Antwerp
In a fine brick building that started life as a 16th-century warehouse, the cool, modernised interior hosts a welcoming bar aimed for a gay male clientele…
Must-see nightlife in Belgium
The Ardennes
With 13 brews on tap, a quirky interior with seats that look like old tram benches, a large terrace and cosy rear garden-yard, Georges is the most…
Liège
Take surreal decor with a ghoulish dark humour, add arcade games, thrash metal music and staff with more piercings and ink than plain skin et voilà – c…
Northeast Belgium
Sit beside a fireplace beneath historic beamed ceilings at this quiet pub and get stuck into a choice of over 200 brews including all the Trappists and 25…
Liège
Want deep discussions (in French) about the state of the world? Then venture into this intimate little cafe with two convivial little balconies, located…
Ghent
Ghent’s uberpopular brewery-pub serves excellent herb-infused brews. Guided tours of the brewery (for a minimum of eight thirsty punters) are available by…
Brussels
Cramped and rough, Booze’n’Blues features a mannequin torso, an old jukebox and an extended bar panelled like a choir stall. Unpredictable, entertainingly…
Brussels
This old clothes shop has been converted into a shabby-chic bar with good beats and surprisingly inexpensive drinks given its status as a favourite for…
Liège
A tasting room for Liège's exciting new brewery whose products are already causing a stir, notably the refreshing Curtius wheat beer and the excellent IPA…
Antwerp
A calm, mirror-panelled little bruin café (traditional pub) that's an absolute classic for quietly sipping a bolleke (beer from €2.20).
Brussels
Navy tiles and a stylised horse-head sign identify this bar and music venue, a small and welcoming neighbourhood place that hosts great Sunday-night jazz…
Le Marseillais du Jeu de Balle
Brussels
This traditional corner bar is a much-loved old stager on the square. It serves baguettes and beers, but the speciality is pastis: an anise-flavoured…
Brussels
This classic local hostelry with old-fashioned mirror-panelled seats and 1927 chequerboard flooring is well regarded for its typical Bruxellois meals.
Antwerp
Grungier and friendlier than most bars in ’t Zuid, Chatleroi has a deeply atmospheric interior and eclectic musical taste, whether piped or live.
Ghent
This congenial, multifaceted café with eclectic decor and at least 20 beers from the barrel hosts regular jam nights and live music.
West Flanders
Flickering candles, crooning soft jazz and more than 100 beers including draught Chimay Tripel (€3.50). Tables spill onto the park opposite.
Ghent
Lit only by candles, this classic late-night cafe-bar with carved wooden ceilings is an ideal place for cosy midnight conversations.
Brussels
DJs transform what looks like a traditional 1920s' brown café into one of Brussels’ most popular gay music pubs.
Antwerp
A lively, inexpensive bruin café (traditional pub) with summer street-seating spilling out towards the cathedral.
The Ardennes
Cool decor, great coffee (from €2) and insider suggestions for cycling fanatics; located just above Coo train station.
Bruges
A real nightclub in the centre of the city. A very youthful crowd packs out the DJ nights, gigs and after-parties.
Brussels
A men-only cruising venue with an arty theme, Stammbar has regular themed exhibitions and DJ nights.
Brussels
Friendly Irish pub near the European Commission that's great for beer, sport and socialising.
Brussels
Popular city-centre club in the vaulted cellars beneath the buzzing Café des Halles.
Brussels
From bottles of Italian barolo to glasses of Argentinean malbec, Wine Fever offers a whistle-stop tour of some of the world's best wines. The specials on…
Brussels
Jane’s is where New York cocktails meet the Italian aperitivo. Among marble tables and intimate lighting, platters of grilled Scamorza cheese with…
Brussels
The beans sold at this hip coffee shop are prepared at Belga & Co’s own roaster in Antwerp. Caffeine connoisseurs can expect a choice of well-prepared…
Ostend
With the panelling of a traditional café but the backlit bottle racks of a fashion-conscious cocktail bar, Lafayette hits a fine balance between hip and…
Namur
Reminiscent of a typical Euro-Irish bar but without the signposts to Killarney, this is popular with students from the nearby university and has a beer…
Ostend
This busy pub-café on Ostend's so-called 'Little Paris' corner was built in 1885. It's a local landmark and a thoroughly atmospheric place to down a beer,…
Ghent
Silver-floral wallpaper, black-and-white photos from the glory days of celluloid and the occasional live jazz performance (9pm most Thursdays Oct-Apr)…
Ypres
One of Ypres' oldest houses, the 1772 Binnenhuys was rare in surviving WWI relatively intact. It's now an old-world home interiors shop, but tucked away…
Ghent
In a graphic metaphor of globalisation, Ghent's classic old-world coffee shop is now hidden behind a brash Starbucks. Its response? A bright new takeaway…
Ostend
In a spacious café reminiscent of a British pub you'll find around 300 different beers, including a dozen on draught. Meals (noon to 2.30pm and 6pm to…
Antwerp
Of all the terraces on Marnixplaats overlooking the huge Neptune sculpture, this happy spot is generally the most popular. And when skies open, the big…
The Ardennes
A low-key café with a people-watching terrace, a wide range of fair-priced beers (most €3.90) and plenty of decent pub food at reasonable prices (mains €9…
Wallonia
Around the back of the Abbaye d'Aulne, it's worth seeking out this timeless brasserie, which serves up excellent high-fermentation beers, including the…
Au Tableau Qui Dit des Bêtises
Liège
The tree-shaded terrace by Liège's cathedral is a good place to sip a glass of wine with local arty types. The bistro section next door with an all-black…
Bruges
Unusually hip for Bruges, with a '60s/'70s vibe and a vintage Vespa hanging from the roof. The sunny terrace is a nice spot for a Jupiler, and the theme…
