The best bars and cafés Belgium

Located on Place du Luxembourg in Ixelles, Coco Bar is a bar serving Belgian cuisine. Visitors particularly appreciate the bar's location, close to Luxembourg Square. Coco Bar has an outdoor terrace and offers on-site dining. The Coco Bar accepts credit cards and offers Wi-Fi access. It also has a parking lot and is handicapped-accessible. Guest reviews are mixed, with some highlighting the location and pleasant atmosphere, while others find the bar ordinary.

The bouillabaisse of the North Sea (for 2 and on reservation), shrimp chunks and fish cassolette are essential to this white house surrounded by a green screen and located off the seafront. In summer, the terrace offers lovely surroundings and prices are soft.

Le Chalet Vert is a restaurant located in Wezembeek-Oppem. It offers on-site dining, but does not offer takeaway or delivery. To reserve a table, you can do so via their website.

La Brasserie de l'Heysel is a restaurant located in Brussels. Headed by Chef Karl, formerly of Chez Lulu, this restaurant offers generous, inspired cuisine. Serge, his sidekick, will give you a warm welcome in a refined and elegant setting. On sunny days, you can sip a delicious cocktail on the terrace. Brasserie de l'Heysel also has a private room for private or business dinners. Children can have fun both indoors and outdoors with the games available. Brasserie de l'Heysel is located at 650 Chaussée Romaine, 1020 Brussels.

It's not surprising that you'll find plates of excellent charcuterie (and cheeses) at the "Bar Boucher". And that's what you need to accompany the dozens of craft beers, including 15 " van het tap " (on draught). What this pocket bar doesn't have in size, it makes up for with its menu. And the menu does not discriminate between Belgian, Scottish, German or French beers, as long as they are good. If you don't know which one to choose, ask David (aka Dave) for advice and he will help you with a smile.

On the banks of the Meuse, this friendly little bar seems to have been forgotten by the passage of time. With its well-kept old caberdouche decor and the electric train circuit that makes its rounds high up, it's like being in another dimension! The name of the establishment means "a little home" in Lëtzebuergesch, the native language of the owner. We come here to drink good Belgian beers and catch up with other customers, often regulars. Terrace with incredible view of the Citadelle and the Grognon.

L'Antiquaire had a fine nose when it opened its bar in 2019! Right across from the entrance to the brand-new cable car and on a newly refurbished and pedestrianized Place Maurice Servais, it doesn't get much uglier for such an establishment. L'Antiquaire focuses on three areas: cocktails, spirits and high-end beers. As beautiful as they are good, the former are classic, sunny or creative (Mojito, Sex on the beach, Mexico '86, Elixir du Gisou...) but always beautifully presented. The interior is classy, but the terrace is a must.

Right in the Marolles district, on Place du Jeu de Balle, Mazette is one of Brussels' newest microbreweries. This cooperative brews its own beers on site, and makes its own softs (lemonade, kombucha...) and bread for use in its bar-café. Warm, lively and open to the neighborhood, Mazette is also a meeting place for local players in Les Marolles. As for the beers, they're all about lightness (with a preference for Drèche, an IPA or Suur de Bruxelles), but you can also eat here, and very well, with homemade, seasonal cuisine.

Set in a motley brocante of bric-a-brac, but where everything is for sale, Chez ta mère is a troquet of a kind never before seen in Charleroi, brimming with family souvenirs and kitsch knick-knacks. On Friday evenings, the whole town gathers here for an aperitif that often goes on for a long time. Themed evenings follow one another with as much originality as good humor. Discoveries too, like Brune du Pays Noir on the barrel. In short, Chez Ta Mère is your guarantee of a different, unformatted experience.

The Saint-Hu'Bar is the place to be for beer lovers: the bar offers a choice of draughts and bottles of almost a hundred references! For the undecided, the staff will be happy to help you discover local specialties. The vintage advertising panels for the beers serve as a directory or menu. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and lively. We recommend that you accompany your tasting on the terrace with a plate of cold cuts and cheese.

