CAFES OF
Including
If
the
Here
is a list of beer styles and some good examples of those styles in brackets;
Red
beer ( Rodenbach )
Pale
Ales ( De Koninck and Plam )
Trappists Beer ( Orval, Rochefort, and Westvletern )
Abbey
Beers ( Leffe and Corsendork )
Lambic, Gueuze and
Fruit Beers ( Boon and Cantillion
)
Strong
Golden Ale ( Duvel )
White
wheat Beer ( Hoegraden )
Scotch
Ales and Xmas Beers ( Gordens
)
Blonde
Beer ( Leffe Blonde )
Export
Stout ( Guinness Special Export Stout brewed in
And
not forgetting your mass product lagers from Interbrew
of Stella
Most
of the specialist styles tend to be in bottles, more expensive and stronger in
alcohol strength than the standard
Jupiler at 5% will be 1.70 to 2.00 Euros
Duvel at 8.5% will be 3.20 to 3.50 Euros
Prices
in April 2005 in
Most
Belgians tend to drink Juplier then round the evening
off with a specialist beer, us tourists tend to think we are in beer wonderland
and want to drink as many beer styles as possible. While some city centre cafes
are large most
Here
is a list of outstanding cafes in the following cities
Antwerp
is Belgium's second biggest city after Brussels, in the Flemish part of
CITY CENTRE
Berenbak, 17 Minderbroedersstraat
Attractive bar with
collection of ties on the walls. Food menu good and beer range too. Bolleke
very nice! Lots of plants and pretty fireplace with clock.
Modern art paintings!
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 2001
A modern café of lots of wood panelling
and plants! A collection of ties is above the bar area. A
good food menu, as well as the beer menu. Nice laid-back atmosphere with
good bar service. Just outside the main centre' the road is off Minderbroedersrui, which is on most of the tourist maps.
John 9/10 visit Dec 2004
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Den Engel, 1 Grote Markt
Second bar of the two ' Engels '!Very busy but other pub
was packed! Ghastly 'cool' jazz and soul music did not impress me! But good service and prices. VERY un-amusing toilet
arrangements;- I don't mind them being together but
expect a door on the gents' part!
Sue 7/10 visit Feb 2001
Two bars next to each another, the first
bar was crowded so we went into the second one. Interesting paintings on the
wall, A tourist walk of
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
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Elfde Gebod, 10
Torfburg ( 11th
commandment )
Web site www.elfde-gebod-antwerpen.be
Very unusual bar with
church statues and icons and cherubs dangling from the ceiling. Two storeys high and very crowded, especially with
figurines. Unusual beer ( brown ale style )-Giltenbier. Lively bustling atmosphere.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 2001
This place is some
John 9/10 visit Dec 2004
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Highlander, 2 Pieter van
Hobokenstraat
Nice cosy place with a Scottish theme.
It's a little cold outside, so it's nice to come into a warm cosy pub. Run by
an Anglo-Belgian couple who change languages effortlessly! The pub does have
some Scotch ales McEwans and Gordons
strong red, as well as Belgian bottled beers. As you expect it has a good range
of Scottish malt whiskies. Guest beer is John Smith's keg, I wonder what clan
he belongs to!!
John 8/10 visit Dec 2004
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Kulminator, 32 Vieminckveld
Very impressed with the plants covering
the windows , the fresh roses on the tables, and the
old tree in the centre of the room. Abbey van t' park-great blonde beer- and
selection is huge. Lovely curved bar area, and every part of the bar full of
interest-with hanging beer decorations, pamphlets, pictures, glasses
everywhere.
Sue 9.5/10 visit Feb 2001
A well-decorated bar, a little way out of
the centre, but beer lovers manage to find it-maybe because there are well over
500 beers on the menu! Reading the beer menu takes a fair bit of
John 10/10 visit Dec 2004
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Oud Arsenaal,
4 Maria Pijpelinckstraat
Wonderful unspoilt
boozer in a busy part of town, with a market outside. Catering for the locals and not the
tourist. The décor is basic with the walls full of mainly beer memorabilia , but the atmosphere is good. Reasonably priced
beer menu keeps everyone happy. Closes 19.30 on Saturdays and
Sundays and all day Thursday. Hard to avoid jokes about boring 1-0 wins
and offside traps! ( English joke! )
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
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Paters' Vaetje,
1 Blauwmoezelstraat
Crowded, lively bar with
balcony seats overlooking chandelier and busy bar area. Pretty bar signs round the walls. Large mirrors,
treacherous looking stairs! Leffe Blonde sampled. Rather
naff music.
Sue 7.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Small café near
cathedral which was very packed when we visited. Managed to get a seat in the
upstairs balcony area, with a nice view looking down onto the bar. Stairs not easy to get up. Well over a 100 beers served. Stove to keep us warm in the winter.
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
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De Pelgrim,
15 Pelgrimstraat
Interesting and original
place, in an old building.
You walk in, you see a big fireplace and toilets. Go
down the stairs to a brick cellar, it's almost like a cave! The atmosphere is
romantic helped by the candle light. In December, with only two other couples
around it's okay to have a beer, but I am not so sure when it's busier. Because
of the candle light it's hard to read the beer menu and the prices, but maybe
that’s the idea!
