n’ B being played and a laid
back owner and crowd. A good range of beer from local brewer Senne makes for an interesting beer list. Had
a Le Fort Tripple at 4 Euros.
John 7/10 visit Sept 2016
_______________________________________________________________
Brasseurs, 77 Boulevard
Anspach, Brussel 1000
Just inside St Catherine, so a non-tourist
cafe. Well done the Belgium Good Beer for finding another locals cafe. Not a
great choice, but a had a Duvel at 4 Euros. Friendly locals at the bar.
John 8/10 visit November 2018
_______________________________________________________________
Brussels
Beer Project, 188 Rue Antoine Dansaert , Brussels 1000.
Web
site- http://www.beerproject.be/en
Brussels brew pub in St Catherine’s about 15 minutes walk from De Brouckere. The bar is at the front;
walk down the narrow corridor and you will see the brewery and more seats.
While the décor is hipster, the atmosphere is friendly, with mainly American
and British ex-pats here. There are 11beers on draught from the brewery, plus 3
guest draughts. I had a Delta IPA at 3.10 Euros ( 25cl). Hours are 1400 to 2200
hours Thursday to Saturday.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
_____________________________________________________
Le Coq, 14 Rue Auguste Ort ,
Brussels 1000.
A lovely café only 50 yards from Bourse Metro station, but as most
people don’t cross the road into St
Catherine’s, this makes this place a
non-tourists café with reasonable prices. Nice traditional décor with a
blackboard at the end with the beer list. No Belgian micros here, but there are
Trappists, lambics and specialist
bottled beers to keep you going! Friendly staff and customers. Had a Duvel at
3.50 Euros. Opens 1600 hours Sunday.
John 7.5/10 visit Sept 2016
___________________________________________________________
Monk
Cafe, 42 Rue Sainte-Catherine , Brussels 1000.
Web
Site- http://www.monk.be/
Large brown café that goes back a
fair way; there is a buffet room at the back. Café was busy at the time of my
visit and it took a while to realise there was no waiter service. Good
atmosphere , but an average beer menu.
Had a Dupont Monk Stout at 3.20 Euros.
John 7.5/10 visit Sept 2016
_____________________________________________________________
Le Paon Royal, 6 Rue du Vieux Marche aux Grains, Brussel
1000
Web site http://www.paonroyal.com/
Upmarket café with a pleasant atmosphere.
Barebrick walls, fake beams and dim lighting. Café seems a little foodie, but
there are plenty of people drinking. Bel pils from Moortgat ( Duvel brewers )
is the regular pils here, which makes a change from Jupiler.
John 7.5/10
visit April 2003
___________________________________________________
Vieux Chateau D'or, 26 Rue Ste Catherine, Brussel 1000
A modern bar with rap music playing! Yet
young and old customers! Décor rather bland, but nice details such as flowers
on bar, and plants.
Sue 7/10 visit Feb 1999
A not very memorable café, which for some
reason reminds me of a transport café in England.
John 6/10 visit Feb 1999
__________________________________________________________________________
ST GILLES
To the
South of the Brussels Inner Ring Road. The Parvis de Saint-Gilles has a nice
market. Get the 3 or 4 Tram to Port de Hal Metro or Parvis de Saint Gilles
stations.
Belladone, 17A Rue Moris, Brussel 1060
Web
site www.labelladone.com
At
the time of my visit on a Saturday night at 1900 hours, I was the only person
in here! Décor is the standard wood of most Belgian cafes. The café is owned by
a Romanian who specialise in vodka, but the beer menu has some interesting
beers, including Scilly Pils at 2 Euros. Opens from 1800 hours daily, closes on
a Sunday.
John
6/10 visit Sept 2011
_______________________________________________________________
Brasserie De l’Union, 55 Parvis de Saint-Gilles, Brussel
1060
Like
the Porteuse d’Eau the atmosphere from the local market helps make this place.
Saxophone player makes for a mellow feel—nice!
While the Porteuse d’Eau is upmarket, this cafe this traditional
with basic décor, like the old Jupiler
beer poster on the wall. No beer menu, so no prices, but I did see a bottle of
Scilly Organic pils in the fridge at 1.80 Euros, which I had.
John
7/10 visit Sept 2011
I remember the fridge by the bar from my last visit. A nice brown café
full of locals enjoying over 60 bottled
beers at locals’ prices. Only 5 bottled beers were over 3.50 Euros and the coffee at 1.90 Euros was the same price as the Maes
Pils! I had a Senne Zinne bier at 3.30 euros. Friendly staff.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
______________________________________________________________
Le Beulemans, 10 Ave P De Jaer Laan, Brussel 1060
A modern, long, narrow bar, with a few
interesting beers on draught. Wooden floor, bare brick wall and various beer
memorabilia on the walls all add to the atmosphere
John 8/10
visit Oct 2001
_________________________________________________________________________
Chez Moeder Lambic, 66 Rue De Savoie, Brussel 1060
Web
site http://moederlambic.eu/
A nice cosy, out of the way, local found
by beer hunters. Intimate wooden seating, black and white checkered floor, lots
of empty beer, lambic, and wine bottles, as well as beer memorabilia. No beer
menu on table, - ( just ask ) - lots of beers on the menu but they are not all
available. Small bar means beers are brought from round the back of the cafe. Opens from 1600 hours daily.