Right in the middle of the square, where a superb kiosk takes pride of place, this local bar stands out from the crowd. In an old-fashioned bistro atmosphere, locals and workers from nearby offices come here for a bite to eat, a coffee or one of the fifty beers on the blackboard. Among the speciality hops are many from Brussels (Grosse Bertha, Delta, Zinnebir...), gueuzes and krieks, Trappist beers and Ginette. The brick walls support a warm, vintage decor. Beautiful garden at the rear.

Located in the prestigious Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's on Avenue Louise in Brussels, Loui Cocktail Bar & Restaurant is a must for lovers of cocktails and fine cuisine. With its intimate atmosphere and elegant decor, it offers visitors a unique experience. The bar offers a wide selection of creative cocktails prepared by talented mixologists, while the restaurant features a reinterpretation of Belgian classics by Michelin-starred chef Kevin Lejeune.

The Dulle Griet is a large red wrought-iron cannon from the ^15th century, which was used during the Hundred Years' War and is on display right next to the bar (on Vrijdagmarkt). Every month, a different beer is featured, and to celebrate, you can drink two for the price of one! To enjoy your froth, you can choose between the terrace on the pedestrian square, or one of the three rooms, decorated with old advertisements for beer brands, mugs, glasses... This temple of beer offers some 260 references.

Welcome to a beer-lover's paradise! Over seven hundred beers await you in this establishment, which has been going strong since 1979. Some are simply impossible to find anywhere else, and some bottles are over thirty years old... The most daring, or true fans, will venture to taste the famous EKU 28, also known as Kulminator 28, one of the strongest beers in the world (28°), to which this place owes its name. For a long time, this was the only Belgian brewery to import this strong beverage... A true institution.

Just a stone's throw from the Museum of Fine Arts, this pleasant place to visit day and night is very popular with the people of Antwerp. It's named after the American painter Edward Hopper, who used to sketch atmospheres like this one. The clientele is young, a little arty, very hype, and there are regular jazz concerts every Sunday and Monday evening. The café opens its terrace as soon as the weather permits, on the pedestrian cobblestones and under a large, shady tree; the setting is perfect for leafing through a newspaper.

A small brown café by the docks, popular with locals and employees alike, perfect for mingling with the Antwerp locals. In the morning, you can enjoy a breakfast of croissants, while in the late afternoon, you'll appreciate the intimate atmosphere for a cup of coffee or tea. In the evening, the focus is on beer, with the region's finest malts. There's also a terrace in summer, and a glass roof if the weather turns nasty, as well as a pétanque court to stretch out afternoons with friends when the sun comes out.

Since 2018, the Croisette in Dinant is this bank on the Meuse devoted to strolling. More than 1 km long, it attracts walkers and concentrates terraces and places to relax. Among these, the Capsule is the meeting place for beer lovers. The best, Belgian, artisanal, local, Trappist, sour, bitter, IPA, fruity, on draught or in bottle: there is something for every taste and to dance the night away. Cocktail menu and platters of local cheeses and charcuterie and other tasty creations of the chef. We love it!

Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is a bar-café in Ghent. It offers a wide selection of beers, both bottled and draught. Open daily from 11am to 2am. It features a terrace and table service. Customers appreciate the typical atmosphere of the place, as well as the view over the canal. The staff are welcoming and professional, and are able to advise customers on their choice of beers. Some visitors also commented on the quality of the moules frites served here. However, a few reviews mentioned an unpleasant smell in the bar. Overall, Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is considered a must for beer lovers in Ghent.

Very nice bar opened in the middle of the pandemic, just between the Bourse and the Saint-Nicolas church. About thirty Belgian and other beers on the menu, some spirits and a small quality restaurant to keep it all together. The decoration can be qualified as post-industrial (like a tastefully recomposed destroy), and on the ceiling, the barrels full of beers that only ask to be emptied until late in the night. It's a stone's throw from the Grand Place, the terrace is sunny and the first floor can be used for private events and parties of all kinds.

