It’s finally summer in Brussels! And there’s nothing better to celebrate it than a bar tour on the weekend. That’s great because I’ve been wanting to share my favorite route for months for an unforgettable evening in the city center.
And if it rains (because we are in Brussels, after all), no worries, all the selected bars have cozy interiors. So no excuses, and get ready for your night out!
A crucial but oh-so-difficult step in Brussels… Which bar to choose to start the evening?
I recommend starting at Casco, which is increasingly becoming my HQ. It’s next to the Bourse, so easily accessible by public transport, no matter where you’re coming from. The atmosphere is always nice, on weekends there are often DJs, the service is fast, and there’s plenty for beer, cocktail, and wine fans. Their little extras? If, like me, you like to start your evening with a bite to eat, they serve delicious dips to share, as well as homemade burgers or hot sandwiches. Veggies welcome! And don’t forget to take a souvenir photo upstairs in their photobooth. It makes for great memories.
It’s also a nice place to end your evening. Note that you can also privatize the upstairs if you want to organize your birthday or other festivities!
We love the Halles Saint-Géry, with places like Mappa Mundo, La Machine, Zebra, and of course Café des Halles.
But tonight, I suggest stopping at Café Metteko, a bar on the pedestrian street, really beautiful inside. When the weather is nice, they can even remove their « guillotine » windows, and you can enjoy their interior right by the terrace. There are often music groups playing in the late afternoon. Perfect for a drink stop in a truly Belgian bar before heading back out.
I love Ebrius because the building is incredible. One of the iconic spots for IHECS students. The bar has several floors, everything is made of wood, and there are lots of little staircases everywhere leading to cozy little rooms. Personally, I think it has a « pirate » atmosphere. There’s also a foosball table in the back that can help get the evening started (if needed). It’s a bit of a detour on the route, but if a bit of walking doesn’t discourage you, I think it’s worth it! And it always impresses evening visitors.
If you are a beer lover, you must absolutely discover the Moeder Lambic brewery on Place Fontainas, which also offers house beers.
First of all, I love their life philosophy: « We serve beautiful beers to beautiful people. »
But most importantly, they have an incredible selection of craft beers. The servers advise you based on your tastes and your desire for discovery. Really, nothing to complain about. Except that your journey might already end here if you decide to taste several of their beers…
For this new stop, we change neighborhoods: heading towards Dansaert and its sublime Surréaliste brewery. Honestly, I’m not exaggerating about the beauty of the place. You enter the building through a beautiful glass door, go up a few stairs, and there you discover their beautiful large room. If you take a restroom break, keep your eyes open because even there the decoration is not left to chance.
As for the beers, they brew their own beer in the basement, mainly IPAs. And they are among my favorites. Also ask the servers for advice to make your choice. Personally, my favorites at the moment are the Surrealist Pale Ale and the Venus Effect. They are also developing non-alcoholic beers, worth trying!
You might think I say this about all beers, but Lutgarde is truly my favorite beer. When I find it in the supermarket, I don’t hesitate. So, what a joy to drink a glass directly at the Lutgarde bar! Plus, you’re in a nice area of Dansaert.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish after all that walking (and the drinks at each stop…), they also make great cheese platters.
Here you go, you already have six excellent addresses for drinks. And if after that you still feel like partying, here are some bars or clubs to spend the rest of the night:
– Jardin des Hospices: check if they have events. In summer, there are often concerts on weekends.
– Barbra: back to the Bourse in this lovely large bar recently renovated. The dance atmosphere is ensured with their DJs.
– Cartagena: if you’re in a Latino mood, I highly recommend Cartagena.
– Bonnefooi: a must for Brussels locals to end their evening until the early hours.
Here you go, your evening is all set for a night out! As a bonus, I’ve already prepared your itinerary on Google on this . In total, you’ll be walking about thirty minutes throughout the evening in our beautiful city center. If you’re tasting beers at each stop, don’t forget to drink water too!
As you’ve probably gathered, there are plenty of great spots in Brussels for unforgettable evenings. And if these bars have made you want to discover even more places, you’re on the right site. Enjoy and find your happiness .
Want to think even less about your route and be totally surprised? There are the Emile routes, active from July 18. More information can be found in .
If you take this route, don’t hesitate to tag us in your future Instagram stories! And let us know what you thought of this tour!
Enjoy!