A corner cafe bar on Place Saint-Gery, pouring Belgian beers and cocktails since 1996. The terrace is the draw.
Zebra sits on Place Saint-Gery 33, in the heart of central Brussels. It has anchored the square since 1996, one of the original fixtures of the Saint-Gery nightlife strip. The interior is post-industrial, built from raw materials around an illuminated serving bar.
This is a square bar rather than a destination bar. Visit Brussels lists it among the area's essential cafes, and the appeal is the location more than any single drink. Come for the terrace and the crowd, not a tasting list.
The room
Inside, the look is retro and stripped back, with seating around the lit bar and tables along the windows. The space stays compact, so on busy nights the action moves outside. Concerts run on Thursday evenings, which fill the room earlier than usual. The square around it was reclaimed from a covered market and is now one of the densest bar runs in central Brussels. Zebra holds the corner spot, which gives it the widest stretch of pavement on the strip.
The terrace is the real estate that matters. It opens directly onto Place Saint-Gery and turns into a beach-style setup in summer. The nearest stops are Bourse and De Brouckere, both a short walk, which keeps Zebra easy to reach across the city.
The drinks
The list runs Belgian beers on tap and by the bottle, plus cocktails, cider, fresh juices, and hot drinks. Prices sit in the mid range for central Brussels, which is fair for the square. This is an all-day cafe that turns into a bar after dark, so the order shifts with the hour. A draft Belgian beer on the terrace is the standard call, and it tastes better in the open air. The cocktails are simple and affordable rather than a craft program. Light bar food and snacks run through the day for anyone settling in for a longer session.
The crowd
The crowd skews young and mixed, drawing locals, students, and visitors staying nearby. It runs busiest in the early evening and on warm nights, when the terrace fills within minutes. The square itself sets the energy, with Zebra one of several bars feeding the same pavement. Summer tournament football pulls a crowd to the outdoor tables. The pace is casual and multilingual, with French and Dutch both in the air. Weekends run latest, with the terrace trading past midnight when the weather holds. Midweek is calmer, which is the better window for a seat and a slower drink.
What regulars say
Reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp land mixed. The location, the terrace, and the beer choice earn the most praise, and many call it a reliable spot for a glass on the square. The common complaint is service when the room is slammed, and drink quality on off nights. Most agree it works best as a terrace stop in a bigger night out, not a sit-down destination.
Who it is for
It is for a beer on the square, a casual start to a night in Saint-Gery, or a warm-weather terrace seat. Skip it if you want a quiet table or a serious cocktail program. For more in this vein see Brussels after work bars and craft beer bars.
Best time to go
Go in the early evening for a terrace seat, or Thursday for the live music. Summer is the peak, when the square fills fastest. Pair it with a wider plan from our Brussels bar guide and the city's cocktail bars.
Sources: Visit Brussels venue listing (2026); Zebra Bar Instagram and Facebook; Tripadvisor and Yelp Zebra Bar reviews; Brusselslife bar guide.