There's no other lounge bar in Spa. At least, not like Annick's, where the musical ambience is well chosen. The decor of small armchairs, pretty lighting and lots of original objects is a success. Theme evenings (Disco, Retro House...). A sort of local "place to be ", you'll feel right at home here, and you'll usually extend your evening into the middle of the night with a few beers or cocktails. For quieter moments, table soccer, billiards and even board games are at your disposal. A must at Spa.

Fika is Swedish for snack break, that moment in the afternoon when everything stops for a coffee and a pastry. This is the spirit in which Joana opened her café. As you push open the door, you're transported to Stockholm or Malmö: the scent of cinnamon from the buns, the smell of good original coffee, minimalist design warmed by wood, soft colors and plants: you're in the middle of hygge ! A relaxing place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the world. We recommend the semlor, cream buns normally eaten at Easter.

In a nice corner house in Uccle, this turtle has put his shell. And what is hidden underneath? A beautiful selection of natural wines. Here, no fuss, you have the impression of entering the home of friends (Yann and Étienne) who are waiting for you to taste their new finds. The eye is directly attracted by a wall covered with shelves and of course, bottles. All you have to do is to let yourself be advised for the choice. If wine isn't your thing, there are also beers and cocktails and nice cold cuts to nibble on.

In a corner house with its very vintage burgundy and green tiled windows, Marcelle invites you into another world. You would think you were in a Shanghai gambling joint in the 1930s. Art deco accents, decorative objects and wallpaper evoking the Orient, subdued lighting... It's a speakeasy that doesn't hide, even if Marcelle is rather discreet... when her terrace is not open. In fact, it's the perfect place for a date. Cocktails, gin and tonics and a few well-chosen beers are on the menu to accompany your trip back in time.

In the shadow of the Schaerbeek town hall, Café Colignon is still very new. It opens early for breakfast and closes at the end of the afternoon. Drop in for a coffee (from the top Ghent roaster OR), a drink and to satisfy your cravings with tasty dishes that put a smile on your face (pasta, generous toasts...) and beautiful (and good) sandwiches. Menus change weekly. The interior is simple, in the canteen spirit (white walls, wooden furniture and benches). Nice garden as a bonus.

Beer bar, but above all game bar, we come there with several people to pick among all the board games that their library has, from the good old classics to the newest ones. A host will be there to advise you and explain the rules, if you don't know them. Even better, some games are for sale, so it's an opportunity to test them before buying. The beer list is very well supplied (30 kinds) and particularity: the beer on the barrel comes from the Dubuisson brewery, which is rather rare. Pizzas and crunches for your cravings.

Nicely positioned opposite Les Étangs, what was Le Canard has become Cayuga, combining café-resto, grocery-bakery, bookshop and sales of decorative objects. Scattered around the corners of the café and in the second space are plenty of books that you'll love to leaf through before deciding to buy, and start reading straight away with a good cup of coffee or glass of wine. It also serves good brasserie cuisine. A place that fits in well with Boitsfort's bourgeois-bohemian character, and we love its terrace overlooking the water!

Initially a sort of Brussels-style Starbucks, Café Capitale has evolved with François, its owner. His love of coffee led him to start a roasting business. Original coffees, different ways of preparing them (espresso, chemex, etc.)... For lovers of coffee with milk, there is a large list of alternatives to cow's milk ? To snack, the establishment offers a nice variety of pastries, cookies, cakes, sweet pies, etc. and as coffee and music go well together, have a look at the vinyls on sale.

After returning from an expatriation in Australia, Chloé Sengier had the idea to import the concept of the "all day breakfast", serving toasts, pancakes, buddha bowls and other healthy dishes. Crème was born in the popular Rue de Rollebeek next to the Sablon. The place is superb: plant suspensions, exposed brick walls, neon lights, wooden table and rattan seats. Everything is designed to be photographed. As for the dishes, we navigate between the greediness of pancakes dripping with toppings and the "clean" side of bowls. Excellent coffees and pastries.

