Wonderful selection of beers, lots of local brews, Nogne, Brewdog, Westvleteren 12, glassware,…read morebeer-lover's paradise. if you are in Nord Pas Calais you have no excuse not to visit here

From the owner: La passion et son partage Entre la place des Héros et la Grand'Place, ce petit commerce caché sous…read moreles arcades arrageoises est l'expression d'une passion individuelle qui veut être partagée par son propriétaire. Ce dernier rassemble, en tant que connaisseur, le plus grand nombre de bières de toute nationalité, de la plus reconnue à la plus méconnue fabrication artisanale. On imagine avec difficultés une si grande variété de goûts que l'on ne finit pas de découvrir.

One of the problems with checking out the really cool bars is that you can land up at one and end…read moreup not leaving until it is too late to go and check out any of the others (even when the people you meet tell you that there is a much better bar just up the road). Okay, it was a bit of a hike from our hotel, but it was certainly worth it, even if it was just for the atmosphere. Mind you, when I first saw it after stepping out of the alley (and being warmly greeted by some guys standing there), I could see that this was definitely a pretty popular bar, and when we ended up chatting with one of the patrons for most of the night it certainly left an impression on me that is going to stay for quite a while. As I said to one of them, why go to a foreign country when you are not going to mix with the locals - that is one of the best ways to actually experience other places (though of course there are those who simply treat them like museum pieces and spectacles).

It's a great location to eat in front of the beautifully restored Town Hall. Even better when the…read moremarket is on, with all the hustle and bustle around. There are plenty of tables outside and, for a pleb like me, a good opportunity to get stuck in to some damn good burgers after a couple of weeks of continental food. For the smokers, the ashtray is the floor. Prices are very reasonable (especially after a week in Switzerland) and the portions are huge. Cheap, cheerful, food you can associate with and a superb location. Well worth turning off the autoroute for.

Much better than the one in Calais. Good food, decent beer selection. Free WiFi. Well worth a visit.read more

I'm probably not saying anything that hasn't already been covered, but the reputation as the…read moreworld's best beer bar is absolutely deserved. There's a Dutch word "gezellig" which loosely translates to cozy, and it perfectly describes the interior and the vibe. The clientele is: local Flemish, and super-annoying Americans (present company excluded). And it's only open on Sundays. We got: * A Drie Fonteinen geuze that was my favorite of the lot * A Vanmol Vuur "Raw Ale" which my wife said was one of her favorites of all time * a vintage Boon Oude Geuze The owner has to go fetch every bottle from the cellar; his mother helps him at the bar. 100% Worth the hassle.

This is one of the best beer bars in the world and it is in a little gem of a town outside of…read moreBrussels. Getting here is much easier than getting home. You can catch a bus in Brussels (if it stops for you) or catch an Uber. Getting home, the bus is likely your best option! Just make sure you stay in town for a Sunday, the only day this quaint spot is open. And get there early! There will likely be a bit of a line. The bar is run by a few generations of a family and they are SO friendly. They also take care of their locals in the midst of the craziness of the out-of-town visitors. You don't feel out of place while enjoying some of the best lambics you will ever find. We will always try and be in Brussels on a Sunday for every visit.

I first tasted beer when I was 7 and yuck! College came and Budweiser was the norm. I thought…read morethat's just it beer sucks and it's a way to get drunk cheap just drink loads and get on with it. Westvleteren is one of the best beers and elevated beer to my drink profile. I drank and got into beers so much that I developed gout hahaha. The closest taste would be st bernardus but nothing really hits the spot unless you drink the real thing. I drove 250 km just to drink this.

