Belgian beer bar
Le Poechenellekelder in Brussels sits opposite Manneken Pis with a marionette-decorated interior. The carte runs 180 Belgian beers including lambics, gueuze and the full Trappist range.
Signature drink: Lambic, gueuze, Trappist
Food: Snacks, croquettes
Speakeasy cocktail barMarollesWed-Sun 17:00 to 02:00, closed Mon-Tue
Plumette in Brussels Marolles is the intimate speakeasy on Rue de l Epee. The 1930s-styled room pours classic and bespoke cocktails and was Belgium's only bar in the Top 500 World's Best Bars 2025 list.
Signature drink: Tailor-made cocktails alongside classics in a 1930s speakeasy room
Food: Cocktail-bar snacks
Jazz cocktail bar
L'Archiduc in Brussels' Dansaert has been the jazz temple since 1937. Art Deco interior, live music every Saturday and Sunday at 17:00, cocktails poured from 16:00 to 05:00.
Signature drink: Classic Manhattan
Food: Bar snacks
Belle Epoque cafe-bar
Le Cirio in Brussels has been pouring the half en half (white wine and sparkling) since Francesco Cirio opened in 1886. Belle Epoque interior beside the Bourse, marble tables, no music.
Signature drink: Half en half
Food: Snacks, salads
Lambic cafe
A La Mort Subite in Brussels has been pouring gueuze since 1928 behind the Galeries Saint-Hubert. Long marble tables, mirrored walls, white-shirt waiters, the city's canonical lambic stop.
Signature drink: Mort Subite Gueuze
Food: Snacks, croque-monsieur
Beer bar
Moeder Lambic on Place Fontainas runs 46 taps of Belgian and European craft, plus a 200-bottle cellar leaning hard on lambic. Tablet menu, knowledgeable staff, the editorial Belgian beer bar.
Signature drink: Cantillon Gueuze
Food: Cheese, charcuterie