Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Brussels, Belgium

Plattesteen - Traditional excellence by shrek

shrek — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:07:55 +0000

Review by shrek

Rating: 5.00

Phone: +32 2 512 8203

Plattesteen is a traditional Brussels bar/brasserie serving a good range of excellent beers and meals/snacks at very reasonable prices. It is a popular haunt with the local Police as their huge HQ is just around the corner. If the weather permits, the best place to sit is outside; here you can comfortably watch Brussels flow by. Plattesteen is ALWAYS busy, thankfully not full-to-the-brim with tourists, but with local people of all ages doing what locals do... meeting their friends and chatting.
Well worth a visit anytime and a good stopping off point for your lunch.Plattesteen is a traditional Brussels bar/brasserie serving a good range of excellent beers and meals/snacks at very reasonable prices. It is a popular haunt with the local Police as their huge HQ is just around the corner. If the weather permits, the best place to sit is outside; here you can comfortably watch Brussels flow by. Plattesteen is ALWAYS busy, thankfully not full-to-the-brim with tourists, but with local people of all ages doing what locals do... meeting their friends and chatting.
Well worth a visit anytime and a good stopping off point for your lunch.

A la Mort Subite - Tradition, excellence and quality. by shrek

shrek — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:17:46 +0000

Review by shrek

Rating: 5.00

Tags: relaxed, traditional pub, friendly

I am a very regular visitor to Brussels and this is, in my humble opinion, the best cafÃ© brasserie in the city centre. It has all the quirky character of a good English pub; the decor is completely original from the 1920's and over the many years of smoking (which is still permitted) within these walls it has acquired that warm yellowing that used to be the hallmark of a great English country inn.
The large range of beers available is mouth-wateringly attractive and the homemade snacks on offer are equally scrumptious. My favourite beer is the Kriek made with sour Cherries; it produces a full-on assault on your senses and pallet and is utterly delicious. If you fancy something a little lighter, try the draft Maes Pils. If you have the time, try everything!! You wonâ¬"t be disappointed.
The excellent range of traditional snacks and light lunches are all prepared in-house. If you sit right up the back you can see into the small kitchen, where singlehandedly all the food is prepared to order. The tÃªte presse tartine and omelettes are both highly recommended light lunches.
VERY highly recommended!
I am a very regular visitor to Brussels and this is, in my humble opinion, the best cafÃ© brasserie in the city centre. It has all the quirky character of a good English pub; the decor is completely original from the 1920's and over the many years of smoking (which is still permitted) within these walls it has acquired that warm yellowing that used to be the hallmark of a great English country inn.
The large range of beers available is mouth-wateringly attractive and the homemade snacks on offer are equally scrumptious. My favourite beer is the Kriek made with sour Cherries; it produces a full-on assault on your senses and pallet and is utterly delicious. If you fancy something a little lighter, try the draft Maes Pils. If you have the time, try everything!! You wonâ¬"t be disappointed.
The excellent range of traditional snacks and light lunches are all prepared in-house. If you sit right up the back you can see into the small kitchen, where singlehandedly all the food is prepared to order. The tÃªte presse tartine and omelettes are both highly recommended light lunches.
VERY highly recommended!

Kafka - Welcoming late night community pub... by oogywawa

oogywawa — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:35:18 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 00 32 2 513 54

Tags: relaxed, traditional pub, friendly

Apart from the legendary Archiduc that is still partying on until 5am, 7 days a week, Kafka is my second favourite late night / early morning haunt in Brussels.

It's what we refer to in the UK as a "Boozer", in all the most positive ways. It's understated, basic without being grubby and full of locals that know it's there and enjoy good earnest conversation without paying for any of the trappings of a tarted up club. The low lighting makes it seem more conspiratorial than seedy.

They make you feel welcome and the huge array of drinks are all reasonably priced. A perfect place to relax and unwind in good company...Apart from the legendary Archiduc that is still partying on until 5am, 7 days a week, Kafka is my second favourite late night / early morning haunt in Brussels.

It's what we refer to in the UK as a "Boozer", in all the most positive ways. It's understated, basic without being grubby and full of locals that know it's there and enjoy good earnest conversation without paying for any of the trappings of a tarted up club. The low lighting makes it seem more conspiratorial than seedy.

They make you feel welcome and the huge array of drinks are all reasonably priced. A perfect place to relax and unwind in good company...

La Becasse - It's good to be in the know... by oogywawa

oogywawa — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:02:38 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 4.00

Tags: relaxed, traditional pub, friendly

You have absolutely no chance of stumbling on this place, (just off the Grand Place) so well hidden is this wonderful little ornate bar, and as far as I'm concerned that's a very good thing. This way it retains a sedate charm that is both welcoming but exclusive and engenders a sort of smugness that you have found it yourself.

A long scruffy passageway leads you to La Becasse - that has been a bar since 1793. Once inside, so ordered are the solid oak tables that you could imagine it as a dining room at Oxford University with oak pannelled walls to match, complemented by a marble floor.

Service is from a beautiful oak bar with a plethora of polished copper, stained glass and traditional stoneware pitchers to serve the beer (or geuze) brewed just a few miles away.

We ordered a "Grande" and looked aghast as the waiter brought us three one litre steins. Comically, 8 young French guys walked in, sat down next to us and smiled knowingly as we lived up to their stereotypical view of "Le Rosbifs".

In short - a lovely place to enjoy a quiet beer and snack away from the tourist hell of the Grand Place bars.You have absolutely no chance of stumbling on this place, (just off the Grand Place) so well hidden is this wonderful little ornate bar, and as far as I'm concerned that's a very good thing. This way it retains a sedate charm that is both welcoming but exclusive and engenders a sort of smugness that you have found it yourself.