John 8/10 visit Dec 2004
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Roden Coninck,
31 Vlasmarkt
Interesting café with lots
of character. Dangling
spiders etc spin when door opens! Average beer selection.
Sports trophies, fish tank and laid-back atmosphere - complete with hippy! Very friendly feeling.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Nice old café with older clientele, who
give this place a nice friendly atmosphere on a Saturday evening. When the door
opens a spider spins around, surprising the visitors and amusing the locals!
Not a great beer menu, but makes up for it in atmosphere.
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2004
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Stamineeke, 23 Vlasmarkt
A small candlelit
street-side café with an excellent friendly atmosphere. Good service and attractive collection of mirrors,
signs ( and obscure dice game ) Not impressed by Blues
music, but John is! Or the 'experimental' jazz!
Sue 7.5/10 visit Feb 2001
From the outside, this
place looks like a restaurant, but inside there are lots of beer posters,
bottles, brewery mirrors etc and plenty of beer drinking by the patrons. Candles, checked tablecloths and blues music ( which annoyed the mouse ) a
John 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Sadly now closed.
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De Vagant,
21 Reynderstraat
A cosy café which
specialise in genever, which creates a special
atmosphere. Lively locals' atmosphere on a Monday. Belgian genever is a little different from Dutch, so give it a try.
Young cat on the table, who knows already how to play cute for the customers! Classic music in the
background. Cool place.
John 9/10 visit Dec 2004
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't Waagstuk,
20 Stadswaag
Web site www.waagstuk,be
Attractive pub, dating to
1548 reached by courtyard.
Strange folk music - a cross between Irish and West Country! Good service with
extensive beer and food menu. Locals atmosphere but
friendly. Large collection of beer mugs.
Sue visit 8/10 Feb 2001
Nice old cobbled square leads to an old
courtyard outside the café, must be lovely in the summer. Atmospheric
wooden bar with jugs hanging from the ceiling. Belgian folk music
playing in the background on my last visit, this
John 9.5/10 visit Dec 2004
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SOUTH OF CITY CENTRE
De Pelgrim,
8 Boomgardstraat,
Café next to the De Koninck
brewery; it only sells De Koninck beers on draught.
At the
John 9.5/10 visit Dec 2004
GETTING THERE
This pub is a 25 minute
walk out of town or take the
Number 7 tram southbound, from Minderbroedersrui near
the Berenbak café. The fare is one euro, you pay the
driver. Get off one stop after Kong Albert Park ( park
on your right hand side ). Walking back from the stop you will see the De Koninck brewery, the café is opposite. Most tourist maps
don't go out this far, but the Lonely Planet guide to
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Bargeehuis, 2 Bargeweg,
Web site www.bargehuis.be
A beer café just inside
central
John 8/10 visit June 2003
To get to it walk along the canal by
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Brugse Beertje,
5 Kemelstraat,
Web site www.brugsbeertje.be
Well-known and loved by beer hunters ( Michael Jackson photo on wall! ). Collection
of beer trays and unusual paintings of brewing industry also on wall.
Excellent beer menu - tried Straff Hendrik and Hellekapelle. Classical background music.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 2001-
Wonderful place with an
awesome list of
Closed
for holidays!!
July 2008
A world classic. Vast range of beers and photos of
Michael Jackson (the beer writer) on the wall. Small
and busy inside. It opens at 4.00 and by 5.00 it was packed. Serves excellent food.
Revisited John
What a pub. I have visited this pub 5
John 11/10 visit April 2005 and June 2006
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Cambrinus, 19 Philipstockstraat,
Web site www.cambrinus.eu
An old building just off the main square, which in March 2006 opened as
a beer café. Décor is upmarket including
brass lights, bar stools and wood panelling walls. The café
as an amazing 400 beers on its menu. Which gives you a great choice to
find your ideal rare beer1
Service was good, but café needs to have a lived in feel. But off
to a good start.
John 9/10 visit
June 2006
This
pub is now getting more of that lived in feeling. It is as modern as the Brugse Beertje is traditional.
According to one friend the décor is shades of Wetherspoons,
while I see what he means, the atmosphere is totally different. The barman was very knowledgeable.
John
9.5/10 July 2008
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Curiosa, 22 Vianmingstraat,
Web site www.curiosa-brugge.com
Candle-lit 16th
century cellar bar with various niches containing flowers, bottles and an
interesting religious icon.
Bar has arches and pillars through it like a church. Good service and
complimentary snacks-corned beef and radishes. Corsendonk Agnus
in good condition.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Atmospheric 16th
century cellar bar with nice lighting effects as well as candles on the tables,
also interesting gothic statues. May be a little food-orientated, but a nice place to have a drink from
their beer menu. On my last visit cheese was server with my beer, now
mouse-like!
John 8.5/10 visit June 2003
A dangerous bar to get
into, with very steep steps.
As you enter the dark interior its seems pitch black.
In fact it took 5 minutes for my eyes to adjust in the cellar, which is lit by
candles. It has brick arches. A good range of bottled beer.
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Dickies, 16 Vrijdagmarkt,
A café on a busy square. Modern red décor with a pleasant
atmosphere to the place. Collection of beer bottles up on the sleeves,
as well as old photos of Bruges on wall. Good selection of beer memorabilia all
around, plus a '15 reasons why a beer is better than a
woman!' poster.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2003
Small café by a square
with fountains. Front and
rear bars serve food. A gas grill at the back for cooking.