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2001
Whilst
this place has a great beer menu, the last time I was here it was maybe lacking
a little in atmosphere- this time it does not!
While the décor is traditional, all the wooden chairs, seats and floor
are nice and shiny, waiting for that lived-in feel. Maybe to many large bottles
of lambics on the menu, but hey, it’s the name of the place. There are plenty
of other beer styles on the menu to enjoy. The Lambic Bio on handpump is 3.10
Euros and St Dottignies is 3.20 Euros. Only minus point was the bearded waiter
who takes the beer menu away from me after the first drink, when he has plenty
behind the bar and disappears when people want serving! The female waitress was
as good as he was bad! Opens from 1600 hours daily.
John 9.5/10 visit Sept 2011
The original Moeder Lambic. This café has a similar format beer-wise to
the city centre outlet, but the cafe
here is small and traditional with a
good relaxing neighbourhood atmosphere.
Impressive list of mainly Belgian beers on draught. Had a Cantillon Kriek at 5 Euros. Worth the
trip out if you are feeling adventurous.
Opens daily at 1600 hours.
John 9.5/10 visit Sept 2016
_________________________________________________________________________
Dynamo-
Bar de Soif, 130 Chaussee d’Alsembere ,
Brussels 1060.
Web
site- http://www.dynamobar.be/
Modern beer with a good range of mainly overseas micro beer on draught,
there are brewery takeovers some days from mainly English micro-breweries. Some of their beers on today are from Siren (
4 beers), Thornbridge and Beavertown, but I have not come to Belgium to drink
English beer, so I have a Dupont Saison on draught for 3 euros ( 25cl). Long
way out of St Gilles, but the Moeder Lambic is nearby. Opens 1600 hours daily.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
_______________________________________________________________
Egalite, 47 Parvis de Saint-Gilles , Brussels 1060.
Don’t worry about this café closing, it is open 24/7 ( but don’t tell
the editor of the Daily Mail!). A nice comfortable place with bare-brick walls
and leather seating around the wall. The beer menu is up on the wall as you
walk in. I had a Van der Bossche Buffalo Bittter at 3.70 euros.
John 8/10 Sept 2016
_________________________________________________________________
Porteuse d’Eau, 48a avenue Jean Volders, Brussel 1060
Web
site www.laporteusedeau.be
First
a word about Avenue Jean Volders, the road outside is shut off for a market,
creating a good atmosphere. There is a Latin band outside the café adding to
the amblence on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Nice art deco building with wicker
chairs, plants and etched glass windows, also with a friendly barman and
waiter. The toilets are up a spiral staircase. Dupont Saison was 3.05 Euros.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2011
Still as I remember from my last visit, with the art nouveau décor and
the spiral staircase to the toilets. A
nice relaxing place for a Sunday afternoon. Colourful beer menu, I had a Scotch
Silly with nibbles at 4.05 Euros.
John 8/10 visit Sept 2016
_______________________________________________________________________
Terra
Incognita, 56 Rue de Roumanie, Brussel 1060
What
you might call a neighbourhood bar or a back street local, but done out in a
modern style. The café has a nice laid back feel to it. Above average beer menu
had Hommelbier at 3.20 Euros. Owner not happy the barmaid has not turned the
lights on inside. Closed on a Sunday.
John
6/10 visit Sept 2011
_____________________________________________________________
Verschueren, 11/13 Parvis St Gilles, Brussel 1060
A basic place which has a good lively
student-type atmosphere; the place reminds me of the Au Soleil in the city
centre. There is also a house-beer brewed for the café. Chimay and snacks seem
to be popular with the clientele. Football teams' names in divisions on the
wall
John 7.5/10 Visit Oct 2001
Not
much has changed since my last visit here. The club house for the St Giles
football club. There are still the football tables on the wall, reflecting on
St Giles glory days before World War 2, when they won the Belgian league. Hapkin
was 3.50 Euros.
John
7/10 visit Sept 2011
Another place which has not changed much since my last visit, still with
the football tables on the wall. It is nice to see Belgian bar owners keeping
their cafes the same. Unlike English ones who seem to change décor and names at
the drop of a hat. Had a draught Dupont Saison at 3.50 Euros.
John 7.5/10 Sept 2016
_________________________________________________________________________
SCHAERBEEK
Narrenschip,
185 Rogierstraat, Brussel 1030
Café to the East of Gare Du Nord Station;
the area is a little run down, but with character ( are the yuppies coming? ).
Cafe with different sections, with musicians jamming in the back-bar. Lively
student-type atmosphere, with reasonably-priced food and beer (Duval 80BF). No
waiter service - just go up to the bar!
John 8/10 visit Oct 2001
________________________________________________________________________
-
GHENT
While
not so well known as Antwerp, Bruges and Brussels. Ghent is a large city, with
some nice old buildings and some good cafes. Didn't managed to visited as many
cafes as we had liked to!. This was for three reasons, one it was a Sunday and
some were shut, two there was a bit distance between some of the cafes and
three we had a few clouds busts. Hope you have better luck! Visited June 2003.
In June 2006 managed to do a few more cafes and thanks to an over night stay, a
few more in September 2011!
Manage
to do a few cafes with Mike in May 2017 on a day trip from Bruges. It was a
very hot day, I was mainly drinking outside.