When I heard we'd get to go to the Westvleteren Trappist Brewery I was thrilled and envisaged a…read morehundreds of years old building with creaking floorboards, lofty rafters and monks scurrying around pouring beer and chanting. OK not so much the chanting part but I think you get the picture I was seeing in my head. What a shock when we finally arrived (after about an hour drive from Brugge) and found a sleek, angular and thoroughly modern taproom and restaurant! Well for sure the ages old Abbey is around somewhere? Nope. Though we couldn't get a tour we saw many photos all showing very modern and classy facilities, including their worship spaces. Mind blown, but in amazing way. These Monks have totally embraced the modern times and they've produced a really nice facility with some wonderful grounds as well. What about the beer? , Yes, yes we weren't on an architecture tour we were here for the beer. And boy it sure didn't disappoint. There's a reason the Westvleteren XII was rated the best beer in the world a few years back and luckily we got to taste through the line-up the 12, the 8 and the Blonde! It should be mentioned that the food was quite good as well and despite the continuous stream of people strolling in to deplete the days supply of available "to go" six packs it was quite a pleasant and relaxing experience. (TIP: if you want take some home with you you better get there when they open and buy your six packs first thing. DO NOT wait until after you eat to buy the beer, I saw the days allotted pallet get cleared out in the time it took us to eat lunch:-) As I sit here months removed from my visit, staring at the last bottle of Westvleteren Blond that I schlepped through Europe and finally got home, I think that I've got to get back to Belgium and Westvletren and I envy any and all of you who are on your way there :-)

Unfortunately the bar that I really wanted to check out, The Cave, seemed to be closed when we were…read morehere, though that is probably not surprising considering that it was a Monday and I suspect that most people aren't out and about on a Monday night, even if it happens to be a rather sleepy town in the French countryside (and interestingly enough everything seems to close between 12 and 2). Anyway, this place happened to be open so I popped in and grabbed a beer. The staff were okay, but the bar itself was rather quiet. I didn't mind the place, and the outdoor area was quite relaxing, which like lots of bars and cafes in France happens to be tables sitting on the porch looking out onto the street. It was certainly a nice place to spend the evening.

Great bar on Rue de Lille in the old town of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Jean Marc is the owner and have know…read morehim for quite a few years. Spend a lot of time in the old town. Was there this weekend actually, cheers Jean Marc, Steve Hopefully see you again later in the year.

I'm not really sure what I can say about this place, namely because my brother really didn't want…read moreto spend too much time here, so as I wandered up and down the street my eyes fell upon this place - basically it stood out as one of those really cool bars that I like so I decided to pop in here and basically grab a beer. So, I am going to say that this place was actually pretty cool - it had one of those atmospheres that I really liked, and actually felt like one of those hipster bars that I tend to frequent back home in Melbourne. Oh, and the bookshelf also gave this place heaps of character, and I've certainly got to look at going back again, if I ever land up in Boulonge Sur Mer again (which is unlikely).

One of my favorite places in town!…read more The Belgian Tapas here are fantastic. Everyone I have brought here has had nothing but great things to say about it. That said, the entrees could be dialed in a bit, and there was a very long (longer than normal for Belgium) wait time for our main course. Currently, I would add this place as a definte stop for a progressive dinner plan, just for the tapas. Seriously, just go get them. They do speak english.

We stopped in here for a beer with a fairly large group. While the place isn't that big, they have…read morea lot of seating and tables packed in. The true highlight is the very extensive, and unique beer list. Highly recommend if you're looking for a local beer, and a variety of styles and abvs - you're sure to find something here!

A craft beer paradise in Lille. They had 20 or so beers on draft from several countries including…read moreFrance, Belgium, and Ireland and a broad variety from IPAs to sours to belgians to stouts. The space is a little crammed given the number of customers. Recommend getting here early to grab a table or bar seat. Still, the bartenders are very attentive and quick to take your order despite the crowd. It is a little pricey but for the strength and quality of the beers, it is definitely worth it!

Lovely bar in the centre of Oudenaarde. Fantastic interior, friendly service, good beers, decent…read morefood,...

You will inevitably stop here if you come to Oudenaarde. This great little bar is parked in front…read moreof the church with a commanding view of the markt, making it the perfect place to while away a warm afternoon while quaffing fine Belgian beers, and they're cheap! Clearly popular among the locals, and for good reason.