Was SUPER excited to go to Kulminator on my recent trip to Belgium. Have heard wonderful things…read moreabout the vast beer list, full of old vintages. Sadly it seems, the owner does not like business or money. Or perhaps he just enjoys treating Kulminator as his own private club, as opposed to a normal beer bar where everyone is welcome. The owner greeted us at the door, asking us why we wished to come in and we were denied entry upon our response. We later found out that if you do not give the very specific response of "being there to TASTE (not drink) beer", you are turned away. Pompous, and absolutely ridiculous. I have no interest in trying to go back.

I was very hesitant about visiting Kulminator as its fame and reputation far precedes it, having…read morewon accolades such as "the best place in the world to have a beer" and also known to have one of the most extensive collections of aged Belgian beers in the world. During the planning stages of my trip, a lot of the feedback I got regarding this place was that I should brace for some unparalleled (lack of) service, humongous wait times in between orders, and last minute changes to opening hours. If you haven't guessed it already, I was lucky enough not to experience any of the negative feedback enumerated above, and instead had such a great time that I somehow got back to my room in Brussels without a train ticket and don't quite remember how I managed such a feat. I got to Kulminator about 15 minutes after they opened at 4:15pm and the establishment was already half-full. Despite reviews saying that this place is super cramped and cozy, the interior is actually pretty spacious with seating available at the bar, behind it, and even across from it where two tables are partitioned off kind of like a small lounge; I opted to sit in the lounge area as I was planning to be comfortable for quite some time. Leen served me for the entire evening and she was very kind and patient with all of my orders. Despite some of my orders being slightly obscure--like the oldest vintage they had of Oerbier Special Reserva, for example--all my orders got out to me under five minutes, even at 9pm when the bar was completely packed, thereby debunking the "slow and bad service" portion of my expectations. Whereas different groups of people did join me at my table for most of the night, most of them were locals popping in for a drink or two and all minded their own businesses unlike what people say about strange encounters here, but that suited me just fine for my purposes; I wanted to try some Belgian gems that aren't available anywhere on the planet, and I'm glad to say I was able to achieve said feat. I don't think I have to describe the atmosphere as it's been done in such vivid detail in so many of the other reviews (grandparents' house, etc.) but be sure to grab a bite to eat prior to visiting this place and not make the mistake of thinking drunk you will be sober enough to find something to eat after leaving this amazing Cafe; food options are limited if not non-existent, and Leen is busy enough as is keeping everyone happy. And yes, Dirk will stare you down if you do anything out of the ordinary like take pictures of the establishment, but he means well... I think.

Great tiny alley bar in Brussels! Bartender was friendly and the beer options were limited but…read moregreat choices. Really enjoyed the age of the place and the people we met while inside drinking.

Coolest ancient bar around! Great beer selection as well. C'est magnifique! Het is prachtig!read more

If you love Delirium, you'll love this multi-level compound style pub…read more This is absolutely a must visit for any craft beer lover, especially Delirium. They've got so many offerings, quaint decor on every floor, various places to sit, including a rooftop. It's definitely a touristy thing to do but with over 2,000 beers to choose from, who cares? I loved every minute of it. It's crazy busy at times especially when live music events are taking place. We shared a Yard Stick which were multiple beers (smaller taster sizes). See my pics for exactly how many. Service was exceptional.

If you love beer, this place is a MUST when visiting Brussels! We stopped by Delirium Café and…read morewow... the selection is insane. They're known for having one of the biggest beer selections in the world, and you can literally spend hours just reading the menu. We ordered their famous beer flight that comes with 10 different types of beers. Each one was completely unique, different flavors, colors, and strengths. It was such a fun way to try a variety without committing to just one. Some were light and refreshing, others were strong and bold. I loved that every glass felt like a new experience. The service was great! The staff were friendly, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. They also have a photobooth inside, which was such a fun surprise. Perfect spot to make memories with friends. If you're in Brussels and want the full Belgian beer experience, this spot is a must-visit. So worth it!

Under no circumstances you should go to this place. First of all, their food menu is very limited,…read moreit is incredibly overpriced, and they must buy their cheese from a supermarket and just plop it on a plate. Second, the waiters are very rude. Their English is very limited and I have just witnessed one of them yelling at a customer. Third, while their beer is extensive, most of them are way overpriced compared to the rest of Ghent. This place is famous for serving over two hundred beers but honestly who wants to be treated poorly with mediocre service and terrible and overpriced snacks?

We came here for a beer and some snacks after touring Gravensteen castle. It was Assumption Day so…read morethe place was packed and they definitely did not have enough staff working. We snagged a table closer to the water and ordered a Delirium Tremens, a Chimay, a dry sausage, and their cheese spread. The beers, of course, are the best, as they have been this entire trip. The food was subpar. The sausage was hard and quite chewy and while we enjoyed the three different cheeses, the bread seemed like it came out of a bag. Needless to say, service was harried and everything took forever. Still, this was a nice place to sit by the water and watch the people go by. You better love people smoking in your face though. Three stars.

