Westvleteren. What else can you ask for. Food is good Good ambiance. Fly you fools read more

Farm to table freshly made food. Great renovstion acrossthe strert ftom the Abbey. The gift dhop sells the Westvertrn 12. Well worth the 2 hour drive from Brussels. read more

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We had a great experience here. There was a large group of us eating (17 in total), but had a table near the back, which was great. Our server was good - answered questions on the menu and made recommendations. He also started with a beer pouring demonstration and had us join in (pouring one beer at a time, then two, three, and four). Most of us went with the 12 beer (yum!) For lunch, I ordered the croque in de vrede - a grilled cheese made with their Trappist cheese, ham, and tomato - which you can order with or without vegetables (aka salad). Highly recommend ordering it with the salad - it was good sized, flavorful, and unique (big pile of shredded carrots, shredded radish etc) Also worth ordering a side of fries which were good. Not to be missed, the beer ice cream which you can only have here - order it! It's ice cream (yes it tastes like beer), meringue cookie pieces, and whipped cream. Delicious! read more

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This is the restaurant/drinking establishment you go to on your pilgrimage to the Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren. Since it seems impossible to get a tour to the actual monastery where the magic happens, you can still visit In de Vrede across the street to drink and/or buy bottles of the precious nectar. The food here looked good too, but I didn't try any. Be sure to look up the hours before coming here as you don't want to make this trek just to see the outside. When I came, the Claustrum was closed, so if that's an activity you really want to do, you must do some planning. Although I have not and likely will never get to see inside the abbey, I consider my beer journey now complete! read more

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This place is worth a visit - most come for the beer but don't sleep on the cafe menu which has some tasty offerings to enjoy. The sandwiches come with a side salad which was very fresh - tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and pickles. The spaghetti was as expected and came with a nice ample bowl of fresh shaved Parmesan which was unexpected but tasty. Of course the beer is the main reason to come and you can enjoy a fresh bottle of their offerings served of course in matching glassware. They have free restrooms, a gift shop to buy beer and other souvenirs- glasses and t shirts. Definitely worth making the pilgrimage but only if you have a car as I don't think public transit comes close read more

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We spent the most pleasant afternoon here yesterday after driving from Brussels. We got there around 11:00 am or so and immediately got on line to get our West12, which was relatively short. Even though they dropped the quota for how many cases you can purchase, we only bought two because, you know, we have to bring them back in our luggage. After those preciouses were secured, we went out to the garden area to have some beers and snacks. It's really lovely scenery and everything was lucky. We lucked out with a very kind server who took good care of us the whole time that we were there. We ordered the blonde and the celebrated 12, mistakenly assuming that these would be served as drafts, but no, the monks are bottles-only kinda guys. It goes without saying that both were incredible and brought us back to our wedding day memory days (the first and only time we've ever had that beer). We also ordered their cheese and meat plate, which was quite the bounty though the jar of pork fat was a little excessive. There was a healthy amount of salami-like meats and a couple to-die-for cheeses, dried fruit, nuts, and bread. No complaints. We walked around the outskirts of the abbey afterwards (you're allowed) and caught a rare sight of one of the monks who did not seem thrilled to bump into us unexpectedly. FYI for parents: this is a great place to bring kids. In the patio area, there are two separate play areas where your kid can run around while you enjoy your beer. There's also a bigger/better playscape in the front of the building if you need to divide and conquer while waiting online. So glad we made the schlepp out here. It was a beautiful day outside and a beautiful time. read more

This is the only place that you can purchase cases of Westvledern beer. It is in the middle of nowhere, across the street from the Sint Sixtus Abbey, where the monks brew three beers: the Blonde, the 8, and the famous 12. You don't really know what days which beers will be available to purchase by the case. We came on a 12 day, hallelujah. The cafe serves the beers and delicious food. We tried each beer - they are all amazing, but the 12 is spectacular. We also tried the most fabulous charcuterie board ever and an ice cream coup with freeze dried beer and fresh whipped cream. Oh my. The ice cream might rival the beer in deliciousness. The back patio is where it's at. So relaxing. If you are a beer fan, put this on your bucket list. read more