Aba Jour,
20 Ouberg, Gent 9000
Web site http://www.abajour-gent.com/
Walk through a shop floor entrance, you
will find this unlikely café. The front part is dimly-lit, the back has views
out on to river, albeit not that great. Nice atmosphere to the café. Good
drinks menu as well as a good choice of beer, there is a good selection of
kriek, Scotch whisky and cocktails. Get the river views and wave to the tourist
on the boats.
John 8/10 visit June 2003
Strange pub as you get to it through a
dingy a hallway. Canal side location with a nice view from the windows. Excellent
range of beer, geneve and whiskey. The downstairs toilet revolves - for
automatic cleaning after each use and paper is automatically dispensed. Wow !
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003
Just to the
North of the city centre in a good canal side location. As the café is empty I
have a great view from the window watching the tourist boats
go by. Not
a big beer menu but the owners have gone for quality instead of quantity, which
is why I had a De Ranke XX bitter at 3.50 euros. Like
the fact
Belgian beers get served with nuts!
John 8/10
visit Sept 2011
Still on a nice canal-side location, where you go watch the tourists’
boats go by. Surfin Saison on draught was 3.50 Euros.
John 7.5/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
A Cpella, 33 Godshuizenlaan, Gent 9000
Web site http://www.acapella-gent.be/
A very upmarket hotel bar a fair way from
the centre . It does have a good beer menu, but seems to be to food-orientation.
It's nice to have nuts with your beer, but I found it hard to relax here.
Friendly bar service.
John 7/10 visit June 2003
A slightly posh café specialising in food
as much as beer. You can drink in the restaurant and do not have to eat. A
reasonable range of beers served with nuts as is the custom. The food menu look
good but expensive!
Stuart 7.5/10 visit June 2003
________________________________________________________________________
Back Door Cafe, 26 St
Armandstraat, Ghent 9000
If you are
doing a day trip to Ghent, chances are you will miss out on this café which
opens from 2000 hours Monday to Thursday, 2100 hours,
Friday and
Saturday and is closed on a Sunday. If you are staying the night in Ghent, this
café is well worth the trip, even if it is in a hard to find
back street
to the South of the city centre in the university area. As befits the name the
café has lots of rock memorabilia as well as beer and
a rock
music soundtrack. The beer menu is impressive with a special section for rare beers;
they also have some cider, German and kriek beer
plus a good
choice of draught beers. I had St Bernards Triple at 3.80 euros on draught.A
steep staircase, leads up to the toilet and an upstairs
drinking
area. No waiter service.
John 9/10
visit Sept 2011
_______________________________________________________________________
Bierhuis Castel, 9 Koningin Maria Hendrikaplein, Ghent
9000
Web site http://www.hotelcastel.be/
Ghent St Peters station is a fair way from the city
centre, so it is good this area has a good beer outlet at last. Trouble is it
opens from 1730 hours
daily. Not great if you getting a mid day train to
Brussels or even a late train from Brussels before your city centre hotel! This
is a shame as the beer menu is good here. Modern décor with beer memorabilia
all around the place, especially on the way to the toilets. Fake flowers will
not impress the
mouse! See
web site as this place is also a hotel.
John 8/10
visit Sept 2011
No
longer with a good beer choice and has strange hours.
________________________________________________________________________
Brouwzaele,
17 Ter Plaeten, Gent 9000
Interesting café across from the canal, at
a road junction. Original copper kettle bar ( you need to see it ), wooden
barrels and beer memorable around the walls. Modern décor, but they have dry
hops on the ceiling and sawdust on the floor to show its traditional! A long
walk from the centre.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2003
Near the canal near a fork in the road.
Unusual bar made from a copper for its roof. Fine sawdust on the floor and a
good range of beers. Hops hang from the ceiling as well as copper lampshades. A
Ferrari F40 was parked nearby.
Stuart 8/10 visit June 2003
Nice
laid back café with a wonderful kettle copper bar. A little out of the city
centre, but worth the walk. Wooden floorboards, with sawdust on the floor, dry
hops on the bar and copper lighting all add to the atmosphere. Good beer menu
with Orval at 3.70 Euros.
John
8/10 visit Sept 2011
Even at 2030 hours it is too hot the drink inside! Nice relaxing
atmosphere. I had a St Bernardus 6 at 3.10 Euros. Like the nearby De Planck,
this is in a non-tourists part of Ghent, so there are more locals.
John 8/10 May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
Deus, 128 Vlaanderenstraat, Gent 9000
Web site www.brasseriedeus.be
Upmarket café
close to Ghent bus station and small red light area ( if you brink you will
miss! ). When you walk in it looks like food rules here, but if you look at the
menu you will see a impressive list of beers over 150. Not to busy on my
Saturday afternoon visit making for a
relaxed atmosphere. Good bar service.
John 8/10 visit
June 2006
The
beer list has been cut down to 7 beers since of last visit. More of a
restaurant than a bar. Food was not unreasonably priced, and as I was hungry
I
had something to eat here.
John
5/10 visit Sept 2011
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dreupelkot, Groentenmarkt 12, Ghent 9000
Web site http://www.dreupelkot.be/
A jenever bar close to the Waterhuis. The drink
menu is in Flemish and they only serve jenever, no beer. Ask the friendly
barman to point you in the right direction. Crowded with a good atmosphere,
good to see a lot of young people enjoying jenever. Like the tradition, like
the place.
