The best beer bars Bruxelles - Brussel

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.

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.

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..

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fifty beers to choose from and a selection of small snacks. The restaurant is not the strongest point of the house, but one rarely goes there just to eat! La Lunette opened its doors in 1853. Its name does not refer to any eye problem... or stomach problem, but to a one-litre glass designed for beer (although the less adventurous can fill it with mineral water). This is another must-see in the beer-eating folklore, dear to the students, and which seems to please the tourists as well.

Le Coq is this little café near the Bourse that has the look of a village bar. In the great tradition of the stamcafés (these popular cafés where you come as you are to be quiet, to meet friends or to make new ones), Le Coq with its old counter, its tired benches and its wooden furniture welcomes you with open arms. A mixed clientele (old people, young people, people who have just left the office), often Dutch-speaking, meet there for a beer. But which one? The menu is long! Not to mention the beers of the month.

Le Miroir is the typical local café-restaurant, far from the city centre. Some of the dishes on the menu are beer-based. At the bar, all the main labels are present and a little more, such as the Triple Karmeliet on tap, the Malheur range or the Lindemans. Or new ones, like the very local Slutte. For the anti-hops (there are some left, that we never managed to convert...), the wine list is also interesting! Or a sangria on the terrace when the weather is fine, one of those that you should only drink one glass of!

To say that this is a trendy brasserie would be an understatement. The Art Nouveau decor and atmosphere are very pleasant and the terrace offers free observation of the spectacle of passers-by on the square. But the main motivation for a visit remains the menu. The beer menu for the numerous references (90 beers, seven of which are on draught, even Maes Pils for those who suffer from agueusia...) and the food menu to enjoy a good brewery cuisine. Wi-fi available.

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.