The best bars and cafés Belgium

Imagine a former cloister turned book cathedral. Under ancient vaults or in an adjoining garden, you enjoy a cup of coffee while devouring a book in an almost religious silence. It's a real place, because it's the café of the Central Library of Mechelen, which has taken up residence in this former cloister of the Preaching Friars in 2019. Renovated with panache, the baroque of the building blends well with the simplicity of the Scandi style. Hungry for more than words? Check out the menu of sweet and savory suggestions. Next door is Tinèlle, a gourmet restaurant.

It's been a few years already for this "place to beer" which, as its name suggests, is dedicated to beer. With 333 bottled beers and 33 draught beers, Bier Central even ranks among the best national references. It's hard to choose, or maybe you'll have to make several rounds! But in addition to the 366 beers (one for every day of the year), they offer typical Belgian cuisine such as moules-frites with a local beer, Flemish-style carbonnade with beer, homemade shrimp croquettes..

Urban jungle and tiki lounge ambience for this bar dedicated to aperitifs and cocktails. Neon lights, roses, plants everywhere, rattan seats and cushions with tropical prints give the establishment a vacation feel, all the more so as it has a lovely view over the Lys. Here, you can enjoy a spritz or a negroni, as well as more elaborate cocktails (amaretto sour, margarita...), but all in the "light and fresh" category, so as not to upset your stomach. And if you're feeling peckish, André offers a range of aperitif platters.

In former warehouses, just a few minutes' walk from MAS, you'll find a waterside oasis, the Sommar, one of Antwerp's many zomerbars and one of the most successful with its chic touch. The space is immense, with views of the Scheldt and the cranes of the old port facilities. On one side we have the restaurant (different restaurateurs come and go during the summer) and on the other a lively mega-bar. Here, you can relax on a sofa or deckchair and toast the setting sun, before dancing until closing time... and continuing elsewhere.

A long counter, subdued lighting, shelves filled with spirits and other concoctions, a back space with deep chesterfields - this is the setting at Dogma, a cocktail bar in the heart of downtown. There's a hint of speakeasy about the place, but it's not hidden. The bar's creations, led by award-winning mixologist Didier Van den Broeck, change with the seasons, but they're always surprising (like the Aix-en-Provence with... goat's cheese). Let yourself be guided by the staff or the description (fruity, tiki, long...) and enjoy!

The construction date of 1741 appears on the lintel of the entrance door. A listed monument, Château de Commanster is a former hunting lodge built by Henri-François Baptiste, alderman at the Court of Salm and mayor of Gouvy. Particularly noteworthy are the carved oak panelling on the staircase, the coat of arms and some of the doors. A place in its element, or rather in its hops! Visitors can enjoy Cervoise de Commanster, an exceptional dark beer, in front of a crackling fireplace.

The atmosphere is always lively in this multicultural bar, where you can move to the sound of soul, groove and Afro music. Concerts are held regularly, the place is very busy and rather hip, fun & cool. Some evenings feature neo-soul, r'n'b, hip-hop, funk and house DJ sets, while others are dedicated to the African rhythms of the moment (Congolese rumba, kizomba, bongo flava, coupé-décalé...), so you can dance the night away! And it's not unusual for the party to go on until dawn. Excellent cocktails are also available.

Blandine Grandchamps is following in the footsteps of her illustrious father, while revisiting the genre and bringing a new dynamism to it. Fafouille's daughter, the young lady has taken over the second family space dedicated to used books, in the recently refurbished Passage de la Bourse. Here, you can sit down for a drink and browse through a book from one of the many themes on offer. You then choose whether to buy the book or come back and continue reading a little later. Blandine also organizes intimate concerts and events in her stylish boutique.

Here's a typically Thudinian bistro... l'Estaminet showcases the city's two spearheads, folklore and inland waterway transport. As you gaze out over the nearby Sambre, you can sample the various specialities on offer, including a wide selection of Belgian beers, especially local ones. It's also a place to revisit the world, and in particular the world of Thudin, as the regulars sit by the bar and go over it with a fine-tooth comb. L'Estaminet has been awarded the "Bistrot de Terroir" label, and has a pleasant floating terrace throughout the summer months.

For an aperitif break or a glass of fine wine on the water, the Noah boat is the place to be. In this almost deserted setting, you'll have to make your way along the quayside to find the tastefully appointed barge. Here, you can lounge in pretty rope "egg" design chairs. On its roof or in its den, where you plunge as if into another universe, it's the ideal place to moor up and watch the sleeping barges in the vicinity. On the slate, antipasti, a few pretty salads and fresh pasta tease you with their light, tasty fare.

The atmosphere of this café-restaurant is ultra warm and cozy. Located right in the house of the Grande Dame (the leader of the Beguinage), the historical setting has a crazy charm! At the counter, the team is busy preparing divine hot chocolates, excellent teas and invigorating coffees. You can accompany these delicious beverages with the pie of the day. For those who love salty food, the house also offers simple dishes (spaghetti) or more refined ones (segredo d'iberico with chimichurri) or boards to share. A beautiful place!

Café Albatros is a new bar that brings back the popular atmosphere of the Brussels of yesteryear, that of the famous bruin cafés. Everything is new, but everything looks old. Right down to the ball chandeliers and Stella pink neon, just like the old days. It's quite breathtaking! Imagine yourself in one of these ^19th-century troquets, with long benches lining the sides of the bar, and you might feel like playing a game of retro foosball. Except that today, you can enjoy kombucha or craft IPA beers, just like in any other trendy bar.

A good place to eat a good vegetarian meal. A meeting point for the Dutch-speaking youth of Brussels, it's also a nice place to meet an international clientele. Everyone can enjoy a drink, a bite to eat and the activities (exhibitions, poetry, debates or activities for the kids) of the cultural center where the café is located. Urban terrace under the plane trees on the edge of this pretty square next to Sainte-Catherine's.

The concept of this establishment is the following: multitudes of comics, board games available to guests as well as cultural and artistic books. Organic teas, organic juices and soft drinks are also available. Catering (plenty of fresh salads for the summer, for example), a multitude of special Belgian beers, eleven beer pumps as well as cultural and associative beers, themed evenings, as well as a free book box outside without obligation to buy an item, etc. Their slogan is "culture for all"!

Roaring Twenties atmosphere in this cocktail bar near Josaphat Park! When you see the muffled light and the velvet armchairs in the room, you just want to dive in and not move. This will allow you to detail the cocktail menu. There are classics of course but also signature cocktails. Let Romain, the mixologist, advise you if you hesitate. There is also a small menu of appetizers and goodies to nibble on, so that these concoctions don't go to your head.