John 8/10
visit Sept 2011
Lovely genever bar, worth stopping off for, before you go into the
Waterhuis. Over 200 genevers; some are very rare, the ones which I had were 4
Euros. Web site say it was opened at 1600 hours, but we were in there at 1400
hours. Friendly barman with his barking dog!
John 9/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________________
Dulle Greit, 50 Vrijagmarkt, Gent 9000
Web site http://www.dullegriet.be/01_Herberg_eng.htm
Nice eccentric sort of place on a busy
city centre square. Original décor including a tented ceiling with flags, slate
floor, various bric-a-brac around the ceiling and walls, neon-lighted beer
signs. Beer menu with photos of the labels of the beer, which is different or
this it for us dumb tourists! Nice place.
John 9/10 visit June 2006
Café facing a square with a large tented
ceiling. As we walked in one table had yards of ale standing in a special
wooden frame. Loads of ornaments hang from the ceiling. Stone floor. The bar
was mainly brick and there were sausages hanging at the back.
Stuart 8/10
visit June 2003
Just as I remember it, with the flags on the
ceiling, puppets hanging from the beams and beer memorabilia all around the
walls. Small drinking area
out the front overlooking the square. Beer menu is
in alphabical order instead of beer styles; the menu has over 200 beers. Great
place, great beer choice in one of Ghent’s first specialist beer cafés. Had a
Buffalo bitter at 2.90 euros and a Scilly saison at 2.40 euros. Opens at 1630
hours
on a Monday
and 1200 hours other days.
John 9/10 visit Sept 2011
Still a lovely café, with a lot of atmosphere, even if most people are
drinking outside today. Beers on the menu are in alphabetical order. A bottle
of Mcchouffe was 4.80 Euros. Opens 1630 hours on Monday and 1200 hours the rest
of the week.
John 9/10 visit May 2017
_______________________________________________________________
Galenhuisje, 5 Groentenmarkt, Gent 9000
Genuine old café on a busy city centre
square. A small ground floor area leads up to a upstairs drinking area. Wooden
beams all round the café, slate floor and white tiles all add to the charm of
this place. The name of the café means Little Gallows House so named because this
is where the condemned man had his last drink before being hanged elsewhere.
Which explains, why there are puppets hung by their necks from the ceiling!
John 8.5/10 visit June 2006
Tiny slightly touristy pub near the
cathedral where a sentenced man had his last drink ! A mixture of wood and
brick. Small interior with another room upstairs. Downstairs restaurant.
Stuart 7/10 visit June 2003
I think I
have told the history of this place in a previous review. It is a small place,
with the outside drinking area bigger than the café. Beer menu
is small
with the draught beer coming from Primus. The prices are reasonable with Petrus
2.50 Euros and Orval and trappists beers at 3.00 euros.
The rap
soundtrack seems out of place in such a traditional building!
John 8/10
visit Sept 2011
Still the same. This time I am outside, as it is a nice sunny day.
Westmalle Tripel was 4 Euros.
John 8/10 visit May 2017
_________________________________________________________________________
Goulden
Mandeke, 9 Pensmarkt, Gent 9000
Café close to
the Galenhuisje. Like the Galenhuisje a old building in a clobbed square. Low
ceiling and slated floor all adds to the tradition of this place. Beer list
just above average. Café was crowded at the time of visit, but the bar and waiter
service was quick.
John 7/10 visit
June 2006
Two cafes
next to each other both with Van Hachet beer signs. The Goulden Mandeke is on
the right hand side. Van Hachet means the draught
beers are
not Inbev , but the bottled beer section is not that interesting which is a
shame as this is a nice old building. Opens 1100 hours Monday
to Friday
and 1500 hours Saturday and Sunday.
John 6/10
visit Sept 2011
______________________________________________________
Glengarry, 32 St
Baafsplein, Ghent 9000
Web site http://www.glengarry.be/
Welcome to Scottish malt whisky heaven! This place
is not easy to find, at 30 St Baafsplein look for a staircase. It is befitting
that this place is in a
cellar bar as this is an Aladdin’s cave of malt
whiskies, with hundreds of bottles all around the place. What makes this place
is the owner Bob’s enthusiasm which started as a hobby, then a whisky tasting
club, then this great place. Bob recommends a blonde beer with a Islay malt. The
beer list
is not too bad either. I can not think of anywhere
in England and Scotland with such a great choice. Great find. Opens 1400 hours,
closed on a
Monday.
John 9.5/10
visit Sept 2011
___________________________________________________________
Grunt, 31 Rembert
Dodoensdreff, Gent 9000 ( New Address)
Web site- http://www.gruut.be/en
Since my last visit, Ghent’s brew pub has moved from a canal-side
location, to one closer to a park. Cosy modern décor inside, where you can see
the brewing vessels. The Grunt Blonde on draught was 2.80 Euros and was nice. Opens 1100
hours, closes 1800 hours Monday to Thursday, 2300 hours Friday and Saturday.
Sunday hours 1400 hours to 1700 hours.
