MOK Coffee ★ 4.6
MOK in Brussels' Dansaert is the third-wave anchor: large bright cafe, single-origin espresso, in-house roasted beans. Brunch counter at the back, work-friendly bench seating.
Signature drink: Single-origin espresso
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Brussels lingers in over a cortado.
Where to sit and slow down
OR Coffee Bar ★ 4.5
OR Coffee Bar in Brussels' Saint-Gery has the third-wave pedigree from the early 2010s. Single-origin espresso and filter at the marble counter, with a brick-walled room for laptop work.
Signature drink: Filter brew
Belga and Co Bailli ★ 4.4
Belga and Co's Bailli flagship in Brussels' Ixelles serves house-roasted beans from a marble bar. Big windows, work-friendly tables and a pastry counter alongside the brews.
Signature drink: Flat white
Cafe Belga ★ 4.2
Cafe Belga in Brussels' Flagey occupies the Art Deco corner of the Maison de la Radio. Open from morning to late, with a terrace that fills Saturday market days and a 1930s interior.
Signature drink: Cafe latte
Le Cirio ★ 4.3
Le Cirio in Brussels has been pouring half en half (white wine and sparkling) since Francesco Cirio opened in 1886. The Belle Epoque interior beside the Bourse stayed unchanged for a century.
Signature drink: Half en half
A La Mort Subite ★ 4.4
A La Mort Subite in Brussels has been pouring gueuze since 1928 in the Belle Epoque cafe behind the Galeries Saint-Hubert. Long marble tables, white-shirt waiters, the city's canonical lambic stop.
Signature drink: Gueuze lambic
Le Falstaff ★ 4.0
Le Falstaff in Brussels opened in 1903 behind the Bourse in an Art Nouveau and Art Deco interior. The cafe-brasserie runs Belgian beer, salads and a full kitchen until late.
Signature drink: Belgian beer
Karsmakers Coffee House ★ 4.3
Karsmakers Coffee House in Brussels' European Quarter has run specialty coffee and New York bagels since Jay Karsmakers opened in 2008. Across the street from the European Parliament, with a long lunchtime queue of Eurocrats.
Signature drink: Specialty coffee with bagels
Hinterland ★ 4.3
Hinterland in Brussels' Saint-Gilles runs all-day breakfast and brunch from a corner shop on Chaussee de Charleroi. Organic produce, vegetarian and vegan options, slow-roasted house coffee.
Signature drink: Specialty espresso
Honest Coffee ★ 4.2
Honest Coffee in Brussels' Forest is the corner roastery cafe on Rue du Croissant with house-roasted beans. Brunch carte runs eggs and avocado toast; the back banquette fills with laptop workers most weekday mornings.
Signature drink: House-roasted Ethiopian filter
Frank. ★ 4.2
Frank. in Brussels serves third-wave specialty espresso and Australian-style brunch on Rue des Princes next to la Monnaie opera house. Small dining room, vegetable-focused carte, baristas trained at OR.
Signature drink: Specialty espresso
Peck 47 ★ 4.1
Peck 47 in Brussels' Saint-Gery is the brunch room near the Bourse with all-day pancakes and eggs. Specialty coffee from rotating Belgian roasters, packed on weekends.
Signature drink: Specialty coffee