A long scruffy passageway leads you to La Becasse - that has been a bar since 1793. Once inside, so ordered are the solid oak tables that you could imagine it as a dining room at Oxford University with oak pannelled walls to match, complemented by a marble floor.

Service is from a beautiful oak bar with a plethora of polished copper, stained glass and traditional stoneware pitchers to serve the beer (or geuze) brewed just a few miles away.

We ordered a "Grande" and looked aghast as the waiter brought us three one litre steins. Comically, 8 young French guys walked in, sat down next to us and smiled knowingly as we lived up to their stereotypical view of "Le Rosbifs".

In short - a lovely place to enjoy a quiet beer and snack away from the tourist hell of the Grand Place bars.

L'Archiduc - Coolest bar in Brussels by oogywawa

oogywawa — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:48:32 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 00 32 2 512 06

Website: www.archiduc.net

Tags: jazz, cool, live music

Some bars have such presence that it transcends some of their small flaws and L'Archiduc exemplifies this perfectly. You just have to "get" this quintessential bar that's been hosting the good folk of Brussels since 1937 and you can still sense the ghosts of its jazz past in the ether. Both Miles Davis and Nat King Cole spent some quality time here and live jazz is still on the menu and the grand piano that resides in the bar is testament to that. Delightfully on my last visit a bohemian guy had a record (yes vinyl) deck on top of it playing crackly Ella Fitzgerald. Tell me where you last saw that in the UK? More annoyingly I missed the time Roger Hodgson from Supertramp played all their greatest hits on the grand piano when he chanced by.

The whole experience begins at the door - an ornate wrought iron affair with a bell that you ring to gain entry - it then revolves as you enter !!

That's when you "get it" - a perfectly preserved Art Deco bar with pillars to the roof, a half moon balcony with more seating and a diminutive bar in the left corner. It's "well loved" and the complete antithesis of the spotless, manufactured new bars you tend to find now but the decor and superb atmosphere just carry you away. There's a complete cross section of society here from intellectuals, professionals, musicians thro' to students and tourists.

The bar serves draught genuine Carlsberg - not the UK brewed effluent that most people are used to. The local Lambic beers that come in corked bottles are particularly tasty as well. The cocktails are the big attraction though, with an assured range that are mixed expertly and all this convivial palaver continues until 5am, yes that's right - 5am...

I walked straight out and next door into Le Pain Quotidien for breakfast and sat around a single huge wooden table with other locals, eating freshly baked bread and freshly brewed sublime strong coffee. Utter Bliss!Some bars have such presence that it transcends some of their small flaws and L'Archiduc exemplifies this perfectly. You just have to "get" this quintessential bar that's been hosting the good folk of Brussels since 1937 and you can still sense the ghosts of its jazz past in the ether. Both Miles Davis and Nat King Cole spent some quality time here and live jazz is still on the menu and the grand piano that resides in the bar is testament to that. Delightfully on my last visit a bohemian guy had a record (yes vinyl) deck on top of it playing crackly Ella Fitzgerald. Tell me where you last saw that in the UK? More annoyingly I missed the time Roger Hodgson from Supertramp played all their greatest hits on the grand piano when he chanced by.

The whole experience begins at the door - an ornate wrought iron affair with a bell that you ring to gain entry - it then revolves as you enter !!

That's when you "get it" - a perfectly preserved Art Deco bar with pillars to the roof, a half moon balcony with more seating and a diminutive bar in the left corner. It's "well loved" and the complete antithesis of the spotless, manufactured new bars you tend to find now but the decor and superb atmosphere just carry you away. There's a complete cross section of society here from intellectuals, professionals, musicians thro' to students and tourists.

The bar serves draught genuine Carlsberg - not the UK brewed effluent that most people are used to. The local Lambic beers that come in corked bottles are particularly tasty as well. The cocktails are the big attraction though, with an assured range that are mixed expertly and all this convivial palaver continues until 5am, yes that's right - 5am...

I walked straight out and next door into Le Pain Quotidien for breakfast and sat around a single huge wooden table with other locals, eating freshly baked bread and freshly brewed sublime strong coffee. Utter Bliss!

Brosella - Good place for lunch by Sarah_W

Sarah_W — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 18:31:57 +0000

Review by Sarah_W

Rating: 3.00

Tags: relaxed, mixed crowd, cool & smart

We had lunch in this light and airy brasserie/bar on the Place des Martyrs, having stumbled upon it by chance just as we'd thought that the only options on or near the Rue Neuve shopping street were fast food stands and Quick.

There are a number of tables outside in the square and on the side street, but although the weather was good for February we didn't feel it was warm enough for lunch out of doors. The space inside divides into three slightly different areas: a bright dining area overlooking the square, a bar area, and a third darker room at the back which also seemed to be used mainly for dining. We sat in the first of these and had a croque monsieur and beer each. The portions were generous (though the sandwiches weren't as good as some we've had, e.g. in Paris), the beer (Mystic) was great and the service was friendly. The meal cost 16 EUR for the two of us.We had lunch in this light and airy brasserie/bar on the Place des Martyrs, having stumbled upon it by chance just as we'd thought that the only options on or near the Rue Neuve shopping street were fast food stands and Quick.

There are a number of tables outside in the square and on the side street, but although the weather was good for February we didn't feel it was warm enough for lunch out of doors. The space inside divides into three slightly different areas: a bright dining area overlooking the square, a bar area, and a third darker room at the back which also seemed to be used mainly for dining. We sat in the first of these and had a croque monsieur and beer each. The portions were generous (though the sandwiches weren't as good as some we've had, e.g. in Paris), the beer (Mystic) was great and the service was friendly. The meal cost 16 EUR for the two of us.