Brussels
This grand café has a single, high-ceilinged room whose walls sport a ludicrously ornate load of gilt stucco tracery. Despite the grandeur, drinks are…
Must-see nightlife in Brussels
Brussels
This sumptuous 1886 grand café dazzles with polished brasswork and aproned waiters, yet prices aren’t exorbitant and coiffured mesdames with small dogs…
Brussels
An institution. Behind windows plastered with beer stickers, this tattered, quirky old café is the ultimate beer spot in Brussels. Sample some of its…
Brussels
Overwhelming weirdness hits you as you acid-trip your way through this sensory overload of rambling passageways, ragged old sofas and inexplicable…
Brussels
Down a tiny hidden alley from Rue du Marché aux Herbes 5, Nostre-Dame has an almost medieval feel but retains a genuine local vibe. A magical old café…
Brussels
At the home to Brussels’ classic puppet theatre, this irresistibly quaint and cosy timber-framed bar serves beers and basic snacks.
Brussels
This venerable 19th-century building faces out onto the market square of Parvis de St-Gilles. A combined café, bar and exhibition space, its scruffy-cool…
Brussels
Two tiny, super-cosy tasting rooms behind a tea-trading store offer six bean types for its coffees, and 200 teas, served in an eclectic range of pots. The…
Brussels
An emporium of nocturnal activities such as gigs, and of apéritifs featuring deli cuts and cheese platters, Chez Franz is a locals' bar. The beers are…
Brussels
Rub shoulders with a Flemish crowd at this industrial café, with brick and concrete floors, away from the nearby touristy hot spots. Try local beers such…
Brussels
Dark wood, a piano and opal lights set the mood of this classic Belgian pub. Mostly attended by Flemish locals, Monk serves a wide array of reasonably…
Brussels
With sumptuous beers and a constant flow of new brews taste-tested by the public, this democratic microbrewery and bar is one of the most innovative…
Brussels
The impeccably trendy Bar du Matin sits on a corner site, the noisy road screened by beech trees. There’s a serious beer menu and pared-back '60s decor…
Brussels
Duck beneath the statue of the bishop, then tunnel through the centuries to this lushly panelled 1695 gem. You’ll find lavish fireplaces, fascinating…
Brussels
Sounds from soul to punk to progressive rock (live, DJs or just through the speakers) play at this ubercool bar, where entry’s free, the atmosphere buzzes…
Brussels
An absolute classic unchanged since 1928, with lined-up wooden tables, arched mirror panels and entertainingly brusque service.
Brussels
Jester is a self-proclaimed brown café, with a minimalist stained glass window looking out onto the medieval Porte de Hal. The interior stylishly combines…
Brussels
Typical of the new array of hip but relaxed Brussels bars, BarBeton has a tiled floor and unpolished wood furnishings. It's good for an early breakfast,…
Brussels
The nicotine-stained walls of this tiny café, adored by artists and locals, are covered with writings, art and scribbles by Magritte and his surrealist…
Brussels
Big windows and a 1920s and '30s charm make this intimate café a particularly relaxing place to read the newspapers (provided in several languages) by day…
Brussels
A characterful and enjoyably down-at-heel art nouveau café, with geometric floor tiling, a handsome wooden bar, stained glass and vintage light fittings…
Brussels
At last count, Moeder was serving 46 artisanal beers. The setting is contemporary rather than old world: walls are bare brick and hung with photos, and…
Brussels
Despite facing Brussels’ kitsch central, this is a surprisingly appealing café full of genuine old puppets. It offers a great selection of fairly priced…
Brussels
This hip brasserie in a corner of the art deco Flagey ‘liner’ building is mellow by day, but the beats grow ever louder towards closing time. There's live…
Brussels
Welcome to the natural wine emporium, where legendary nights begin. Have a punk rosé, a glass of bubbly or a more rock-and-roll wine featured on the wall…
Brussels
Almost hidden down a body-wide alley-tunnel, the Bécasse has long rows of tables that give it a certain Bruegelesque quality, even though it’s ‘only’ been…
Brussels
Lovers of the green fairy will revel in absinthe shots (up to 89.9% alcohol!) and other botanical potions in this darkly dressed bar dedicated to Van Gogh…
Brussels
Chez Bobonne is all about Belgian beer. As well as brewing some decent stuff themselves, the team behind the project also brings in bottles from big names…
Brussels
Coffee geeks rejoice: this speciality espresso bar, which roasts its own beans, serves some of the best caffeine in the city. Among battered sofas,…
Brussels
Cocktail mixologists bewitch with their concoctions at this converted 19th-century town house above the Michelin-starred Rouge Tomate restaurant…
Brussels
A great bar to kick-start a night out, right in the centre of the vibrant Ste-Catherine area. The cosy atmosphere is enhanced by vintage items hanging on…
Brussels
With sleek bare bricks, exposed concrete and a beautiful tiled floor, this light-filled aperitivo bar also serves moreish snacks to soak up the booze. Try…
Brussels
Each summer, a series of guinguettes (temporary kiosks) pop up around the parks of Brussels. Shaded Guinguette Maurice is a lovely spot for cold beer,…
Brussels
Amid surrounding trendiness, this refreshingly unpretentious corner bar still attracts crusty beer-nursing locals with unfeasibly long moustaches. Hurry…
Brussels
A cute Ste-Catherine club with a retro, burlesque feel, it hosts funk all-nighters and swing nights, plus garage and DJ sets.
Brussels
One of our favourite bars. Yes, those are inflated dried pigs’ bladders above your head.
Brussels
Handy for the Cinquantenaire, this wood-panelled classic café has a tree-shaded terrace and makes an ideal refreshment stop after a hard day’s museuming…
Brussels
This café's barrel tables, beer-tray ceilings and over 2000 world beers were already impressive. Now they’ve added a rum garden, a tap house and the…
Brussels
The name refers to the former function of the building: an Anglican church. The decor is still very much intact, but it's now lit gorgeously in shades of…
Brussels
The ‘secret’ upstairs room is a particularly superb vantage point, though it's not always open. Not surprisingly, prices are steep, so if you’re not here…