John 8.5/10 visit May 2017
________________________________________________________________
Grunt, 10 Grote
Huidevettershoek, Gent 9000 ( Old Address)
Web
site Web site http://www.gruut.be/
Ghent’s
first brew pub in a nice canal side location, even if the canal is across the
road. Décor is modern, with the brewing vessels to one side. Like the beer menu
which is done out like a newspaper! The beers that are on draught were a wheat,
amber, blond, brown and strong golden ale, which were priced at 2.50 to 3.00
euros for 25cl. Had the amber which was good.
In some Belgian brew pubs the standard of the beers is a little bland,
not in this brew pub. Fish tank on the bar and cool jazz background music all
add to the atmosphere.
John
9/10 visit Sept 2011
_____________________________________________________________________
Hopduvel,10
Rokerelsstraat, Gent 9000
Wonderful back street café with a good
beer menu. Big than it looks on the outside, with different areas to drink in
including a restaurant, upside drinking area and a beer garden. Nice collection
of beer memorabilia and old tables and chairs, plus most important the place
has bags of character. Interesting mural on the wall involving the devil, the
name of the cafe means hop devil in Flemish. Off the beaten track, but well
worth finding. Opens 11-30 daily.
John 9.5/10 visit June 2003
Off one of the outer city roads you will
not find it by chance. Small front bar with brick and dark wood paintings of
the devil tempting people away from religion to beer! Hence the name. A small
restaurant is attached as well as a rear beer garden. Jimmy Smith was the
background music, working on the Hammond Organ.
Stuart 8.5/10 visit June 2003
Closed on my visit in June 2006. Opened
again at 1800hours
CLOSED FOR A WHILE IN 2007/8. Reopened
under new owners, but was closed on my
two visits in September 2011 .
_________________________________________________________________________
Plank, Ter Plaeten,
Ghent 9000
A
cafe on a barge just down the road form the De Brouwzaele, which makes it easy
to find. The upper deck must be a great place to drink in the summer and the
lower deck is warm and cosy for the colder weather. The bar is downstairs when
you can drink your beer at water level. The décor is full of bric-a-brac like
old radio sets, typewriters, rusty French horns plus beer memorabilia and
candles. The low lighting makes the place atmospheric. Different hours for
winter and summer, see web site. A bottle of Hopus was 3.50 Euros.
John
9/10 visit Sept 2011
The weather is great, so this time I am on the deck of the boat. Good
beer menu which explains the beers, I had a Saison Voisin from De Lengendes at
3.50 Euros. Mainly full of young people, with a good atmosphere .
John 8.5/10 visit May 2017
______________________________________________________________________
Prelude, 13
Bij St Jacob, Gent 9000
The numbers on
this square are confusing. The next pub Trollekelder is #17 is on the another
side of the square. Upmarket café with
leather seats. Friendly locals who seem interest in England world cup
game. Impressive beer list which was
strong on trappists beers.
John 7/10 visit
June 2006
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Trappistenhuis, 164
Brabantdam, Gent 9000
Web site www.trappistenhuis.be
The
outside of this building looks like it is very old, pub signs says from 1600.
Inside is just as nice and traditional, with low lighting, beams with dry hops
on and empty beer bottles on shelves around the wall. There is also a
conservatory area at the back of the café.
Great beer menu with trappist beers at the front, the abbey beers next
plus a good section of other styles of beers too. There are 2 trappists beers
on draught. Good R and B and rock
background music. Ename Blondle was 3.50 Euros. My favourite café in
Ghent. Opens 1100 hours Monday to
Friday, 1400 hours on Saturday and
1800
hours on a Sunday.
John
10/10 visit Sept 2011
Still my favourite café in Ghent despite the opening hours. The café
lives up to its name, with Trappist beers from the Netherlands, USA, Austria as
well as the usual Belgian suspects. Still with the blues background
soundtrack. Had a Postel from De Smedt
at 3.70 Euros. Opens 1500 hours Monday to Thursday, 1200 hours on Friday and
1700 hours on Saturday. Closed on Sunday.
John 10/10 visit May 2017
_______________________________________________________________________
Trollekelder 17 Bij St Jacob, Gent 9000
Web site http://www.trollekelder.be/
The pub on the
another side of the square. The décor is cellar like. Almost like the bar
should be underground. Not to busy at the time of my visit. The café had an
impressive beer list over 130 beers. Good relaxing atmosphere to drink your
beer in . Café opens at 1600 hours every day except Monday.
John 8/10 visit
June 2006
Nice laid
back sort of place, with a good beer menu. Low lighting, lots of wood, exposed
brick walls, wooden tables and chairs, but with a newish feel
to it.
British indie music is the musical background here. The St Idesbond Blond at
3.40 euros is served in an original vessel! Opens 1600 hours
Friday and
Saturday, 1200 hours Sunday and 1630 hours the rest of the week.
John 8/10 visit
Sept 2011
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T’Vosken, 19 St
Baafsplein, Ghent 9000
Web site http://www.tvosken.be/
Worth visiting as this Rodenbach café has draught
Foederbeir. Modern café in the centre of one of Ghent’s main squares. Drinking
is okay during
the day here, but it seems more of a restaurant
than a bar in the evening. Rodenbach Grand Cru is 3.50 euros.
