Brussels has the most encyclopaedic beer culture on the planet. Belgian abbey beers, lambics, gueuzes, Trappist ales — every style has a serious dedicated bar. The 10 below balance the historical beer cafés (À la Mort Subite, Le Cirio, Au Bon Vieux Temps) with the modern cocktail bars that have emerged in the past five years (Hortense). Most are within walking distance of Grand Place.
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The 10 best bars in Brussels
01 · Brussels
Saint-Gilles
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Lambic specialists
Brussels's temple to traditional lambic and gueuze. The list of vintages alone justifies the visit.
Order: A flight of vintage gueuze
02 · Brussels
Centre
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Belle Époque · Lambic
Operating since 1928 in a Belle Époque room. Their own gueuze, bottled and on tap.
Order: Mort Subite Gueuze, on tap
03 · Brussels
Centre
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3,162 beers · Records
Holds the Guinness world record for largest beer menu. Walls of beers from every country. Touristy but earns the visit.
Order: A flight from three different countries
04 · Brussels
Anderlecht
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Working brewery · Lambic
The last operating lambic brewery in Brussels. Tour, taste, drink at the brewery itself.
Order: A glass of fresh lambic from tank
05 · Brussels
Centre
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Belle Époque · 1909
Operating since 1909. Original Art Nouveau interior. Famous for the Half-en-Half (champagne + sparkling wine) cocktail.
Order: A Half-en-Half
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06 · Brussels
Centre
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1697 · Hidden alley
Tucked down an alley near Grand Place. Operating since 1697. Beer-only, no menu, the most authentic old Brussels room.
Order: A Westvleteren or whatever Trappist they have
07 · Brussels
Sablon
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Speakeasy · Reservations
Reservation-only Sablon speakeasy. Brussels's most respected serious cocktail bar. Long bar, classics-led menu.
Order: Bartender's choice
08 · Brussels
Centre
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Eccentric · Multi-room
Eclectic multi-room bar in the centre. Antique furniture, fruit-flavoured wines, late-hours, the most strange Brussels drinking room.
Order: A glass of their fruit wine
09 · Brussels
Saint-Gilles
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Café-bar · All-day
Saint-Gilles café-bar. All-day room, casual food, neighbourhood feel. The Brussels equivalent of a Paris café.
Order: A Belgian craft beer + a croque-monsieur
10 · Brussels
Centre
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Beer hall · 200 beers
Two hundred Belgian beers in stock. Knowledgeable staff, Belgian-style food, the best beer-pairing dining in Brussels.
Order: A flight of three abbey beers + carbonnade flamande
More Brussels bars by categoryCocktail, craft beer, hidden gem — the full Brussels index.
See the full list
How to drink the Brussels way
Belgian beer is the entire reason to drink in Brussels. Start at Moeder Lambic for the lambic education; move to À la Mort Subite for the Belle Époque experience; finish at Delirium Café for the variety (3,162 beers on the menu). The cocktail rooms (Hortense, Goupil le Fol) are excellent but secondary to the beer story. Most pubs close by 1 AM.