The orange walls are unusual.
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De Brugse
Beerkaai, 9 Nieuwstraat,
Home brew pub on side of
canal. Had Brugse Blond again-lovely beer! Restaurant bar, but food
part closed down. Chequered tablecloths and 'cool' music! But liked friendly
atmosphere and locals were in. Warm, comfortable feel, candle-lit.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 2001
Home brew pub of the
John 8.5/10 visit June 2003
A brew pub come restaurant with a range of
4 beers. Wooden interior with glass display cases. The pub is right by a canal.
It also does tapas for those who like to snack.
Sadly
now closed, on my visit in April 2005
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Erasmus, 15 Wollestraat,
Web site www.hotelerasmus.com
A unlike place for a
good beer café. A small upmarket hotel bar, done out in modern décor. Half the place for eating, half for drinking. A good beer
menu and 9 beers on draught makes this a excellent
place. Friendly bar service as well. On
each visit the owner has taken a keen interest on the beer I was drinking. Never judge a book by its cover! How many
pubs have automatic doors?
John 8.5/10 visit June 2006
The
entrance has been moved, but apart from this nothing has changed too much.
There are 10 beers on draught; none of them are mainstream beers. I try a Bush Blonde. While owner was in the
background, the waiter was very knowledgeable.
John
8.5/10 visit July 2008
An hotel bar selling a wide range of bottled and draught
beer, including Chimay and Augustina.
There is a rear courtyard and main bar by the front door. A nice touch is the
small bowl of peanuts served with the beer.
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Estaminet, 5 Park
Pub across the road from a park which is a little of the tourists track,
while still in the centre of town. Outdoor drinking area at
the front, ideal for today which is heat wave weather. TV inside showing World Cup football. Average
beer range. The low ceiling gives the café a cosy feel.
John 8/10 visit
June 2006
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T’ Ezeltje, 118 Ezelstraat
A small narrow pub with a low ceiling, giving it a cosy feel. There is an outside patio
drinking area at the back of the pub, which will be handy if
John 7.5/10 visit July 2008
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Gare, 1 de Garre,
between 12 and 14 Breidelstraat
Wonderful old café down
an alley. Approaching the
building you feel like you are going somewhere special,
and you are. It's small and cosy downstairs, there is
also a upstairs drinking area if crowded. Original beams and brick walls makes
is lovely place, worth visiting alone , but the good
beer menu is a welcome bonus. Great place.
John 9.5/10 visit June 2006
On this visit I
am up on the top floor for the first
John 9.5/10
visit July 2008
Stunning café down a
tiny alley serving a massive range of beers. Its in
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Graeneburg, Markt
Attractive café on main
square- rather expensive but nice interior. Brightly lit, in contrast to previous café, but it
improved the friendly atmosphere. Log bench-style tables, but window ones look
out onto life in the square; floodlit at night. Chandelier
lights and stained glass windows. A warm, friendly
bar.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 2001
A big café on the main square, a good
place to look out onto the impressive buildings in the square and people-watch!
Any place on the square is going to be tourist orientated and not full of
locals, but this place seems more into drink than food, and has a pleasant
atmosphere.
John 8/10 visit Feb 2001
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Halve Maan, 26 Walplein,
Web site www.halvemaan.be
Home of the Straffe Hendrik brewery. There are brewery tours on the hour during its
opening hours, between 10-00 and 18-00 hours. An nice
courtyard entrance is a great place to drink on a hot summers day. Inside is
upmarket, but pleasant with a nice collection of beer bottles all around the
place. The blonde and brown Staffe Hendrik beers are nice drinks as well.
John 8/10 visit April 2005
The beers were
contracted out, but the
John 8/10 visit
July 2008
You enter by a cobbled court yard with a
half covered seating area. Brewery tours are available. Inside is further
seating area for beer and food. Full of inquisitive visitors
taking the hourly brewery tour. The two beers, a blonde and brun are very drinkable.
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A locals pub next to the fish market which today (being
Sunday) is being used to sell books etc.
This remains a true locals pub because it
doesn’t sell food. All credit to the owner for keeping the pub this way; when
he could make easy money selling food in this location. Tour de France is on the TV with the volume
low. Karaoke background music with Glen Miller, Elvis and
Little
John 8.5/10 visit July 2008
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De Kelk,
69 Langestraat
A small pub on the road which is going away from the main square. Outside the pub a bike
race is going on, with the road shut down to cars. The locals are outside
cheering the riders. The friendly locals told me they organised this to annoy a
local yuppie who wants to close down the pub and everything on the road. The
décor inside is dark gothic, with a good atmosphere. The beer list was great
with some old favourites on it. The barman had a Westvleteren
12 for special occasions. I visited this
pub at the right moment. Opens 1700 hours: closed on Monday.
John 9/10 visit
July 2008
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Kleine Nachtmuziek,
60 Sint Jakobsstraat,
You know this
place is going to be a little different, when you see the empty bottles and
cases of malt whiskies displayed in the window. Inside there are two pianos,
candles on the table, Guinness posters and an old guitar! Menu is in a lever arch file and includes a
history of Irish coffee, as well as a impressive beer list which has Roman
beers are the house beers and a great choice of Scottish malt whiskies. An eccentric sort of pub with a laid-back atmosphere. Open from 1800 hours, closed Wednesday. A great place.