John 7/10
visit Sept 2011
______________________________________________________________________
Velootje, 2 Kalversteeg, Gent 9000
Web site http://tvelootje.mine.nu/
This pub is
just across the river from the city centre. Close to the Aba Jour. It is well
worth the walk to visit one of the most original pubs I have visited. Inside is
just like a junk shop. Too many things to mention but oil lamps, teapots and
bikes hanging from the ceiling spring to mind. Beer choice not to great, had a
Glosch. On a hot day only stay inside for one. Great place. Opens at 1800
hours.
John 9.5/10
visit June 2006
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Verdronken Land, 57 Steendam, Ghent 9000
A little
walk form the centre; the main reason to visit this café is the tapas. The beer
list is about 25 beers with a few trappists. Modern décor
with
exposed brick, low lighting and a tiled floor. Surprising at the time of my
visit on a Tuesday at 1300 hours it is full of older locals. Orval was
3.40 euros.
Opens 1100 hours week days and 1700 hours at the weekend.
John 6/10
visit Sept 2011
________________________________________________________________
Waterhius aan de Bierkant, 9 Groentenmarkt, Gent 9000
Web site http://www.waterhuisaandebierkant.be/
A good café can do no wrong on this
wonderful riverside location. Old red brick building with wooden floorboards.
Dry hops on the ceiling as well as plants all around the café. Busy at the time
of visit, but still had a nice cosy feel to it. Service was on the slow side.
Outside drinking area as well as seats by the windows.
John 9/10 visit June 2006
Still the
same my last visit. Great canal side location, as well as a great choice of
draught beers and bottled beer list is impressive. Good atmosphere
at the time
of my visit with noisy locals playing cards. Service was a little slow, but
staff were covering an outside and an upstairs drinking area.
Great
place.
John
9/10 visit Sept 2011
Ghent’s best known café is on a
waterside location. Mike and I share some 75cl bottled beers at 11.50 Euros.
John 9.5/10 visit May 2017
Café beside the canal with its own web
site. Very busy with tourists and the service was slow. Inside its mainly wood
and brick. Outside seating. Selection of beer and food served as well.
Stuart
7.5/10 visit June 2003
OSTEND
Whether
you arrive at the ferry port, or come from Brussels Midi station (it's a 70
minute train ride), Ostend is a good coastal town to be based in. The town has one
classic pubs and a few more worthwhile places. Two things you will notice about
Ostend is first, the number of English and Irish pubs, and second, most pubs
play a lot of 1970's and 1980's music in the background. Visited April 2005 and
June 2006.
Titanic,
Vindictivelaan 20, Oostende 8400
From the outside the place looks more like
a restaurant than a pub but if you look on the menu you will see more drink
than food on it. Nice décor with slate floor, fake beams and white ceiling. The
harbour is across the road so there are windows all over the pub. Average beer
menu but a few usually brews.
John 7.5/10 visit April 2005
_________________________________________________________________________
Theatrecafe de illusie, Graad de smet Naeyerlaan 19,
Oostende 8400
Good modern café with a laid-back
atmosphere, as well as a good choice of beers including most trappist beers and
De Koninck on draught. There is a theatre upstairs, as you have guessed by it's
name. Nice décor, low lightening and candles add to the charm of this pub. Only
5 minutes away from the rail/tram station but away from the tourist front.
Opens 18.00 hours, closed on Sundays.
John 8.5/10 visit April 2005
_________________________________________________________________________
Rodenbach,
Alfons Pieterslaan 37, Oostende 8400
Well with a name like this named after
Belgium famous red beer brewery you have got to give the pub a try. It has
Rodenbach on draught, as well as Grand Cru in bottles. Pub with beams, white
ceilings, red walls and green seating. The pool table does take up a lot of
room for a small pub.
John 7/10
visit April 2005
_________________________________________________________________________
De Komedie, Louisastraat 5, Oostende 8400
Friendly pub with reasonable prices for
the centre. Not a great beer choice but they do have Orval. They also have
Bacardi Breezes and Smirnoff Ice, just has they are going out of fashion in the
UK! Décor is black and white checkered floor, black beams and white ceilings.
There is a pool table at the back. Toilets are up a spiral staircase. Nice
honest pub.
John 7.5/10 visit April 2005
_________________________________________________________________________
T' Ostens Bierhaus, Louisastraat 14, Oostende 8400
The Ostend Beer
House lives up to it’s name. With over 140 beers on the menu. Long narrow pub
with comfortable seats going all round
the café and the usual beer memorabilia on the walls. What makes this place
special is Tim Smith who’s equality at home talking and playing dominions with
the locals or talking to us beer tourists who have not found his café by
mistake! Tim’s favourite subject is
Bristol Rovers. Notice there is a wall on the team. I ordered a Oeibeir beer,
Tim gave a second one. When he thought the first one he pour was flat. Nice
touch. Great place. Visited 3 times on my stay in Ostend.
John 10/10
visited April 2005.
Visited June
2006, sadly now an Irish pub. Glad I visited it when I did.
OSTEND CLASSIC PUB
Botteltje, Louisastraat 19, Oostende 8400
Web site www.hotelmarion.be
The
décor to this pub is like a mini Wetherspoons. As well as looking like an
English pub the lively atmosphere on a Saturday night is like an English pub.