At the Bizon, you can order a beer but also twenty kinds of juniper and of course vodka, including the one with bison grass... bison grass, of course! With its dark and smoky old pub look, its blues and rock concerts, its sports broadcasts and its experienced bartenders, one starts to feel a certain nostalgia for this type of establishment that is resisting the lounge wave. In short, the Bizon is a bit different in this neighbourhood where the cafés tend to be a bit formatted... and that's all to the good for diversity!

The audiophile bar concept is coming to Brussels, just a stone's throw from Altitude 100 in Forest. It is a bar but designed to listen to music. The acoustics have been thought out, as well as the sound system, to measure. During the day, it's the vinyls of Thomas Mamakis, the boss, that turn on the turntable and we enjoy while drinking a coffee. On weekend evenings, a DJ adds to the atmosphere while you eat delicious, well-prepared dishes with natural wines. The interior is simple but the bar with its Art Deco lines steals the show.

Le Grand Café is in the tradition of these fine boulevard brasseries. For centuries, it has boasted a magnificent terrace with a breathtaking view over the Bourse and the pedestrian precinct. This venerable establishment is a restaurant, but above all it's a café with a pleasant decor, all the more so as during the 2020 confinement, the whole place was given a facelift and its magnificent awning was restored. A classic menu, with moules-frites of course, steaks and other meats, savory waffles, a wonderful sauerkraut in winter and many other dishes.

The conviviality of the Daringman is well established! The house dates back to 1942 and is said to have been home to a boxing club, Daring Brussels, in the 1950s and 1960s. Since 2000, Martine has been at the helm. A typical Brussels corner café, where Dutch-speaking and French-speaking people drink together. Sort of thebruincafé of our Dutch neighbors, the place is tiny but its reputation has made it a veritable institution. You go there as if you were visiting old friends, and commune over the divine beverage with other beer brothers.

A very pretty, slightly bohemian bar located in a former boutique on a street known for its fine stores, you'll immediately feel at home at Paula's. Sit in an armchair, near one of the large windows for a reading break. Sitting in an armchair, near one of the large windows for a reading break around a pedestal table, or upstairs for a breathtaking view of the room. Come for a coffee, an aperitif, a beer or a cocktail in the evening. If you're feeling hungry, the house specialty is hot dogs, but deluxe ones, filled to the brim with vegetables, sauce... Vegetarian versions are also available.

Little brother of the restaurant Ma Jolie (so close that only one building separates them), this cocktail club has taken on many of the codes of its elder sister: dark walls, parquet floors, velvet and touches of rich colours... It works very well, it's cosy and it makes you want to launch into great confidences, cocktail in hand. Nicolas, the barman and mixologist, proposes surprising cocktails (including a pisco with fir tree liqueur or a negroni with hibiscus-infused grappa). To accompany all this, we pick from the menu of tapas / finger food house.

Just for a change from beer bars or wine bars, why not visit a cider bar? Both a wine shop and a bar, Joran has more than 100 references of ciders or perries from various countries (France, England, Spain and even Belgium). We recommend taking a tasting board to discover the various subtleties of this fruit alcohol. And if you are hungry, there are also sweet and salty buckwheat pancakes. All this in an atmosphere that Brest would not deny. Concerts and Irish music jams on weekends.

Atmosphere somewhere between Flemish-style brown coffee and vintage, with 1980s chandeliers, bits of baffles embedded in the counter and an old TV, Gainsbar is the kind of drinking establishment you easily fall in love with. The beer list is extensive, with a dozen or so sparkling beers available on tap, many of them local. The upstairs room, meanwhile, has a more "salon" and intimate feel. The great Serge would have approved. Ladies, be sure to use the restroom, where a surprise awaits you. We'll say no more.

An amazing rooftop bar close to the Louise and Châtelain districts, where you can enjoy the view! Take the Jam hotel elevator up to the 6th floor to discover this haven of light, open during the day for sunbathing on the terrace overlooking the pool, and at night for sipping an aperitif cocktail. The prices are reasonable, the drinks well measured. The fireplace crackles in winter, the background music is good, and the space is small but convivial. A good address for a mix of locals and young hotel guests.

