The best bars and cafés Belgium

To set itself apart, this "wine shop - wine bar - tasting room - tapas bar" offers a huge range of wines covering all the bases: grands crus, small producers, world wines... The assortment makes you dizzy even before you've had a sip. You can also buy like a wine merchant (700 wines, 150 beers, 150 spirits), taste at the bar from a choice of fifteen or so, or pay a corkage fee for whole bottles. And if you're there at lunchtime, the menu, which goes beyond tapas, is not to be sniffed at.

Located just around the corner from Place Flagey, Le Pantin is well worth a visit. You'll find a fine list of beers to warm you up in winter, as well as a selection of teas. The decor may show its age, but that's part of the charm of this bar, far removed from the trendy café codes found in the area. The place is also a gathering place for chess and board game enthusiasts. Le Pantin celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023, and while JM, who opened the establishment, drops in from time to time, it's Tom, the son (after his sister Liza) who runs the bar.

Next to the eponymous brewery, which produces the famous Brugse Zot, a tasty lager, there's a tavern and restaurant where you can sample a wide range of beers. But also regional and seasonal dishes of beer specialties (such as pork cheeks with Brugse Zot Double), around a roaring fire in winter. Everything is homemade, and the menu changes every month. The terrace offers a relaxing break in fine weather, while the beautiful panoramic view of Bruges from the third floor and the store are its main assets.

This astonishing ^18th-century estaminet was a den of Belgian surrealism in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, it lives on its memories, with a decor that mixes poems, collages, portraits and evidence of Jacques Brel's occasional visits. A magnificent place defended body and soul by an essentially Flemish clientele from Brussels. "Het Goudbloemmeke in Papier" is the translation. The pandemic almost killed off La Fleur, but here it is, flourishing, thanks in part to the young operators of Brasserie Verschueren.

Open every day, although not as early as it used to be, La Brocante has retained all its old bistro cachet, with its period tiling and wooden furniture. Historic locals mingle with antiques enthusiasts and tourists on the prowl. For sustenance (flea markets make you hungry), you can order a sandwich, a croque, a salad or a sausage stoemp. Or simply drink a beer (there are around a hundred to choose from, including excellent gueuzes and krieks) and enjoy the atmosphere of Les Marolles, the soul of Brussels.

Little Delirium is a bar located in Le Brasseur, Brussels. It offers an incredible selection of over 2,000 beers, making it a veritable paradise for beer lovers. In terms of decoration, the bar is adorned with objects linked to the world of brewing, creating a warm, authentic atmosphere.

Next to the cathedral, this tavern-restaurant is located in authentic 15th century cellars. Classical music plays in the background as you sit around large, friendly tables or in nooks and crannies. A leap of several centuries back in time! You can go there for a drink (the menu has 25 draught beers, more than 100 bottles and good wines), or for lunch or dinner. Either tapas to share, or traditional Flemish dishes modernized, such as rabbit with prunes in bacon with Westmalle Dubbel Trappist beer.

If you have to be one, push the door of this very reputable bar. A Bruges café like before, a real, pure one with coasters in every corner, old advertising posters, glasses, sacred bottles and ... more than three hundred kinds of beer à la carte. You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to tasting the local malted specialities which can be accompanied by mixed boards. Young, old, other people and tourists come together in this authentic place with a lively Bruges soul.

Press the Archi's doorbell and enter another world where nothing, apart from the customers' attire, has changed since the 1930s: architecture, decor and comfortable original Art Deco armchairs that invite visitors to lounge around sipping a pisco sour. In 1953, jazz pianist Stan Brenders took over the establishment. His piano is still there, as are the jazz concerts, every weekend in the late afternoon. In the evenings, a motley crew gathers here, and after a certain hour, it's time to dance. L'Archi is a Brussels legend!

A must-see for Montois evenings and even early alcoholic mornings since the bar is open 24 hours a day, a real beacon in the night! Or rather a tavern in a vaulted cellar with exposed stones. Here good music, deep friendships and happy drinks are intertwined. Take the opportunity to discover the local drink: Chinchin (served in small "shoots", the lemon liquid is sold at a small price), but also special local beers, such as the inevitable Montoise. The typical old-fashioned Belgian troquet atmosphere.

