Are you planning a trip to Belgium and hoping to imbibe some of the best Belgian beer on your trip? This post takes you across the country to some of the top places to sip a Belgium beer. Read on for my top picks of where to drink Belgian beer in Belgium.
Where to Drink Belgian Beer in Brussels
Most trips to Belgium start in Brussels, so we'll begin our self-guide Belgian beer tour here.
1. Best Craft Beer: Brussels Beer Project
Brussels Beer Project is located less than 20 minutes on foot from Brussel Centraal Station and is a great place to spend some time on a short Brussels layover. Brussels Beer Project features Belgian craft beers with a more modern flair. Order a sampler of four beers served in elegant stemmed glasses. I tried the Jungle Joy fruit beer had a light hint of mango and passionfruit and just a tinge of sourness. The Delta IPA was a little smooth and not particularly hoppy. The World Gone Sour was a guest beer from Northern Monk and was sour but not overpowering. The De Molé, another guest beer, was my favorite; a double stout that doesn't hold back on the heart or spice. If you want to experience Brussels like a local, Brussels Beer Project is the place to be.
2. Most Unusual Bar: Bar Le Cercueil
Le Cercueil was recommended to me by brewers from the U.S. whom I met in the tasting room at the Brussels Beer Project. If you are looking for a macabre place to grab a Belgian beer, this is it. Le Cercueil translates to "the coffin". I ordered a classic Tripel Karmeliet which oozed honey. I sipped my beer in the sepulchre and set my glass on a coaster on a glass topped coffin. If you like your Belgian beer with a gimmick, this is the place to go.
3. Most Popular Belgium Beer Pub: Delirium Cafe
Delirium Cafe is probably the largest and most popular Belgian beer bar in Brussels and is one of the top tourist attractions in the city. I stopped in for a quick Silly Sour while admiring the riotous decor. Delirium Cafe is actually quite large with a variety of bars that have different vibes. I walked down to the cellar bar where there was great atmosphere and plenty of seating on a late Friday afternoon.
Delirium Cafe is probably the largest and most popular Belgian beer bar in Brussels and is one of the top tourist attractions in the city. I stopped in for a quick Silly Sour while admiring the riotous decor. Delirium Cafe is actually quite large with a variety of bars that have different vibes. I walked down to the cellar bar where there was great atmosphere and plenty of seating on a late Friday afternoon.
4. Most Convenient Belgium Beer Bar: Moeder Lambic Fontainas Square
A classic place focusing on lambic beers, Moeder Lambic on Fontainas Square is within easy walking distance of the Grote Markt and Manneken Pis in Brussels and is definitely worth a stop. Our friend Brett from Our Tasty Travels recommended that we stop here and we're so glad we did. We also really appreciated that Brett is such a beer-o-phile and treated us to a fine bottle of Lou Pepe Kriek from Cantillon. I also loved that Moeder Lambic serves a bowl of barley instead of the usual bar snacks.
5. Best Place for Lambic Beer: Moeder St. Gilles
We liked Moeder Lambic on Fontainas Square so much that we just had to try the original in St. Gilles. This location is much smaller and cozier than the one downtown but an equally good spot to stop for a Belgian Lambic beer in Brussels.
6. Best Up and Coming Belgian Beer Bar: L’Egalité
L’Egalité in the St. Gilles neighborhood of Brussels features a refrigerator packed full of bottles and plaques on the wall describing different beers on offer. It was quiet when we visited mid-afternoon but was still a lovely spot to get inside out of the cold for a short while and enjoy some of the best Belgian beer in Belgium.
Where to Try Belgian Beer in and Around Bruges
Bruges is another very popular tourist destination in Belgium. Where should you drink Belgium beer in and around Bruges? Read on to find out.
7. Kitschiest Place to Drink Belgian Beer: 't Brugs Bieratelier
't Brugs Bieratelier in Bruges is just my style. They have a wide selection of Belgian beers on tap and offer handy sampler platters. The decor is also fabulously kitsch. We even managed to score a La Chouffe hat (complete with jingle bell!) to celebrate Christmas in Belgium.
8. Where to Go for the Strongest Belgian Beer: de Garre
de Garre in Bruges is nestled along a hard-to-find alleyway not far from the Grote Markt. They are famous for their house beer which clocks in at a potent 11+% alcohol. If you don't find a table on the first floor, keep climbing. There is plenty of room upstairs.
9. Most Historic Place to Drink Belgian Beer: Cafe Taverne de Dreve in Flanders
We stopped at Cafe Taverne de Dreve for lunch on our Quasimodo day-tour of Flanders Fields. We downed local Loete Poepe with homemade pate while Johan Vandewalle regaled us with stories from World War I and the archaeological finds in the area. The cafe is rich in memories and Johan is an amazing storyteller. This place is definitely worth seeking out if you are in Flanders to relive the history of the First World War.
Best Places for Belgian Beer in Leuven
Leuven is a college town known for great Belgian beer about a 20 minute train ride from Brussels. Leuven is a great stop if you you are exploring Belgium on a Rail Pass. Where should you drink in Leuven? Let me share my favorite spot.
10. Most Atmospheric Place for Belgian Beer: Fiere Margriet
Fiere Margriet is located in an old step-gabled house not far from the town hall in Leuven. We sipped sour beer while an old stuffed grouse looked on. Classic atmosphere.
SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Did you know that Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg are often grouped together and referred to as Benelux? Here are some ideas for other places to visit in Benelux:
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Top Places for Belgian Beer in Ghent
We recently spent a few days in Ghent and during that time got to know the Belgian beer scene in the city. There are plenty of fantastic places to grab a bottle or a pint of traditional or Belgium craft beer if you know where to look.
