Bars and clubs
De Walvis
Is one of the very few hip and non-smoking bars in brussels. dansaert street.
Crystal Lounge
(http://www.crystallounge.be) this prestige location, nestling in the heart of the louise district in brussels, offers a new style of lounge bar â restaurant entirely dedicated to the well-being of its guests. the service, the musical atmosphere and the lighting⦠everything has been carefully thought out to offer a unique experience depending on the time of day: if the client chooses a table at midday, he will discover a totally different crystal lounge from the one he would find sitting at the bar in the evening, or in a salon in the middle of the afternoon.
Mappa Mundo
Place saint gã©ry-sint goriksplein 2, +32 02 514 3555. one of the many trendy bar/cafã©s located on the popular place saint gã©ry-sint goriksplein. you are assured good drinking in at least one of these establishments, which are very popular with younger eurocrats, foreigners and interns, giving them a rather friendly cosmopolitan character.
Botanique
The Botanique is the place for rock and pop. They do, on occasion, bring more experimental acts.
Ancienne Belgique
The Botanique's Flemish counterpart, the Ancienne Belgique features the same mix of rock and pop with the occasional excursion into more unchartered, experimental territory.
Recyclart
For electronica, noise-rock, electroclash, minimal techno as well as art exhibitions, social projects and installations.
Hydra-breaks
Organises "hydra sessions" and also "next level" and "caliente" drum and bass parties at various locations. hydra sessions are major d&b nights with international headliners such as pendulum, spor, or raiden, along national djs.
Bulex nights
Is a monthly night out for many locals since more than 10 years, blending all kind of music in unexpected venues. come as you are.
Pubs
The Monk
St katelijnestraat-rue st. catherine 42, (http://www.monk.be/). a large proper brown bar with walls covered in dark wood and mirrors. lots of young people from the neighborhood, cool music and a decent malt whiskey selection.
"Brasserie De l'Union"
55 parvis de saint-gilles - sint-gillisvoorplein. this is a place with a true "atmosphere", wooden chairs and tables, big old wooden bar, a crowd that reflects the diversity of saint-gilles. everybody is welcome and come as you are. this is a bar that just oozes human warmth and a comfortable ambiance. when the sunny days are coming, the terrace is one of the best in saint-gilles.
à La Mort Subite
Rue montagne-aux-herbes potagã¨res-bergstraat 7, (http://www.alamortsubite.com). this is the brussels cafe par excellence. opened since 1927, the decor remains unchanged but still retains its charm. a warm welcome greets the eclectic clientile of which la mort remains a firm favorite.
Bier Circus
57, rue de l'enseignement-onderrichtsstraat, +32 02 218 0034, (http://www.bier-circus.be/). has an impressive selection of beers, including some extremely hard to find beers. examples of rare beers they have in stock, are lam gods a delicious beer brewed from figs and the rarest of the trappist beers, winner of the beer of the year 2005, westvleteren. also offers meals with beer as an ingredient. open tuesday to friday, 1200-1430 & 1800-2300; saturday 1800-2300.
Cirio
Rue de la bourse-beursstraat 18 near the bourse. a traditional cafã© where time has come to a stop. also offers some simple meals. don't forget to visit the bathroom, with the original tiles and porcelain.
Bizon Cafe
Rue pont de la carpe-karperbrugstraat 7, (http://www.cafebizon.com/...). a relaxed blues/rock bar in st gery area. excellent place for a beer or five.
à La Bécasse
Rue de taborastraat 11, +32 02 511 0006. serves a typical brussels product this slightly sweetened lambic beer, white beer based on lambic, kriek lambic and so on. the entrance is not that easy to find.
Delirium Cafe
Impasse de la fidelitã©-getrouwheidsgang 4a on a pedestrian only sidestreet, +32 02 514 4434, (http://www.deliriumcafe.be). right in the centre of brussels within five minutes walk of the grand place. this bar is all about the beer, offering 2004 different beers from all over the world. they even hold the guinness world record for most beers available! popular amongst foreigners. check if they have your own local beer. view their website for more info. there are some smoke-free areas. also next door are three different alcohol themed bars specialising rum, tequila, and absinthe.
Brasserie Verschueren
Parvis de st-gilles-sint-gillisvoorplein 11-13, 02/539 40 68. something of an institution in hip saint-gilles. under the watchful eye of the portly, bearded deep-voiced owner, hipsters, starving artists and local poodle-brandishing ladies mingle and drink endless beers and coffees. a beautiful woodwork football tableau shows the scores of some long lost second and third division teams from yesteryear.
Le Greenwich
Rue des chartreux-kartuizerstraat 7, +32 02 511 4167. another wood-panelled brown cafe where the only sound is the sound of the chess pieces on the chess board. shh!
Le Corbeau
Sint-michielsstraat 18 north of debrouckere, near city2 and inno +32 02 219 5246. a bar with a strong selection of beer, edgar allen poe themed, hence the name the raven. known for the clientele who dance on the tables all around the bar. reasonably priced, well trafficked.
Chez Moeder Lambiek
Rue savoiestraat 68 behind saint gilles-sint-gillis city hall. has a huge list of different beers, with several hundred obscure beers not likely found anywhere else. this cafe is one of the last remaining old-fashioned brown cafes in brussels.
BXL Cafe/Bar
Place de la vieille halle aux blã©s-oud korenhuis 46, +32 02 502 9980. open daily noon-midnight fri/sat until 1am. a stylish, friendly internet cafe in the center of brussels. offering high speed internet access, occasional live music/dj, latest movies shown on video screens around the bar, regular art exhibitions. gay friendly space with women's night every wednesday from 8pm.
Belgium is to beer what France is to wine, it is home to one of the greatest beer traditions in the world, and Brussels is a great place to sample some of the vast variety on offer. Typical beers of Brussels are gueuze rather sour and kriek rather sweet, cherry based.
Smoking is prohibited in all bars.
A special drink only found in Brussels is the "half-en-half" "half and half". It's a mixture of white wine and champagne.