John 9/10 visit
July 2008
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Kluiver, 12 Hoogstraat
From the
outside this place looks like a restaurant. While it does do snacks it is okay
to have a drink in here! The name of the pub comes from a sail from a sailboat;
hence the sail on the ceiling and nautical theme. Exposed brick and candles on
the tables a
John 7.5/10
visit July 2008
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Kuppe Kaiperstraat
19
Menu claims it does 100 kinds of beers. A
good section of
John 8/10 visit April 2005
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Leopold, 26 t’Zand
T’Zand is where the coaches drop the tourists off to go into centre of
John 7/10 visit July 2008
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Le Garre,
Markt
Come in by accident whilst looking for a
café, but worthwhile as it's possible to have a beer! Warm
with open fire, lovely views of the town square, and very friendly service.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 2001
Nice upmarket café on the main square. Old place with wood panelling, paintings on the wall and a nice
fireplace. More into food than drink , but it's
okay to have a drink - at least on a week-day in February when it's not very
busy!
John 7.5/10 Visit Feb 2001
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Ovenne, 6 Braamberstraat,
Friendly café not far of
the central square. Good
beer menu which was big on Chimay and Corsendork, unfortunately they seem to think having Bud on
it, is a big advantage! Bit of a football theme with various football memorabilia
involving the local club, FC Bruges.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2003
Cheaper priced beer. A friendly local with a football
theme and fuseball machine. A birthday party
was underway when we were there.
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Snuffel, 47/49 Ezelstraat
This is a backpackers pub which is open to all. This means the barman
is also a hostel receptionist! The beer list of 30 beers includes the contract
brew Oxfam dark and blonde. Prices are the cheapest in
John 8/10 visit
July 2008
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Cafe Stokekershis, 7
Langestraat
A pub which is
easy to pass and hopefully a lot of tourists do just that! The name of this pub
means distillery house which means it specialises in Belgian genver. While décor is nicely olde
worlde, including wood panelled walls and low
lighting, the pub does no food. Nice
cosy laid-back atmosphere. Opens 1830 hours; closed Tuesday
and Wednesday.
John 8/10 visit
July 2008
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T' dreupelhuisje,
9 Kemelstraat,
Wonderful geneve
bar of great character, lots of different types of geneve
on the menu including lots of fruit ones! most
starting at 2 euros. Nice cosy candle-lit atmosphere, mural on the wall
involving geneve is colourful! Featuring geneve from the Cockney distillery, as I am
John 8.5/10 visit April 2005
Very close to the Brugs
Beertje. Specialising in geneve. Most are 2 euros. Friendly
bar service and peanuts gratis. Painting of drunken
scenes on the walls with a steep staircase. Worth a try as a warm up for
the Brugs Beertje!
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Terrasttje, 45 Genthof
Café which is
close to the canal and has a outdoor drinking area to
watch the boats go by. Nice hideaway café in is small inside but this doesn’t stop
the owners doing good bar snacks. Not to crowded on my visit. The café had a
relaxed atmosphere. Close to the Vlissinge which is
next on the list.
John 7/10 visit
June 2006
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De Verloren Hoek, 178 Carmerstraat
Traditional
cafe on the edge of the city limits with a green and a windmill across the
road. Not too many tourists get out this way. Traditional décor including wood
panelled walls, wooden chairs and tables. Despite it being July it is cold and
wet, so the heating being on is welcome! Local beer Bruge
Zot is on draught in dark and blonde, most cafes in
John 7.5/10
July 2008
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Vlissinghe, 22A Blekerstraat,
Web site www.cafevlissinghe.be
A wonderful café established in 1515,
inside you can feel the history. Nice décor including old prints, old fireplace
and old bric-a-brac. Beer garden around the back is great for the summer. A
little of the tourist track , but well worth making
the effort to find. Not a great beer menu, but a place soaked in atmosphere. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
John 9/10 visit April 2005
A café has been here since 1515. beautifully panelled wooded interior with a large fire
place. Freezes on the walls with scenes of
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Zolder, 53 Vlamingstraat
Cellar bar café, which
seems to have similar décor to the Curiosa just down the road. Dimly-lit cosy atmosphere, with an
old map of Belgian regions, as well as various beer memorabilia on the walls.
St Brenardus Tripel on
draught makes for a nice bonus.
John 8/10 visit June 2003
Another cellar bar with
an impressive fireplace.
The stairs are again very steep and you risk hitting your head if you are over
5'10". Good beer selection
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DAMME
Damme is a half hour boat ride from
Oude Speye, 7 Kerkstraat
This place
seems to be into its food. There are some drinking tables and stools next to
the bar. This is a lovely old building
with genuine old beams going through the ceiling and some interesting paintings
on the wall. The beer list with the menu was small, althoughr beer guides claim it has a large list. Crisps are
served with the beer. Closed Monday and Tuesday from
September to June.
John 7.5/10
visit July 2008
Goldies, 18A Kerkstraat
An upmarket
café which has marble table tops and wicker chairs. Oldie records are the theme
here. Vinyl records are on the walls and oldies playing in the background.
Service was slow, but it was raining outside and I wasn’t in a hurry. Whilst
crisps and peanuts were served with the beer, my beer, Orval,
was 4.20 euros making this more expensive than
John 6/10 July
2008
Cafe t’Wapen
Van Damme, 23 Kerkstraat
Friendly café
overlooking the main square; unlike a lot of cafes in Damme
this one is not into its food. While the beer choice was average they did have
a section for local beers. I had the Kapel viven. Wood panelled walls with photos of old Damme. Seems very much to me to be a locals
café. Beer served with nuts again! Pub did seem to have in bit of a fly problem
at the
John 8/10 visit
July 2008
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While
CITY CENTRE
A La Becasse,
9 Rue Tabora
Another old favourite with -wood-panelling . I think the name is French for a dunlin - a
wading bird. Very lively, with singing patrons, and crowded.
Extremely atmospheric.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 1999
Kreik served in stoneware jugs. Rows of wooden tables
remind me a little bit of
Nice old café down an alleyway with the
prices and list of beers outside. Seating in rows of wooden chairs
and tables, rather like a German beer hall which makes it atmospheric.
Specialist Kreik place, which serves it in stoneware
jugs.
John 8.5/10 visit June 2006
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Au Soleil,
86 Rue du Marche au Charbon
A students' bar near the
Halloween; very lively and friendly, if a little basic. Pretty view onto the cobbled street, to the church
opposite.
Sue 7.5/10 visit Feb 1999
A café in the centre of
the city with reasonable prices for beer and food, which attracts a lot of
students who in turn give this place a lot of atmosphere. Beer menu is on a blackboard below the bar; good
waiter service.
John 8/10 visit Feb 2001
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Au Bon Vieux Temps, Impasse St Nicolas off 12 Rue Marche aux Herbes
A beautiful old pub in
an alleyway off the centre.
Stained-glass windows and panels were stunning. Wood-panelling with beer names
on - very atmospheric. Huge fireplace with jugs and jars over
it. Lots of cosy corners. Had
a locals' feel to it.
Sue 9.5/10 visit Feb 1999
The interior had bright red upholstery -
bit like a British pub. Wood panels and if you want to go to the toilets the
bar maid presses a button to let you go in!
Another café down a
alleyway, with wood panelling, red plastic seating around the sides, and a
fireplace makes this a little like a English pub. Friendly
locals around the bar and friendly bar service. Nice place.
John 9/10 visit June 2006
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Bier Circus, 89 Rue de l'Enseignement. MOVING
TO # 57 Rue de l’Enseignement
Opening Hours
12-00 to 14-30 18-00 to 24-00 –Mon to Fir
18-00 to 24 Sat
Closed Sun
A small and unpretentious
frontage, but, inside, a café with a huge collection of beer posters and
glasses. A very friendly
barman helped us choose Hellekapelle, Witkap ,Quintine, L'Abbeye de la Bonne-Esperance ,
so an interesting mixture! Very good atmosphere.
Sue 8.5/10 visit Feb 1999
Unlike most of cafes in the centre, which
are close together, this café is about 10 minutes walk from the centre and has
restricted opening hours ( see above ) but is well worth finding, for some of
the best choices of beers in Brussels. As well as a great beer menu, there are
some really nice old beer memorabilia all around this impressive cafe, and
friendly bar staff who are more than willing to help
you find your perfect beer. The reasonably priced food menu has some beer
flavoured dishes. Draught beers are 2.50 euros on last visit. Great place.
John 9.5/10 visit Dec 2003
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Le Cambridge, 37 Rue De
Café to the North of the centre with a outside drinking area. Inside is clean, but basic with
very bright lights - (unusual for a Belgian café,) which might be for the chess
players! Improving beer choice with Malheur
6 and 10. Two pinball machines by the bar.
John 7.5/10 visit April 2003
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Delirium,
4A Impasse de la Fidelite.
Web site www.deliriumcafe.be
Down an
alleyway, which is not some
John 10/10
visit June 2006
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Falstaff, 17 Rue Henri Maus
Very posh place, but
friendly. Many people
having a meal and we noticed several old ladies dining by themselves. Something
you don’t see in 'Blighty'.
This is a very high-class café/restaurant
with a nice feeling of grandeur about it, but it's perfectly okay to have a
beer or a coffee here. The beer menu is not as good as it once was. Impressive
mirrors and stained glass windows a
John 8/10 visit Dec 2003
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Fleur en Papier d'Or, 55 Rue des Alexiens
An interesting sectioned-off café on a
hill! Café cat very cute. Nice small
bar area. Hundreds of paintings and photos on the walls.-Collection of
totally random objects! Locals' atmosphere of chatting and
groups of people.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Two small rooms with one
woman service. Lots of prints on the walls.
Nice old traditional café, with lots of
different areas to drink. Various bits of old bric-a-brac all around the place
a
John 8.5/10 visit Nov 1999
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Halloween 10 rue des
Grand Carmes
The ul
Sue 10/10 visit Feb 1999
Unusual café with a
large collection of grotesque statues created by the owner. Candle-lit interior makes for an interesting
ambience.
Whilst this place is not really ' my cup
of tea ' I do find it very original and different. Dimly-lit with lights
shining on the statues and waiters dressed as 'mad' monks a
John 8/10 visit Nov 1999
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Kafka, 6 Rue De La Vierge Noire
A café in the centre - whilst modern has a
traditional feel and beer with reasonable prices. Nothing too
special here; just an honest down-to-earth local. Mirrors are around the
café.
John 7/10 visit Oct 2001
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L'Imaige de Nostre
Dame, Impasse des Cadeaux, 8 Rue Marche
aux Herbes
Another very pretty pub
with cosy corners and stained glass windows. Tiled fireplace with large mirror
and candle style lamps. Prints of old-
Sue 9/10 visit Feb1999
Very fancy fireplace in
a modest building. We had
some croquettes but they did not fill us up! No surprise! Old
beams and stained glass windows. We almost left without paying!
Old café down an alley
which seems to have a lot of its original fittings, including a nice tiled
fireplace and stained glass windows. Bar staff were in very good humour with the tourists!
Matheur is beer of the month here. Non-smoking
area by fireplace.
John 8.5/10 visit June 2006
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Le Cirio,
18-20 Rue la Bourse,
A very grand hotel,(divided
into smoking and non-smoking areas), but not expensive! Drinks were poured in a
very professional way! Huge mirrors and red-patterned
furniture with cases of glasses and silverware. Pretty
plants, lamps and photos of old
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
You must go to the toilet. They revolve,
but not while you're on them!
This café is a little like the Falstaff,
on the opposite side of the Stock Exchange, but a little smaller in size. A
very grand place, but like the Falstaff it's okay to drink in here - in fact
the majority of people at the
John 8/10 visit Dec 2003
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Le Paon Royal, 6 Rue du Vieux
Upmarket café with a
pleasant atmosphere. Barebrick walls, fake beams and dim lighting. Café seems a
little foodie, but there are plenty of people
drinking. Bel pils from Moortgat ( Duvel
brewers ) is the regular pils here, which makes a
change from Jupiler.
John 7.5/10 visit April 2003
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Les Brasseurs,
23 Rue de la Colline.
Home brew pub just off
the
John 7/10 visit April 2003
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Lop Lop,
29 Rue de L'Ecuyer
The closest
John 7.5/10 visit Dec 2003
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Mort Subite, 7 Rue Montagnes aux Herbes.
An old favourite café. Had Speciale Palm and Duvel. Impressive bar with ' gin palace ' feel to it. Huge
mirrors, garlands, and paintings with flowers, with Corinthian columns along
the room,and stained glass
windows.
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Exceptional café which
serves superb fruit beers.
You must try the peach! Although the front is narrow, the café extends a long
way back. The bar is half way down the right side of the café, and is
surrounded by wooden tables. It gets busy in the evening.
Wonderful
John 10/10 visit June 2006
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Poechenellekelder, 5 rue du
Chene
This café is situated near the Manneken-Pis, a much photographed weeing
child. All the photos and postcards relate to the statue. Toilets quite
worrying, down a narrow flight of stairs. Puppets from the Toone
theatre hang up on the walls. Plants, photos and drawings cover the walls.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 1999
Right by the 'pissing boy' you have to go
upstairs. When we were there it was exceptionally busy, but we managed to find
a seat. Puppets adorn the walls.
This café is very close to the Manneken Pis statue and by rights
should be a bit of a tourist trap, like the cafes on the
John 8/10 visit June 2006
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Porte Noire, 67 Rue des Alexiens
Very atmospheric
underground bar. All brick-work, with dark tables surrounding a central bar, with
rows of bottles and glasses. Stands out in dim candle
lighting. Music o
Sue 9/10 visit Feb 1999
Interesting dimly-lit
cellar café, with a lot of character. A big beer menu is on offer, but they don't always
have the beers on the menu behind the bar. Nice laid-back atmosphere like
candles on the tables etc, a
John 9/10 visit Feb 1999
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Theatre Royal De Toone, 6 Impasse Schu
Small bar in a
alley underneath a puppet theatre with animated puppets duelling in a glass
case. Pretty paintings of puppets and street-life. Drank Orval. Nice beermats to collect. Good service.
Sue 8/10 visit Feb 1999
Amazing place with its
own puppet theatre in a rear room. During performances rows of seats are extracted for the audience.
Mechanical puppets keep you occupied during a drink!
A café which is not easy
to find, which is down an alleyway. Three different drinking areas which are all very
nice. It's well worth checking out the children's puppets in the mi
John 9/10 visit April 2003
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Vieux Chateau D'or,
26 Rue Ste Catherine
A modern bar with rap music playing! Yet
young and old customers! Décor rather bland, but nice details
such as flowers on bar, and plants.
Sue 7/10 visit Feb 1999
A not very memorable
café, which for some reason reminds me of a transport café in
John 6/10 visit Feb 1999
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Zaggeman, 116 Rue de Laeken
HOURS MON to FRI 1100 to
2000. CLOSED WEEKENDS
A large street-corner
bar with friendly atmosphere.
Interesting service of Kriek from a
basket. Wood panelling and mirrors very impressive.
Strange decorations, including a pair of football boots and
figurine, and old beer bottles.