11. Best Place to Drink Belgian Beer with a Medieval Vibe: Cours St. Georges
We stumbled upon Cours St. Georges (situated on the ground floor of a hotel) in Ghent. Frankly, it looked like something from Medieval times with exposed beams, heavy chandeliers, and lots of stuffed heads looking down upon us. That was part of the charm. This is a place to go for the atmosphere rather than the selection of beer. We had a La Chouffe which went down just fine with a lunch of soup and bread.
12. Best Place to Spend a Rainy Day: De Trollekelder
De Trollekelder is the perfect place to sip the best Belgian beer on a rainy day in Ghent. Grab a table in the dark wood-paneled interior with plenty of items of flair on the walls. Order a local beer from Trollekelder's extensive menu. We tried a wheat beer from Lupulus and Liefmans Kriek. De Trollekelder gets the credit for introducing us to the combination of cheese and celery salt as a bar snack. I was a bit skeptical at first about how this combination would work but after one bite, I was hooked and gave each bite a little sprinkle. Yum! The cheese plate at de Trollekelder came with tiny onions, gherkins, mustard. You can easily turn this into a meal.
13. Best Place to Drink Belgian Beer on a Boat: Board Kaffee de Planck
Time for a beer break aboard Kaffee de Planck, a bar aboard a boat in Ghent. We ordered Gueze Boon Marriage Parfait and a Godendag Brown Trappist beer. A cheese platter was the perfect accompaniment, once again served with celery salt and mustard. Kaffee de Planck has a canopy so that you're sitting outside in the fresh air, but protected from the elements even if it's raining.
14. Most Overwhelming Belgium Beer Selection: Bier Central
Bier Central provides a great introduction to Belgium's beer scene. Warning: it's so hard to decide when the menu comes in an illustrated book that must be at least 50 pages long. There are over 300 choices of Belgian beer to try! We treated ourselves to a 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek for ~13 EUR and also tried a bottle of Gentse Strop. Note that Bier Central has a sister bar, Beer Central in Antwerp.
Bier Central provides a great introduction to Belgium's beer scene. Warning: it's so hard to decide when the menu comes in an illustrated book that must be at least 50 pages long. There are over 300 choices of Belgian beer to try! We treated ourselves to a 3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek for ~13 EUR and also tried a bottle of Gentse Strop. Note that Bier Central has a sister bar, Beer Central in Antwerp.
15. Place to Drink Belgian Beer with the Best Local Vibe: Brouwbar Gent
Brouwbar Gent in Patershol is both a tasting room and microbrewery. Sit outside or grab a table inside for an afternoon of excellent Belgian beer tasting. We treated ourselves to tasting paddle featuring four different samples for 10 EUR. The chocolate stout was my favorite. We need to go back to try the raspberry and cherry sour which was only available by the bottle and thus not available to taste.
Brouwbar Gent in Patershol is both a tasting room and microbrewery. Sit outside or grab a table inside for an afternoon of excellent Belgian beer tasting. We treated ourselves to tasting paddle featuring four different samples for 10 EUR. The chocolate stout was my favorite. We need to go back to try the raspberry and cherry sour which was only available by the bottle and thus not available to taste.
16. Belgian Craft Beer Bar Most Worth Walking To: Dok Brewing Company
Dok Brewing Company is located further afield in Ghent. It will take you about 25 minutes to walk there from the center of Ghent. Dok is definitely worth the effort to get to. You'll be spoiled for choice with all the different Belgian craft beer options on tap alongside an even great selection of bottled beer and cans. We tried a Gose Island sour cloudy with raspberries, a classic Belgian blonde, and a rye porter laced with 30% Trappist beer which gave it a sour, funky taste.
Dok Brewing Company is located further afield in Ghent. It will take you about 25 minutes to walk there from the center of Ghent. Dok is definitely worth the effort to get to. You'll be spoiled for choice with all the different Belgian craft beer options on tap alongside an even great selection of bottled beer and cans. We tried a Gose Island sour cloudy with raspberries, a classic Belgian blonde, and a rye porter laced with 30% Trappist beer which gave it a sour, funky taste.
17. Best Place to End Your Belgium Beer Tour: Gentse Gruut
Gentse Gruut Brewery and tasting room is very centrally located in Ghent about a 5 minute walk from Sint-Jacobskerk. You'll find plenty of outdoor seating on a nice day. Sit outside at Gentse Gruut and enjoy some 100 mL tasters at the brewery as the perfect nightcap to a day of Belgium beer tasting.
Gentse Gruut Brewery and tasting room is very centrally located in Ghent about a 5 minute walk from Sint-Jacobskerk. You'll find plenty of outdoor seating on a nice day. Sit outside at Gentse Gruut and enjoy some 100 mL tasters at the brewery as the perfect nightcap to a day of Belgium beer tasting.
Summing up the Best Belgian Beer in Belgium
I highly recommend "Good Beer Guide Belgium" if you are spending a significant amount of time in the country. It's a beer lovers almanac and gives a star rating to both pubs and individual brews. We found it to be an indispensable resource on our trip - it helped us to find many of the places to drink Belgian beer highlighted above.
Map of Where to Find Top Belgian Beer in Belgium
If you are interested in re-tracing our steps and visiting some of the pubs mentioned above, here is a handy map to guide you on your way. Click on the image of the map below to open up an interactive version in Google Maps. Cheers!
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