Excellent beer menu, with over 300 beers on the list. There is waiter service,
but they like you pay one beer at a time. It was busy. Pub closes at 0200 hours
Friday and Saturday, 0100hours the rest of the week. Nice to have a beer at
1230 and not feel guilty about it! Pub is part of the Hotel Marion next door
(see website). Reasonable rates of 40 Euros for a single room. I good place to
stay, I know I done it twice. Classic pub
John 10/10 visited April 2005 and June
2006
This is Ostends only good beer pub with a great choice of beers.
The pub has expanded since my last visit and there is now an upstairs drinking
area.
Décor is still the same, so it still looks like a
mini-Wetherspoons! Prices are not one standard price like most places, but vary
between 2.90 euro and 4.10 euro. There are a fair number of 75cl bottles on the
menu for sharing. Great atmosphere, great place.
John May 2012
Molly
Malones, Visserskaai 13, Oostende 8400
Irish
pub on the seafront. The pub is bigger than it looks and go’s back to fairway.
Not too many people in at the time of my visit. Apart from the Irish beers,
nothing interesting on the beer menu. Friendly service. Good food menu.
John
6/10 visit June 2006
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Crown
and Anchor, Loddenstraat, Oostende 8400
Small
English pub with décor which reminds me of a Dutch brown café. Was the only in,
then a group of Belgian lads come in and lively the pub up. The barmaid put
some music on for them. Then they all sang along, they had one beer and move
on. I suppose they was doing a pub crawl.
John
6/10 visit June 2006
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Admiral
Nelson, Langestraat 72, Oostende 8400
What
a good name for a English Pub. As you except the pub has a sailing theme with
model ships and sailing paintings on the wall. Décor reminds of a North of
England social club. Beers was from a small Belgium brewery who’s tied house it
was. Average beer.
John
6/10 visit June 2006
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Celtic
Ireland, Langestraat 65, Oostende 8400
For
some reason the Belgians like Irish pubs. The Celtic Ireland has a chain of
pubs in Belgium. The décor is okay and is a lot bigger than your average
Belgian café. Big sport screens for the World Cup. Back patio where everyone is
drinking, because it is so hot.
John 7/10 visit June 2006
POPERINGE and surrounding area including Ieper, Westvleteren and Woesten
Poperinge is a Belgian town close to the French border in the
Belgian hop growing region. It is the last stop in the line from Brussels Midi
station. The trains leave Midi at 41 minutes past, hourly. The journey lasts
one hour 40 minutes. Poperinge is a charming town of 20,000 people which is
still awaiting its first Macdonald’s and Starbucks!!! (Just joking!). All the
cafes served beers from nearby local breweries; as well as this they have their
own hop museum!
Palace Hotel, Ieperstraat 34, Poperinge
8970
Web site http://www.hotelpalace.be/
A wonderful art deco
frontage is matched by a classic interior with a marble floor and tables and
wicker chairs. There are various brewery mirrors from around the world on the
wall plus dry hops above the bar, which seems standard for some Poperinge cafes
as they have a hop museum in town!
A beer list of over a 100
beers makes for good drinking! The café does a single room at 60 euros a night.
The rooms are of the same high standard
as the rest of the café- I
know I have stayed there! A classic café. Closed Wednesday.
John 10/10 visit July 2009
___________________________________________________-
D’n Hommelzak,
Paardenmarkt 10, Poperinge 8970
Walk down
Bruggestraat off Grote Markt you come to a small square on your right hand
side. D’n Hommelzak is in the corner up a flight of stairs.
Don’t worry
about the tearoom sign above the door; this place has a good beer list! The
décor is upmarket with exposed brick, white tiled floor, sofa
seating and
flowers on the bar! A little like a tearoom I suppose. Like most cafes in
Poperinge there is strong support for the local beers. Closed
Thursdays,
open 1100 to 14000 hours Wednesday. Open from 1100 hours the rest of the week.
John 8/10
visit July 2009
______________________________________________________________________________________
The Old Fiddler, Venrnestraat 9,
Poperinge 8970
Web site www.theoldfiddler.be
It seems
Popringe is a big enough town to have its own Irish pub! As well as Jupiler and
Guinness the beer list has local beers of Hommelbier and St Bernardus plus 35
bottled beers which is not too bad for an Irish pub! There is standard Irish pub décor with green
seating and old Guinness ads on
the wall. The pub still has their St Patrick promotions
up in July! Friendly bar service and a pleasant atmosphere for a large place.
There is a beer garden around the back for a sunny day. Closes Tuesday, opens
from 1100 hours on other days.
John 8/10
visit July 2009
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Belfort, Grote
Markt 29, Poperinge 8970
Web
site http://www.hotelbelfort.be/
One of the many cafes on
Grote Markt with a beer list of 30 mainly mainstream beers with some local
beers on draught. Small drinking area at the front, inside is upmarket with
wood panelled walls and hops on the ceiling. Friendly owners, the cafes does
rooms and you can also hire a bike (see website) like I did, to go to
Westvleteren. But don’t lose the keys to the padlock like I did!!!
John 7/10 visit July 2009
___________________________________________________
Hotel De La Paix, Grote Markt 20,
Poperinge 8970
Web site http://www.hoteldelapaix.be/
The best cafe on Grote Markt
for beer, with over a 100 beers. A well thought out beer menu lists the beers
within styles with 14 local beers listed on
the first page. The café has
a modern stylish décor with 3 different drinking areas; inside and outside and
a restaurant, plus a beer garden at the
back. Good bar service and a
relaxing atmosphere. Closed Wednesday.