Sue 8.5/10 Feb 1999
Café about 5 minute walk from the city
centre, which specialises in fruit beers and Kriek,
which they serve with the bottle in a basket. I am not a big fan of Kriek, but the Boon Kreik was
very nice. Good traditional feel from mainly older clientele gives this place a
lot of character, as well as the old bric-a-brac around the walls with Gueuze and Kreik memorabilia . It's a shame about the opening hours, but this
café grows on you on each visit. Underrated café, which is well worth a visit.
John 9/10 visit Dec 2003
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OUTSIDE
This
is done by area, for the more adventurous beer hunters. You will need a good
map as most tourist maps only cover the centre.
EUROLAND
Where the EU constitutions are, cafes tend
to close at the weekends.
La Galia,
22 Rue Jaques de Lalaing
OPENS
MON TO FRI 1000 to 1900. CLOSED WEEKENDS
Exterior is a modern class front. The
interior is traditional and cosy, with nice red leather seats. Chairs and
tables in rows, low lighting and brewery mirrors all
ad to the café. Reasonably prices as it is away from the tourist centre.
John 8/10 visit Dec 2003
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Old Hack Pub, 176 Rue
Joseph II
MON TO FRI 1200 to 1500,
1730 to 2400 CLOSED WEEKENDS
More of a restaurant than pub, so why call
it a pub? Small place with a high white ceiling and various
black and white photos of famous people. Disappointing
despite the nice De Koninck on draught.
John 3/10 visit Dec 2003
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Stemelings, 7 Place De Londres
A nice cosy place, maybe a little too
cosy, because the tables are so close together it's hard to walk through! A little student-like in feel, but a nice atmosphere.
Various theatre posters around the walls, a big te
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2001
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Ul
A large lively popular
place, where drinkers and diners seem to be happy to mix together in a good
atmosphere. Very busy when visited on a Saturday night, with at least 4 waiters
trying to deal with everyone.
John 8/10 visit Oct 2001
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L'Orient Express, 11B Ave Fonsny Fonsnylaan
Café close to
John 7.5/10 visit Dec 2003
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Labourer, 3 Place de la
Constitution
Good traditional café, 5 minutes walk form
John 8.5/10 visit Dec 2003
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ST GILLES
Le Beulemans,
10 Ave P De Jaer Laan
A modern, long, narrow
bar, with a few interesting beers on draught. Wooden floor, bare brick wall and various beer
memorabilia on the walls all a
John 8/10 visit Oct 2001
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Chez Moeder
Lambic, 66 Rue De Savoie
A nice cosy, out of the way, local found
by beer hunters. In
John 8.5/10 visit Oct 2001
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Verschueren,,
A basic place which has a good lively
student-type atmosphere; the place reminds me of the Au Soleil
in the city centre. There is also a house-beer brewed for the café. Chimay and snacks seem to be popular with the clientele.
Football teams' names in divisions on the wall
John 7.5/10 Visit Oct 2001
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Narrenschip, 185 Rogierstraat
Café to the East of Gare
Du Nord Station; the area
is a little run down, but with character ( are the
yuppies coming? ). Cafe with different sections, with
musicians jamming in the back-bar. Lively student-type
atmosphere, with reasonably-priced food and beer (Duval 80BF). No waiter
service - just go up to the bar!
John 8/10 visit Oct 2001
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-
While not so well known as
Walk through a shop floor entrance, you
will find this unlikely café. The front part is dimly-lit,
the back has views out on to river, albeit not that great. Nice atmosphere to
the café. Good drinks menu as well as a good choice of beer, there is a good
selection of kriek, Scotch whisky and cocktails. Get
the river views and wave to the tourist on the boats.
John 8/10 visit June 2003
Strange pub as you get
to it through a dingy a hallway. Canal side location with a
nice view from the windows. Excellent range of beer, geneve and whiskey. The downstairs toilet revolves -
for automatic cleaning after each use and paper is automatically dispensed. Wow !
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A Cpella,
33 Godshuizenlaan
Web site www.acapella-gent.be
A very upmarket hotel bar a fair way from
the centre . It does have a good beer menu, but seems to
be to food-orientation. It's nice to have nuts with your beer, but I found it
hard to relax here. Friendly bar service.
John 7/10 visit June 2003
A slightly posh café
specialising in food as much as beer. You can drink in the restaurant and do not have to
eat. A reasonable range of beers served with nuts as is the custom. The food menu look good but expensive!
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Brouwzaele, 17 Ter Plaeten
Interesting café across
from the canal, at a road junction. Original copper kettle bar ( you need to see
it ), wooden barrels and beer memorable around the walls. Modern décor, but
they have dry hops on the ceiling and sawdust on the floor to show its
traditional! A long walk from the centre.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2003
Near the canal near a
fork in the road. Unusual
bar made from a copper for its roof. Fine sawdust on the
floor and a good range of beers. Hops hang from the ceiling as well as
copper lampshades. A Ferrari F40 was parked nearby.
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Deus, 128 Vlaanderenstraat,
Web site www.brasseriedeus.be
Upmarket café
close to
John 8/10 visit
June 2006
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Dulle Greit, 50
Vrijagmarkt
Nice eccentric sort of place on a busy
city centre square. Original décor including a tented ceiling with flags, slate
floor, various bric-a-brac around the ceiling and walls,
neon-lighted beer signs. Beer menu with photos of the labels of the
beer, which is different or this it for us dumb tourists! Nice place.
