A personal selection of some interesting pubs in Belgium
Whenever you’re exploring a new country, it pays to know where to grab a pint or a cocktail. Naturally you can always look up the highest rated places in whatever town you happen to be staying in. And in some places in Belgium you can even find recommendations for a pub crawl. For a personal dip into the drinking scene in Belgium though, read on for four top bars around the country (in no particular order).
Den Engel, Antwerp
Den Engel, or more accurately Café Den Engel, is a traditional bar in Antwerp that’s all about authenticity. (You’ll notice this is a common thread for most of this list). The history of the building dates back to the 14th century. It’s as if the bar hasn’t changed a lot since then; you can feel its age. Basically, it’s a nice place to enjoy some local beer, solid comfort food, and a beautiful setting in the main city square in Antwerp.
Café Vlissinghe, Bruges
If you make it to Bruges, you’ll likely be drawn to the old, narrow medieval streets that snake away from the main areas. Indeed the main charm of Bruges is its old world setup, complete with canals, cobblestones, and a vaguely haphazard layout. Café Vlissinghe fits right in with this image. It’s located off a side street and has been an operational bar since the early-16th century. Now it’s actually quite a beautiful little bar, complete with a walled in courtyard where you can try your hand at a game of boules.
A La Mort Subite, Brussels
A La Mort Subite made it onto a list of Belgian establishments for beer lovers, which was primarily devoted to breweries rather than bars. It earned the honor through a strong reputation for local beers, a 100-plus year tradition, and an almost fascinating decor. It comes complete with high ceilings, tightly packed tables, orb-like lighting, and giant mirrors. It’s a curious place, but an intoxicating one to look upon.

Poechenellekelder, Brussels
If you can get past the name that’s likely to tie your tongue in knots, this is one of the best beer bars in Brussels. The Poechenellekelder is known for being located next to the city’s unusually famous statue of a peeing boy. It thus tends to draw a large and enthusiastic crowd of tourists. It’s still worth a trip to check it out though as the atmosphere is cheery and the selection of well over 100 beers you may not have heard of can keep you busy.
Coming soon …
I attended a press event recently in a pub that has been voted the Best Beer Destination in the World! Was I impressed? Or underwhelmed? Read my account here.
Categories: Miscellenea
LOL (happily). Cheers!
Salute! I’ve sent this on to my Canadian nephew, he likes Belgium, and the beer!
Great, thanks Yvonne.
I definitely want to go to that oldest bar. Looks and sounds lovely.
Oh no! Somewhere good we missed in Bruges.
There’s always a next time Anabel!
I hope so!
Great Post, did you hear about ‘Zeegeuzen’ or ‘ t’Botteltje ‘ in Oostende?:)
No I haven’t, although I’ve stayed in your town for a few weekends and enjoyed my time there. Perhaps it’s time for me to return and write a “How to spend a day in Oostende” blog post?
‘Now,’ you tell me? 🙂
It’s time we came back to Belgium for another beer tour!
Poechenelle awaits …
I like the architecture or decor of the bars and hope the glue used to attach the beer bottles to the pink ceiling is really strong. Den Engel is extraordinary. My sons would love these places.
Yes, otherwise it will be another way that a bottle of beer can give you a headache. I hope you are well, and that your quiet time is proving beneficial Sharon
Visited Poechenellekelder yesterday after reading your post, thanks for sending us there. Love finding out about cute bars in Belgium with good beer lists. In Gent there is the Dulle Griet if you haven’t been!
Great. Always good to hear from folk who read and implement! I will check your recommendation when next in Gent. Thanks!
These all look fascinating. Any good wine bars?
That’s a good topic for research and a follow-up blog Pat!
Looking forward to reading that–since I have never developed a taste for any type of beer (American, British, German, Belgian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican)