Fun and entertainment Belgium

Not to be missed! A beer lover's HQ, this is a visual and gustatory paradise for a clientele of locals, shoulder to shoulder with the many tourists and students of the IHECS who are delighted to be in such a place. In an intimate atmosphere - candlelight, old photos and engravings on the wall - no less than 180 different drinks can be tasted. This Mecca of culture and hops is home to the Order of Manneken Pis, whose various costumes can be found at the back of the bar.

In the pedestrian area, in front of the Saint-Loup church, this small bar with a retro look was until March 2022 managed by Jean Courtoy, helped by his wife Francine. At more than 75 years old, the time of a well-deserved retirement has come for this true connoisseur of beer service. If his charisma and humour will be missed by his customers, they can rest assured knowing that Jean-François, the son, is now taking over the family institution. Drinking a beer at the Collège will remain a proof of good taste, knowing that he already masters the subject very well.

Attention, major address! This bar, one of the oldest in the capital, embodies the popular and rustic Brussels spirit. It was taken over in the summer of 2018 but nothing has changed. Its specialties are lambic, gueuze and kriek without forgetting the delicious spreads and generous salads. The history of the estaminet goes back to 1877, when the Steppé family took over the former post office. It was only after the square was narrowed that Tabora Street was created, as well as the dead end of the café, recognisable by the bird embedded in the pavement at the entrance.

What a great, original idea: this fairly recent cultural venue opened in the town's superb former post office. Neat, trendy, designer (note the superb ceiling lights), very spacious, and therefore focused on local cultural events. The menu features a handful of simple, tasty and reasonably priced gourmet dishes, salads and wraps, as well as delicious breakfasts. Good background music, though a little noisy when groups arrive. Rooftop in summer.

Afternoon Tea was introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840, at around 4pm. The ritual has spread throughout Britain... and to Bruges. Take time out between two visits to the superb setting of the Hotel De Orangerie and its salon, decorated with paintings from the ^17th and ^18th centuries, by the fireside in winter or on the terrace facing the canal in summer. From cream teas to champagneafternoon teas, there's a choice of formulas.

A Liège institution. You can't miss this mythical place behind the Place du Marché, in a cluster of ^18th-century mansions. The place is a must-see, as is the local beverage, peket, a genever available in some thirty fruity flavors... or flambé. But the special thing about the place is that it's made up of four entities (pékéterie, restaurant, wine bar and club) linked together in a maze of adjoining rooms where it's easy to get lost! There's also a popular outdoor terrace.

Opened in 1987 by a university professor, the bar covered an existing courtyard (hence the name). Today, it perpetuates an unchanging ambience, a popular and convivial side and an eclectic quality of music. It attracts night owls until 6am! The beer flow system here consists of a cold room that cools the kegs to -2°C and a mixture of nitrogen and_CO2 that makes the beer more digestible and the foam thicker. At weekends, you'll find some not-so-youngsters dancing on the tables.

After Ghent and Antwerp, here is the Brussels "place to beer" which, as its name indicates, is dedicated to the divine hoppy beverage. As it is located right on the Anspach boulevard, it's hard to find a more central location! With 333 bottled beers and 33 draught beers, Bier Central is not short of choice. But in addition to the 366 beers (one for each day of the year), they offer typical Belgian cuisine such as mussels and fries with a local beer, Flemish-style carbonnade with beer, homemade shrimp croquettes..

To enter, ring the bell. Don't hesitate: you're about to enter a place out of time and out of this world. The town's former Masonic temple has been refurbished by owner Willy Retsin into an original, offbeat bar with a unique atmosphere, open only on weekend evenings. From New Orleans to 1920s Cuba in Prohibition mode, you can enjoy rum cocktails to the sound of Latin music. The inner garden is Bruges' smallest cemetery. A gothic cabaret that's both thrilling and astonishing!

Concert hall, brasserie, vinyl store, food truck, organizer of the Festival Les Ardentes... the Reflektor is on all fronts, or almost. We love music here, and it shows. In fact, the Reflektor owes its name to an Arcade Fire album. The 600-capacity concert hall features rock, pop, electro, house, reggae, metal and funk artists. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Reflektor Records corner is the place to go to find the vinyl you've been missing. An unmissable cultural spot in Liège.

Just a stone's throw from Place Flagey, in a former butcher's shop that later became a poulterer's, giving the place a very personal atmosphere, here's an eat & wine bar that's very much of its time... You'll feel right at home in these "penates", and the place is well known among Ixellois! Goat's cheese quesadillas, stuffed peppers, portions of cheese or charcuterie, or just a drink at any time. The wine list is extensive, and the team offers Mediterranean-style snacks to accompany a glass of red, white or bubbly.

Considered one of the oldest cafés in Brussels, it is said to have welcomed Charles V. That's how old it is! The furniture is rustic and the atmosphere of the bruin café warms you up in winter and refreshes your thoughts all year round. In terms of beer selection, the Vieux Spijt' is at the forefront and offers some thirty fine special beers from our region. On the plate, there are brewery classics, mussels in season and a few Greek dishes that do honour to the owner's homeland. It's a pity that the quality is sometimes so random...

A beautiful and emblematic place in the city centre, known for its strong character as an old-fashioned café. The Cirio is a real institution, especially since it has been completely refurbished. An old-fashioned café established here in 1886, the historic establishment has lost none of its architectural beauty. Nor has it lost any of its old-fashioned atmosphere or its "Bruxello-bruxelleer" ambiance.This is dear to the oldest inhabitants of the city as well as the youngest. People go there to sip original half in half. Often crowded during peak periods.

In the past, Brel could be seen in this pop-rock temple of music. Today, we listen to stars who still want to perform in a place with a human dimension or young Belgian talents, French songs or World Music. With a capacity of 2,000 people standing, the hall is modular and can be adapted to different styles of music. During quieter concerts, you can sit on the bleachers. Go upstairs and you will discover the AB Box with its intimate atmosphere. Aimed at a young audience, the AB makes sure that the concerts end at 10.30 pm.