At the end of this post, the chart above showing posts about previous visits to Brussels bars, provides blog post weblinks for more photos and descriptions of all the bars revisited.
Only a few steps from the iconic
Mannekin Pis water feature lies the pub we inevitably visit on the Sunday as it is closed on Mondays.
Poechenellekelder
The tables in the courtyard of
Poechenellekelder were all occupied on a warm Sunday afternoon but we secured a table immediately inside, near windows which overloooked it.
Our table was also near two other windows, one open, facing buildings in Rue du Chene.
The ceiling above had the familiar combination of puppets and suspended bric-a-brac.
The beers Tim enjoyed here for the first time were draught
Blanche Framboise by
Brasserie de Bertinchamps (fruity but not sweet) and
Pater Lieven Triple by Brouwerij Van Den Bossche from the bottle 'spicy-bitter with fruity character'. There were complimentary salty nibbles that were welcome as Tim wasn't ready for a meal yet, unlike Simon who had his customary lasagne dish before getting the Eurostar train back to London.
There's some street art on the Rue du Chene on the route for our group of three to the next destination.
GIST
We arrived at
GIST soon after 7pm, just too late for 'Happy Hour' offers which start at 5pm.
Beers are priced for 25cl and 50cl measures and there's always an interesting selection chalked up above the bar.
The 25cl glasses of draught beer that Tim enjoyed here for the first time (photographed with the handpumps in the background) were
Fee Steve (Blonde) by
Brasserie Valduc-Thor (4 euros) and
La Super Sanglier (Blonde) by
Brasserie Minne (4.50 euros). These small breweries are both based between Brussels and Namur to the south and their beers are unlikely to be seen at Antwerp bars in Flanders, north of Brussels.
Apart from the handpumps, interesting features in GIST include lamp shades made from a variety of percussion cymbals and the ceiling mouldings.
An interesting selection of music was played on the sound system during our visit. The SoundHound music App came in useful for identifying some of the music.
Simplenote stored the results for use in future blog posts etc!
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| Place Dinant |
Just as GIST is a short distance from Poechenellekelder so also our next destination is a short distance from GIST and just around the corner from Place Dinant.
La Fleur en Papier Doree / Het Goudblommeke in Papier
After visiting on two consecutive days in 2023, Tim was determined to revisit
La Fleur en Papier Doree also known by its Dutch name Het Goudblommeke in Papier.
Andrew and Richard were easily convinced to head there and immediately impressed by its charm on entering.
The small bar is decorated with items that have hung there since 1944 by Geert (Gerard) van Bruaene who knew all the artists of the day. A small blackboard on the counter reveals that the beer of the month is
Taras Boulba from Brasserie de la Senne (4.20 euros).
A laminated menu card on the bar lists the regular beers available. Beers can be served with ginger extract for a 40 cents supplement. Draught beers are priced for 25cl or 40cl servings.
Our table was in the front room with an unusual 'stove', sprouting brass knobs, between us and the windows with stained glass sections.
In keeping with the cafe bar's floral name there was a charming painting of flowers on a wall.
Before leaving, Tim promised to return on Monday but would instead visited the sister establishment - Brasserie Verschueren. His promise will surely be kept eventually as La Fleur has become a firm favourite in Brussels.
A la Mort Subite
On a warm Monday afternoon, after visiting Woodpecker kiosk, Au Bon Vieux Temps and Le Corbeau with Andrew and Richard, our last beer together would be at the renowned
A la Mort Subite, Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potageres 7.
The brasserie has high ceilings, rows of identical tables, bench seating against the long wall and ornate walls with many mirrors to make the space look even bigger. It was very quiet and so there was no chance to observe the practised technique of the waiters which usually provides some additional interest.
Draught Mort Subite Peche (6.50 euros) was Tim's refreshing beer of choice.
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| Tim, Richard and Andrew |
All good things must come to an end but there was still time for a photo outside A la Mort Subite before Andrew and Richard headed for their Eurostar train back to London.
Brasserie Verschueren
A few hours later, in the evening of that warm Monday, the cafe tables outside
Brasserie Verschueren, Saint Gilles, were busy while nearly all the tables inside were free.
It was a pleasure to return here, join the short queue at the bar, order a large Saison Verschueren / Verschu and drink it at a table surrounded by the minimalist art deco style surroundings of the cafe bar with all the windows open.
A 33cl bottle of Verschueren Tripel was the second beer Tim obtained from the bar.
With Twitter / X on his phone for company and some tunes playing on the sound system that suited his taste, the
SoundHound music App and
Simplenote again came in useful.
An obligatory photo of the historic football leagues indicator at the far end of the cafe bar was another memento of this relaxing evening.
Brasserie de l'Union
At the opposite end of Parvis de Saint-Gilles from the church,
Brasserie de l'Union enjoys a prominent corner site with windows on two sides.
After a first visit to
L'Ermitage Sant-Gilles, Tim sat inside Brasserie de l'Union for a beer and a meal before continuing to Brasserie Verschueren. The Plats du Jour listed on a blackboard were tempting and keenly priced but an order of a small spaghetti bolognese from the standard menu was delivered as a small vegetable lasagne. Perhaps an attempt to order in French would have achieved the intended result? However, this substitution was accepted without question and enjoyed.
Most beers are keenly priced at 4 euros (cash, no bank cards) and Brasserie Lupulus
Organicus triple, brewed near the Luxembourg border, was refreshing. Music played here included Police & Thieves - Junior Murvin.
Weblinks for blog posts about previous visits to these bars