Le café du chineur: grandma's flowery tapestries, small tables made of bric-a-brac and broc wood, sofas where you can sink while drinking your coffee, necessarily a very good coffee served by baristas, and while having a little pastry, the bohemian setting is set here. Ah! you can also rummage through a few vinyl trays to find a few cakes from unknown artists like classics. You can also opt for a homemade iced tea. Outside, the benches are made with wooden doors from old cupboards!

Blend is both a wine bar and a wine shop. The kind of place where one comes to pay tribute to Bacchus in a friendly and warm atmosphere. The knowledgeable advice of the staff will delight wine lovers and/or the most curious, as the assortment is wide. A selection of famous wines and promising new ones that you can discover around tapas and beautiful boards of Italian cold cuts. A quality address and a very friendly welcome. Moreover, there are two other Blends in Antwerp and Ghent!

A must for night owls! Marvin Gaye is not far away: this was his favorite bar when he was exiled to Ostend. In fact, the decor is dedicated to him, with large black-and-white photos of him hanging on the walls. An atmospheric bar where beers, wines and cocktails dress up the nights in their finest colors. You can chat and dance to the rhythms of soul, r'n'b, jazz and funk, masterfully distilled by the permanent DJ, who has a fine ear for music. It's the place to go to extend the evening.

The eponymous hotel's "Café Marcel" is a very central spot, distinguished by its trendy setting, with refreshing bamboo, large landscape photos on the wall and convivial tables. It's like being at home here, by the contemporary decorative fireplace, on retro but studied armchairs. Superb breakfast and lunch menus. Also ideal for a tea break or an afterwork tapas aperitif. A warm, modern atmosphere, a pleasant terrace just as carefully decorated, and smart cocktails to get the evening off to a good start.

Mischievous-looking trolls (not garden gnomes!) give this little café a special atmosphere. Candles, brick walls, huge mirrors tarnished by time, exposed beams and classical music create a pleasant and unusual intimate atmosphere. On draught, you'll find Trollebier (the trolls' beer), either blond or dark. A must-try, of course, but there are almost 300 regional beers on tap too! The Hibiscus Goose, for example, was delicious! Pleasant outdoor terrace on the cobblestones.

During the Second World War, the building was used as an underground location by the Resistance. It has kept this rebellious side embodied today by an artistic, bohemian, young and sometimes penniless population. The establishment was founded by Louis Verschueren in 1880! Its old café décor, with its post-war counter and its small canteen tables, makes it an important place in the life of Saint-Gilles, often full to bursting. One comes there to taste a beer, to read while drinking a coffee, to meet with friends and to remake the world.

An exceptional caberdouche in the heart of Brussels, opposite the church of the same name and next to the Grand Place. And yet it's the opposite of a tourist trap, both in terms of the welcome and the menu. It's the ideal place to immerse yourself in Brussels culture, relax after a day's sightseeing or simply enjoy a good beer with friends. The choice is vast and the prices very reasonable. A must-visit for anyone looking to capture the soul of Brussels. Add it to your list of must-sees for an authentic stay.

When a specialist, a snoop in search of the best wines for over 30 years, decides to open his own wine bar, you can only expect the best. Christophe offers a fine selection of his favorites, and the quality is top-notch. He'll know how to advise you so that your visit to this cosy nest in the center of Liège leaves you with unforgettable memories. In addition to the quality of the welcome and the wines on offer, we fell in love with the upstairs lounge, the perfect place to catch up on old times with a few mates and a few bottles from behind the scenes.

Ready to take a cocktail world tour from Bruges? This is the trendy place to sip these sweet treats. Behind a historic façade lies an elegant interior with a hushed ambience, inviting us to make ourselves comfortable in the satin armchairs. The stars here are the Ghost colors based on gin and IPA beer with lemon and ginger syrup, and the Zombi with its 3 rums and deliciously tangy notes of pineapple, lime and passion fruit. The ingredients are all fresh and the balance of flavors respected.

Born of crowdfunding, the Company set up its tanks in 2017 in the Het Eilandje district, the oldest port area. ABC prides itself on being Antwerp's only independent brewery. Respectful of the environment, it focuses on all re-use possibilities and uses 100% green electricity. The brewery produces Seef, a blond, cloudy beer whose origins date back to the ^16th century. Come and taste it on site among the vats. You can also eat here!