John 9/10 visit July 2009
___________________________________________________-
Oud Vlaenderen,
Grote Markt 14, Poperinge 8970
Another Grote Markt pub!
This has a small outside drinking area and large indoor drinking area.
Impressive traditional décor has red tiled floor, white walls, black beams and
dry hops above the bar. The beer list has the usual Belgian suspects! except
for De Koninck which is not usually found in this part of Belgium. The food menu
is mainly snacks.
John 7.5/10 visit July 2009
___________________________________________________
Cafe Britannia, Ieperstraat 151,
Poperinge 8970
This is a good local’s cafe
near to the station, which is a 5 minute walk away from the tourists’ cafes of
Grote Markt- but a different world. Also a big difference in prices with St
Bernardus 12 at 1.90 euros here and 2.40 euros at Grote Markt. The beer list is only 20 beers. Pool and
table football here played here. The TV set is not switched on, so it must be
for special sporting events. Cristal is the standard Pils beer here. Two
non-smoking tables by the door-strange!
John 8/10 visit July 2009.
___________________________________________________
Falstaff, Ieperstraat 169, Poperinge
8970
A café right next door to
the railway station; like all the cafes around the station a local’s café. The
café beers are from Bavik-an independent brewery with a standard draught
range-plus Petrus bottled beer range. The beer list is short, but it does have
Duvel for 2 euros, half of what you can find it for
in Brussels. This is a small café with marble floor,
wicker chairs and a pinball machine.
There was a lack of commuters at the time of my visit!
John 7/10 visit July 2009
WESTVLETEREN
If you don’t know the story here goes.
Westvleteren is a trappist brewery; in the last 5 years the Westvleteren 12
beer has
been voted best beer in the world by 2
beer lovers’ web sites Beer Advocate and Rate Beer.com. Most breweries would
start
an advertising campaign and increase
production. The brothers have gone the other way, keeping production at the
same small levels, withdrawing it from
Belgian cafes and selling it in only two outlets; the café below and take out
service at the abbey
(see web site www.sintsixtus.be
) which means a long wait on the phone and with your car! While the brothers
intents were good, with the law of supply and demand means the beer has become
rare and expensive. All 3 Westvleteren beers are excellent.
In de Vrede, Donkerstraat 13,
Vleteren 8640 (Westvleteren)
Web site http://www.indevrede.be/
A 25 minute cycle ride in the rain from Poperinge, which was a little
uncomfortable! Once you are drinking 3 of the finest beers in the world, the
discomfort is soon forgotten! If you didn’t know already, this is the only café
where you can drink Westvleteren-the abbey is across the road.
This might explain why there is hardly a seat to be had at 1300 hours,
in this big modern barn of place! Décor
is like a Swiss ski chalet, which
is strange for flat Belgium! The
car park is not easy to find. The prices for the Westvleteren beers are 3.20
euros for Blonde 6, 3.70 euros for Westvleteren 8 and 4.30 euros for Westvleteren
12. For some reason the waiters want payment for each round of beers! Just miss out on some take away beer. This is
a must for all beer hunters. On the bike ride back the sun was shining-in more
than one way! See web site for strange opening
hours!
John 9.5/10 visit July 2009
__________________________________________________
WOESTEN
ZON, Elverdingestraat 2,
Woesten-Vieteren 8640.
The brewery tap of Deca
beers; the brewery is next door. The back of the pub is for food, but the front
of the pub is traditional, with a dartboard with is rare for Belgium. A small dog is there to greet people at the
door. Good friendly local vibe. Due to my lack of Flemish-this is the Belgian
countryside after all. I wound up with an Antiek 10% beer from Deca!! The
urinals are outside at the back against the wall! Seriously!!
John 8/10 visit July 2009
_____________________________________________________-
IEPER
A town which is
here to reminder us of the horrors of World War One. The Main Gate is an impressive
war memorial. Cafes have an average choice
of beer.
Klein Rijsel,
Rijselstraat 208, Ieper 8900
This pub is the entrance to
Rampart Museum (a museum with World War One memorabilia). The pub is also full
of WW1 memorabilia including the famous Lord Kitchener recruiting poster. Not a
bad beer list (for Ieper) with 46 bottled beers, they are displayed above the
bar. For 6 euros you
can have a remembrance beer
the profit of which goes to the maintainer of the museum. A 10 minute walk from
Grote Markt. Opens 1030 to 2100 hours, closes Wednesday and Thursday.
John 8/10 visit July 2009
_____________________________________________________
Old Tom Café, Grote Markt 8, Ieper 8900
Web site http://www.oldtom.be/
Grote Markt
has a lot of cafes-most of them with a limited beer choice. This café doesn’t
have a great choice, but it does have beers from the Pater range on draught and
Yperman Ale and SAS Pils from Van Eerke- all independent Belgian beers. Café has
an outside drinking area overlooking the main square. Inside is non-smoking
with photos of World War One on the wall. The bar service was friendly. The
Café does rooms (see website).
John 7.5/10
visit July 2009
___________________________________________________--