Perched above a huge building (the administrative building of the city of Brussels), right in the center of town, 58 is quite simply one of the biggest rooftops in Europe. To get there, you'll have to queue, as there are only two elevators (don't panic, they'll get you there in no time). Once you're up there, you're in for a real treat, with a sumptuous 360° panorama of the whole city and region. The whole of Brussels is at your feet. Order a drink and some snacks, and enjoy! Tip: you don't have to drink to enjoy the view.

At Mok, you can be sure of quality coffee, because in addition to running this great coffee bar, founder Jens Crabbé (twice Belgian cup-tasting champion) is also a roaster. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Guatemala and of course Colombia and Brazil, the best of the little caffeinated bean is selected and prepared with care and respect. The huge white counter invites customers to sit back and watch the baristas officiate. If you're hungry, a menu of vegetarian dishes and pastries (many gluten-free) will put you back on your feet.

The Supra is a poem. Set on its corner and facing 3 other bars, it has kept its 1960s bar soul, resisting the gentrification of the Châtelain district. With its narrow terrace and interior reminiscent of village cafés, it's the kind of endearing, no-frills place that has had a loyal following over the years. The list of beers is long, the hungers are satisfied simply but copiously (spaghetti, croques...) and as the evening goes on, we are more and more tightly packed.

Hidden in a former 19th century hospice, now a retirement home, are listed gardens, now open to all since the residents moved out. Temporarily occupied for several years, Jardin has transformed this place into a true urban oasis. In the summer, drinks are served in the hospice's rose garden. On bad days, the former café of the retirement home, completely revamped, welcomes you to keep you warm. A small business incubator, it also houses a pastry shop, a hairdresser and various associations.

This is the Archers Guild's bar. Nestled in the middle of Josaphat Park, it's the kind of unlikely place where you'd like to come back again and again. The old barrack has kept its vintage decor and inside, it's a warm and friendly atmosphere around the large communal tables. Besides the beers, on Thursday, it's paella night, on Friday, fish and on Sunday, it's the turn of the chips. They are worth the trip alone; to be eaten inside (reservation required) or to be devoured in picnic mode in the park!

Right next to La Monnaie, Frank welcomes you every day for coffee, breakfast or lunch. Regularly, Frank becomes Francine and invites you to dine, sharing dishes (or not) accompanied by a good glass of wine. Francine selects only European wines (with surprises like Belgian and Moldavian productions). Frank and Francine are vegetarians, so vegetables (organic and in season) are the order of the day. And the reception venue? A large white room overlooked by a huge stained-glass light fixture. So pretty!

As well as offering bistronomic dining, l'Improviste also transforms into a bar during spring and summer evenings. This chic bar offers a fine selection of wines, champagnes and beers. A number of events are regularly organized throughout the season: concerts, Japanese evenings (with sushi and california rolls), Italian evenings (with pizzas and antipasti) and more. Don't hesitate to take a look at the website: an agenda is available. All with a beautiful view of the Waregem racecourse.

You can't miss Le Phare! The facade of this canal-side building is covered with a huge fresco representing a galleon. Both a café and a coworking space, it is a welcoming place for all the sailors who come here. The coffee is excellent, the breads and pastries come from C'est si bon, just next door, the kitchen offers a small catering and a home-made dish, all with organic ingredients. The wooden interior makes it feel great to have a drink or to work with a view on the water.

Jackie uses coffees from Wide Awake roaster in Anderlecht. Quality is the key to success! The coffees are fresh, tasty and smooth. They come from different producing countries (Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala) but most of all, they come from small independent producers and are roasted by them. The teas are not left out and at Jackie's, you won't be bored while enjoying your beverage: a whole series of independent magazines that you can't find in every bookstore. It's a change from being glued to your smartphone!

The first reaction when you enter this microbrewery is: "Wow! This former banana warehouse from the 1930s offers enormous volumes! We enter by the winter garden which gives on the place, filled with plants and furnished with chairs and tables in tin covered with big velvet cushions, before reaching the main space where we are more in the spirit of "minimalist abbey" with all this furniture of church. The long bar proposes a dozen beers of their own production as well as some guests. You can also eat there.