DeDingen is a place with vintage decor and good, healthy, inexpensive food. Here, it's "à la bonne franquette". The meats and vegetables are beautifully combined with seeds and herbs, and you can feel the mastery of discipline in the kitchen. Afternoons are reserved for snacks, and on weekend evenings, it transforms into a café where you can sample beers from microbreweries. Bonus: a trendy retro ambience, with school chairs, architect's lamps, antique radios and second-hand furniture. A real favorite.

While brewing at Deca's Woeste facility until 2005, Nino Bacelle and Guido Devos then crossed the language border to establish their facilities in Dottignies, near Mouscron. At De Ranke, the importance of hops is not negligible. Hop extracts are out of the question. Here, we use real hop cones from Poperinge and Warneton. Their reputation is well established, and in their tap room you can try out their XX Bitter, Noir de Dottignies or Guldenberg, a typical abbey beer.

A must for all lovers of Duvel queen beer: the Duvelorium is located just above the Historium. This bar specializes in Belgian beers. Enjoy a moment of relaxation in a medieval tavern, and try the astonishing tastings combining beers and pralines. You can also choose another beer from the extensive menu. To be tasted on site or sold in the boutique. Gift sets with bottle and collector's glass are also available. Plus: the panoramic terrace overlooking the market square.

In the cosy and refined atmosphere of an English club (the spirit of Phileas Fogg must linger there), Le Cercle takes you on a world tour with a Belgian-French restaurant spiced up with a bit of exoticism and a well-chosen selection of world wines. Or come and have a drink and pick up one of the travel books available. Le Cercle is also a place of culture with concerts and events held in the superb 17th century vaulted cellars. This space, as well as the library, can be reserved for private dinners.

The Cambrinus is one of those breweries in the historic center that is a must for any beer lover. The menu details a long list of more than 400 references, with, in particular, a nice list of Christmas beers in season. Also on the menu, a very Belgian brewery menu with some dishes prepared with beer such as rabbit with prunes or fish cassolette, real delights. Warm atmosphere of the room where a light smell of hops floats. Ideal for a good-natured stopover. Warm welcome.

Bonnefooi ("by chance" in the local dialect...) is defined as a dance bar with DJ sets every opening night and free concerts on Wednesdays and Sundays, to the delight of a young audience. Local artists of all stripes perform here, and many international stars have also made a name for themselves. Enchanting setting and intoxicating music of all kinds (electronic, jazz...)... open until 8 a.m. on weekends! Upstairs, you can privatize the entire restaurant (50 pers. minimum) or reserve a few tables.

This cramped café is housed in one of the oldest houses in the city. Indeed, the facade bears the date 1228. But then why the name? Well because in the time of its commercial and industrial hegemony, Ghent traded with the Turks! The simple and sober decor has the atmosphere of popular places. Attended by many regulars, it is an ideal bar for chatting while enjoying a good mousse. You can choose from a fine selection of beers, including some famous Trappist beers, whiskies and why not a brandy.

Located in the Imagix cinema complex, Brasse-Temps is more than just a tavern-restaurant, it's also a microbrewery. The beers are brewed on site by Brasserie Dubuisson, the owner of the premises and "inventor" of the concept, which is also available in Froyennes (Tournai) and Charleroi. The catering, a "Parisian brasserie" style with local accents, is prepared by Moresto catering and adapted to the various house beers.....

The bistro offers a careful selection of Belgian craft beers and monthly promotions from other European countries. You can even find American beers! About forty beers are available on draught, including the Brussels faro, lambic and kriek, which are drawn with a hand pump. As an accompaniment, we let ourselves be tempted by one of the organic snacks and light meals, in a chic and relatively contemporary setting. Its reputation is almost unquestionable, if only to distinguish it from its big sister in Saint-Gilles.

A great place in a contemporary setting, ideal for a drink with friends or a tête-à-tête... before or after a film at the Sauvenière cinema. Or simply when you feel like it. The drinks menu is very comprehensive, including many organic wines and a range of pékèts. If you're hungry, don't hesitate to order one of the dishes from the à la carte menu or the suggestion board - they're delicious! As the chef is a vegetarian, there's no shortage of vegetarian options. Les Grignoux also has its own beer... eponymous and beautifully amber.