John 9/10 visit June 2006
Café facing a square
with a large tented ceiling.
As we walked in one table had yards of ale standing in a special wooden frame.
Loads of ornaments hang from the ceiling. Stone floor.
The bar was mainly brick and there were sausages hanging at the back.
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Goulden Mandeke,
9 Pensmarkt.
Café close to the Galenhuisje. Like the Galenhuisje a old building in a clobbed square. Low ceiling and slated floor all a
John 7/10 visit
June 2006
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Galenhuisje, 5 Groentenmarkt
Genuine old café on a
busy city centre square. A
small ground floor area leads up to a upstairs drinking
area. Wooden beams all round the café, slate floor and white tiles all a
John 8.5/10 visit June 2006
Tiny slightly touristy pub near the
cathedral where a sentenced man had his last drink ! A mixture of wood and brick. Small
interior with another room upstairs. Downstairs
restaurant.
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Hopduvel,10 Rokerelsstraat
Web site www.kaffeedehopduvel.be
Wonderful back street
café with a good beer menu.
Big than it looks on the outside, with different areas to
drink in including a restaurant, upside drinking area and a beer garden.
Nice collection of beer memorabilia and old tables and chairs, plus most
important the place has bags of character. Interesting mural on the wall
involving the devil, the name of the cafe means hop devil in Flemish. Off the beaten track, but well worth finding. Opens 11-30 daily.
John 9.5/10 visit June 2003
Off one of the outer city roads you will
not find it by chance. Small front bar with brick and dark wood paintings of
the devil tempting people away from religion to beer! Hence
the name. A small restaurant is attached as well as a rear beer garden.
Jimmy Smith was the background music, working on the
Closed on my visit in June 2006. Opened
again at 1800hours
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Prelude,
The numbers on
this square are confusing. The next pub Trollekelder
is #17 is on the another side of the square. Upmarket café with leather
seats. Friendly locals who seem interest in
John 7/10 visit
June 2006
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Trollekelder 17 Bij St
Jacob
The pub on the another side of the square. The décor is cellar like.
Almost like the bar should be underground. Not to busy at the
John 8/10 visit
June 20006
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Velootje, 2 Kalversteeg
This pub is
just across the river from the city centre. Close to the
John 9.5/10 visit
June 2006
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Waterhius aan de Bierkant, 9 Groentenmarkt
Web site http://www.waterhuisaandebierkant.be/
A good café can do no wrong on this
wonderful riverside location. Old red brick building with
wooden floorboards. Dry hops on the ceiling as well as plants all around
the café. Busy at the
John 9/10 visit June 2006
Café beside the canal
with its own web site. Very
busy with tourists and the service was slow. Inside its
mainly wood and brick. Outside seating.
Selection of beer and food served as well.
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Whether
you arrive at the ferry port, or come from
Titanic, Vindictivelaan 20
From the outside the place looks more like
a restaurant than a pub but if you look on themenu
you will see more drink than food on it. Nice décor with slate floor, fake
beams and white ceiling. The harbour is across the road so there are windows
all over the pub. Average beer menu but a few usually brews.
John 7.5/10 visit April 2005
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Theatrecafe de illusie,
Graad de smet Naeyerlaan 19
Good modern café with a laid-back
atmosphere, as well as a good choice of beers including most trappist beers and De Koninck on draught. There is a theatre upstairs, as you
have guessed by it's name. Nice décor, low lightening
and candles a
John 8.5/10 visit April 2005
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Rodenbach, Alfons Pieterslaan 37
Well with a name like this named after
John 7/10 visit April 2005
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De Komedie,
Louisastraat 5
Friendly pub with
reasonable prices for the centre. Not a great beer choice but they do have Orval.
They also have Bacardi Breezes and Smirnoff Ice, just has they are going out of
fashion in the
John 7.5/10 visit April 2005
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T' Ostens
Bierhaus, Louisastraat 14
The
John 10/10
visited April 2005.
Visited
June 2006, sadly now an Irish pub. Glad I visited it when I did.
Botteltje, Louisastraat 19
Web
site www.hotelmarion.be
The
décor to this pub is like a mini Wetherspoons. As
well as looking like an English pub the lively atmosphere on a Saturday night
is like an English pub. Excellent beer menu, with over 300
beers on the list. There is waiter service, but they like you pay one
beer at a
John 10/10 visited April 2005 and June
2006
Molly Malones, Visserskaai 13.
Irish pub on the seafront. The pub is
bigger than it looks and go back to fairway. Not to many people in at the
John
6/10 visit June 2006
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Crown and
Anchor, Lo
Small English pub with décor which reminds me of a Dutch
brown café. Was the only in, then a group of Belgian lads come in and
lively the pub up. The barmaid put some music on for them. Then they all sang
along, they had one beer and move on. I suppose they was
doing a pub crawl.
John
6/10 visit June 2006
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Admiral
Nelson, Langestraat,
What
a good name for a English Pub. As you except the pub
has a sailing theme with model ships and sailing paintings on the wall. Décor
reminds of a North of
John
6/10 visit June 2006
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Celtic
For
some reason the Belgians like Irish pubs. The Celtic
John
7/10 visit June 2006
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