brussels pubs: the best craft beer bars in brussels
Welcome to the Drink in the Sights Guide to the Best pubs in Brussels. Here you'll find the ultimate Brussels craft beer pub crawl.
When you think of Belgium you probably immediately think beer, and rightly so, the place is full of it, and the beautiful capital Brussels is no exception. There's beers for everyone here from stouts to IPA's and Trappist beers aplenty. Rather uniquely just about every Belgium beer, and there's a lot of them, come with their own special glass designed to enhance the aroma and flavour of that particular beer, and impressively most the pubs stock the glasses to match. There simply isn't a better city for a beer lover than Brussels so lets make a start to this guide to the best bars in Brussels.
Brussels Pubs
Delirium Cafe
|
There's no great need to explain why this bars on the list of best pubs in Brussels beyond saying it has the single biggest beer selection in Europe with over 2000 different beers available at any one time, and given that a lot of them are Belgium beers that will knock your socks off it's going to take a while to get through them all. It's a huge pub, that still has a real pub feel, so don't be fooled into thinking the selection is just a gimmick. You'll also find the Delirium Tap Room and Little Delirium in Brussels both of which are well worth a visit too. Simply a great place for craft beer in Brussels.
|
|
|
Poechenellkelder
|
|
|
This place should come with a warning, if you're scared of creepy dolls you wont like it here. However this is a truly excellent traditional Belgium bar in the center of the capital. Like all Belgium bars the impossible to pronounce Poechenellekelder has top class, highly alcoholic beers at surprisingly low prices. What it has more than any other Belgium bar though is charm. Somehow the dolls and pictures which makes the bar difficult to tell from an eclectic antiques shop just work. There's a homely feel to the place and as tourists we felt very welcome you simply can't miss this off your Brussels pub crawl.
|
|
|
Le Cercueil
|
|
|
Otherwise known as The Skull Bar despite literally translating as The Coffin which is just as appropriate for this wonderfully macabre Belgium treat of a bar. Located down a small street off the main square Le Cercueil is as Gothic as bars come. The drinks come in skulls, which are placed on your table, which is a coffin, with a (presumably plastic) skeleton inside. The art work is all suitably dark and disturbing. I love this kind of place it's a bit different, and loads of people were coming in to take photos. As it's a Belgium bar there a whole host of Trappist beers with deadly percentages, but hey if it all goes wrong the coffins are already there waiting for you. One of the best pubs in Brussels
|
|
La Porte Noire
|
According to the film 'Donnie Darko' there's no better phrase in the English language than 'cellar door,' I disagree, I think it's cellar bar, and there's few better anywhere than La Porte Noire. Sure the tap selection isn't as huge as some on this list, although it's still pretty substantial with 12 on tap, and over 100 bottles backing it up, but really this is all about the atmosphere. La Porte Noire looks like a proper medieval tavern with bare brick arches, coats of arms on the walls, and wooden tables. The whole place just has a really cool rock vibe to it, which is only enhanced by the dragon motifs popping up all over the place. One of the truly excellent Brussels bars.
|
|
Brussels Beer Project
|
With around about 30 beers on tap and an abundance of bottles Brussels Beer Project belongs on anyone's list of best Brussels pubs. Thankfully, as there's so many beers on offer, the staff know what they are talking about and will take the time to find the right beer, or selection of beers for you. You can't help but be impressed by this pub with its fun neon lights, bare brick walls, and tiled flooring, but really as with most of Belgium it's all about the Brussels craft beers, and there's certainly plenty of them!!
|
|
Moeder Lambric Fontainas
|
There must be at least 40 beers on tap at Moeder Lambric Fontainas so you certainly aren't going to go thirsty in this Belgium beer drinkers paradise. This is another one of those wonderful long thin Brussels pubs with bare brick walls, glasses hanging above the long cool bar area and a cracking atmosphere. The staff really are among the best around and keep the beers flowing from start to finish. As if this wasn't enough they also offer a pretty nice cheese selection, and what could be better than cheese and Belgium beer in one of the best pubs in Brusssels?
|
|
Brasserie De La Senne
|
Located a little outside the main tourist area of Brussels you'll find the excellent Brasserie De La Senna, the second brewery to open in Brussels city centre. You'll find an excellent selection of Brussels brewed craft beers here including Stouterik, a very nice 5% stout. The bar is a proper back to basics brewery tap that just lets the beers do the talking. The place could almost be described as a very nice industrial block with loads of natural light coming through. There's wooden floorboards and a nice wooden bar manned by excellent friendly staff. One of the very best bars in Brussels.
|
|
Cafe Mort Subite
|
If you want to drink quality beer in a really stylish Brussels pub look no further than Mort Subite. Sure as usual there's plenty of beers on tap but really you're coming here because it's an absolutely gorgeous old building with an atmosphere that's always buzzing. Downstairs there's row after row of tables surrounded by gorgeous arched mirrors and memorabilia, while upstairs there's a wonderful balcony area with wooden floorboards and a stunning partial glass roof. It really does feel like you're drinking somewhere luxurious in Cafe Mort Subite, and it's certainly one of the very best pubs in Brussels.
|
|
|
Nanobrasserie de l'Emitage
|
|
|
Everyone loves a good microbrewery don't they? Well this is one of the best you'll find. I should note straight away that the bar part of the brewery is only open Friday and Saturday so make sure you pay it a visit if you're there over the weekend. If not you're out of luck I'm afraid. This is very much exactly what a microbrewery should be, a cool back to basics pub with the brewing equipment on show, cool murals on the walls, park bench style seating, and bar staff who clearly love the beers they're serving. Certainly one of the best craft beer bars in Brussels.
|
|
GIST
|
GIST is a proper little Belgium craft beer bar right in the centre of Brussels serving close to 20 beers on tap along with the usual selection of bottles. This almost feels like an English pub, in a good way, with its wooden floorboards, wooden bar with mirrors behind, comfy seats, and general cosy atmosphere. I really enjoyed the music selection here too, it was quite eclectic so you never quite knew what to expect next. This is a wonderful Brussels bar, and one that should be on everyone's Brussels pub crawl.
|
|
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best pubs in Brussels and enjoy your Brussels craft beer pub crawl. Please also check out my guide to The Best Bars in Bruges.