Georges Goffart was at the counter of Georges Café since its creation in 1993. The sanitary crisis and the floods have had their way with the establishment but not with its emblematic owner who had already bounced back with his superb Gorgées... On the menu, a lot of Belgian beers, including about twenty on tap, as well as rare beers.

A true benchmark for the whole of Brabant-Wallon! This vast 150^m2 space houses a large counter featuring twelve beers on tap (ten of which are fixed) and a long list of two hundred Belgian beers (as well as seasonal beers, which are by their very nature ephemeral). The highly professional team offers advice to the undecided. The premises regularly host small, spontaneous concerts: all in keeping with the pop-rock ambience of this bistro, which attracts both passing beer lovers and local students.

A student bistro, given its location near the University, but open to all. The menu features around a hundred beers, including eight on tap. The bistro also has its own label, La Bouffonne, an amber ale. At the back, the sunny courtyard terrace is lined with a pétanque court, while the table soccer, board games and comic books in the reading corner are ideal for rainy days. A large screen broadcasts Red Devils matches. In terms of décor, the old pharmacy sign, formerly known as an apothecary, is a real eye-catcher.

Here's an authentic place where you can still hear the heartbeat of the old town. Housed in a cul-de-sac, it's not easy to find between the Grand-Place and the Burg. A small, friendly, authentic, old-fashioned café where you can sample over one hundred and thirty varieties of beer, either à la carte or by the board. We won't tell you more to preserve the secret, but the Garre is the name of a Triple served here and only here. The bar is spread over two floors, mostly filled with Bruges locals and a few tourists who've found the address.

Here is a café that has become a must in Saint-Gilles. In this large room formerly dedicated to the events of the local PS, one empties joyfully many glasses in a hubbub worthy of certain Walloon strikes. Joking aside, the dynamic team that runs the place regularly organises exhibitions, openings, concerts and DJ sets that give the place a soul of its own. At market time, it's really lively on Sundays. Nice terrace and cheap food. Come on, mate, give us a pint!

The superb old "English" pharmacy on the Mont des Arts has been transformed into a cocktail bar with a beautiful effect. The wood panelling, the shelves, the herbal and potion jars are still there, as well as the counter. It is the medication that has changed. No Belgian beers here, only cocktails of all kinds, from the classics to some very strange ones that seem to have come straight out of an alchemist's old book! Nice initiative, but a note that can quickly go up in the towers.

Very nice to watch soccer games and sip a good brown Guiness in this typical Irish pub. To make matters worse, it offers concerts every Friday and Saturday night (covers by a local band...). All the sporting events are broadcasted on the 12 screens and followed by numerous regulars. The pub offers 9 types of draught beers and more than 50 whiskeys. Ideal to taste good Belgian and Irish craft beers and don't forget to taste the delicious Irish dishes including the "fabulous Irish Breakfast"

The Porte Noire's medieval vaulted cellars were once used as a ^16th-century convent kitchen. Now one of the very best havens for beer and whisky lovers, there's a wide selection, including a dozen on draught. The emphasis is on small-scale craft beers rather than their mass-market commercial counterparts. Live music every other Thursday night from 10pm (except in summer) and other jam sessions. The bar also celebrates St. Patrick's Day, dear to the Irish and all those who love their beverages.

With its warm atmosphere and friendly service, this establishment offers a pleasant dining experience. Customers can eat in or order takeaway, but delivery is not available. Whether for lunch with friends or dinner with the family, Brasserie Champs Élysées is a sure choice to satisfy every culinary craving.

Today, it's the smallest café in town, but also the oldest: it dates back to the ^18th century! In this pretty house of gnomes, you'll even discover an old pillory (torture post) where people were nailed in the old days, and you'll better understand the expression "to nail to the pillory"... It's not always easy to find your way around on Friday and Saturday evenings, as the bar is very popular with the locals. But it does boast a lovely, well-lit terrace for longer summer nights.

Run by Sabine and Olaf for twenty-five years, this piece of beach would almost propel us to the French Riviera. Except that here there is no lack of space on the beach and no less than 500 mattresses during the high season welcome holidaymakers looking for a moment of comfort and relaxation, under the palm trees of the Belgian coast. In a musical lounge atmosphere, you will taste at the bar a delicious mojito or this famous rosé of Saint-Tropez the Castle of Morres. All accompanied by some tapas, feet in the sand.