Mediocre pasta place popular with hipsters. The front room is more of a bar, and had live music…read morelater on in our visit, but the back room is a cute and light-filled space for dining and drinking. They have a few options for pasta, but pretty much all of them will come with a heaping amount of average spaghetti, tons of meaty sauce, and copious amounts of cheese. I like my pasta covered in parm but this was a new level, and I had to scrape off a lot. Portions are extremely large, which ends up making the prices quite reasonable, but I struggled to finish mine, and not just from the size. My short rib topping was meh; I would just stick with the normal bolognese. Beer selection is pretty good. Our first waitress was indifferent but we later had a charming and attentive waiter. Bathrooms are grungy and communal, like a dive bar or venue. I can see why this place gets recommended to tourists, as it's in a charming neighborhood with a mix of locals and foreigners, it's easy to get a seat, and it's an attractive value. However, I just didn't think the food was good.

Monk was recommended to me by a random Twitter account representing a range of hostels across…read moreEurope. With this, I was slightly dubious - but they seriously know what they're talking about. After a long journey and lazy afternoon in and around the hotel, we hopped in a taxi and went straight to Monk for our first evening meal in Brussels. Aesthetically, everything is just spot on for me. From the window decal to the floor titles and the dark wooden cladding to the hidden nature of the restaurant in the back, if I could transport one place back to the UK with me it would be here. We managed to work our way through the Thursday night crowds and into the restaurant to grab a table; there was roughly a twenty minute wait but, with a Frankie & Benny's style buzzer to let us know when the table would be ready, we headed back into the bar. I went for their standard blonde on draught and Kate W. found her new favourite beer in the world, kriek boon. The atmosphere was the right balance between busy but not overwhelming, and service at the bar was super speedy despite the crowds. Once the buzzer went off, we headed immediately back through and settled down to look over the menu. It's a super simple set up - you choose your pasta sauce and cheese topping - for €10. We both went for the classic bolognese (the dish we'd read the most about) topped with parmesan. The whole meal experience was simple, no frills, but absolutely excellent. We visited again on our last day just for a drink, but their deli selection is well worth partaking in from what we saw; a whole range of meats and cheese, plus a traditional pea soup and hunks of bread, all soundtracked by someone playing the grand piano. Whether you're after a simple laid back beer or full dinner experience, this is the place to be.

Ok this does come across as something of a 'dive bar' in Yelp American parlance, but in a good way!…read more It's got some charm, a great terrace outside in summer (not just in front of the door but also across the street behind the church) and some good value drinks including decent cocktails. You don't come for a sparkling clean table - you come for the atmosphere, casual drinks, and particularly if you are coming as a group. A recommended experience!

This is the extension of my living room! In summer you find me sitting on the colourful chairs…read moresipping one blanche after the other (or a Ricard for a change) from after work until they close the terrace, in winter I'll be tucked inside drinking one of the beers from the long list. It's not the usual bar, you'll find the alternative crowd from the theater school in front to the Eurocrats who fell in love with this litlle gem.

Found this spot while looking for a bar. It was a nice quirky find. Very small place with various…read morerooms and floors. Can get pretty crowded. They prefer you pay cash and do take cafd but give you a hard time about it so just bring cash. It is a pretty chill, intimate vibe

Very unique, one of a kind ambiance with local music and drinks. The decorations are unlike…read moreanything I have seen.

Spit & saw dust type of pub. If you don't like dive bars or bars that do not have a fancy selection…read moreof beers, then obviously this isn't the place for you. But for a local that's on the corner & is only seemingly open on weekdays, it suits me just fine. The giant friendly bear of a dog is an extra bonus. Leonburger so I'm told. Nothing like a 300 pound of dog coming to you for cuddles:)

This place is amazing. Multiple levels of wonderful character. Plenty of tasty beers. The flight…read morewas a hit. Recommend.

Although this place is in the same building as the dive bar heaven that is the Delirium Village…read more It's separately run & managed. However they are happy for you to buy a pint downstairs & bring it up. Or at least they didn't question me. Maybe it's because I look like a bulldog chewing a wasp or that they respect me as a liberator:) It's a more chilled vibe than the village downstairs. Certainly quieter and less drama. It gets as busy as the other places at the weekend though. So don't expect to come in on a Friday or Saturday and find a table. The place is busy!

Quick beer pick with limited edition compared to the Delirium village but this place is better for…read morefamilies as this is in the grand place and is not filled with smoke smell like the other one.

Okay, this isn't the main bar, that is located elsewhere, but this is a smaller version of it…read morelocated on the other side of the old city. It's pretty cool I have to admit, despite the fact that I grabbed a beer that was, yeah, not on the top of my favoruite list. However, the atmosphere was pretty good, and the service was pretty top notch as well.