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This place is absolutely in the middle of BFE, but don't let that stop you from tasting Beers that should be the 8th wonder if the world. This is the only place you can enjoy this particular (Westvletern)Trappist Abbey's delectable offerings. The other 5 Trappist beers are distributed commercially. Any trip within 200 kilometers of here would be incomplete without coming here one afternoon. The food is simple but good. If you'rea beer lover, you're wrong if you don't come here. read more

In de Vrede - Cafes Near Me - Westvleteren, VWV

Home to the infamous 12, which many regard as the finest beer in the world. Think porter. Starts slightly nutty with small carbonation bubbles yet finishes with the taste of good, dark chocolate. The small gift shop sells packs of the 6 (blond), 8 (similar to but brown ale), and 12. There were plenty of cases of 6 and 8 when I visited on November 30th but no 12's. I'm going to call today as the waiter said they put out 12 about half of the days. Restaurant is modern and comfortable with room for an additional 500 on their deck. Area is all farms so quiet and peaceful. Pate was excellent. Good texture. Not smooth. Cheese was mild and a nice accompaniment to the beers. Both also made in the monastery. The stories of the beer being unavailable in the gift shop are likely true during high season. read more

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If you can't make an appointment to purchase Westvleteren from the Abbey, then you can buy six packs from the gift shop at a slightly more reasonable price than you would find elsewhere (e.g., 12 euros at beer shops in Brussels). The food at the restaurant is so-so, but the trip is worthwhile if you want to buy Westvleteren. At the gift shop, the unstated rule (or we might have just missed the posting) is that you can buy two six packs of beer. We bought two and then ended up buying one more on our way out the door. No one at the shop objected. Check the schedule if you want to buy the Westvleteren 12. I believe the gift shop only sells beers that the Abbey is brewing that week. read more

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Yep, it's all that it's hyped up to be. I actually did enjoy the pate (maybe it was different) and the cheese was pretty good too. Most importantly, I loved the beer. It's what we would consider a barley wine in the US, and I don't love all barley wine. This beer was so good that I brought a 6 pack of the 12 home with me! read more

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The restaurant is a little out of the way but totally worth the trip. Even though it was quite busy, I didn't have to wait for a table. The stars of the house are definitely the three beers they offer from the Sint Sixtusabdij next door. The blonde was a great surprise, one of the best I ever tried. I wasn't particularly impressed with the W8. The W12 is really amazing. A superb job by Trappist monks (should I convert?). There weren't a lot of food options. I tried the local pate, which was good but it is one of my favorite foods so I'm a bit biased. If you like beer, you must come! 'Nough said! read more

In de Vrede - Cafes Near Me - Westvleteren, VWV

Good directions on google-sleepy countryside of hops fields, quiet place to contemplate the horrors we saw in ypres flanders field-the monks apparently helped the wounded/ cheers to their humility service and devotion to God. Btw great little menu and wonderful brau glorie aan God read more

In de Vrede - Cafes Near Me - Westvleteren, VWV

I'd venture to say this is the best place to have a beer in the world. The abbey's beer is so good! We also love the almond cake with ice cream dessert. The sandwiches are basic. It is a must stop when out this way. read more

In de Vrede - Cafes Near Me - Westvleteren, VWV

Clearly if you know your beer, you are already aware that this is Mecca for beer nerds. We came on a Saturday afternoon after taking the ferry to Calais. It is only about an hour drive from the ferry termin.al and definitely worth the detour if you are en route to Paris and looking for something a little different. I was surprised at how busy the cafe was on a Saturday afternoon. It is pretty much in the middle of nowhere although there are plenty of signs to guide your way. Although it was busy we were still able to find a table with relative ease. Our waitress didn't speak any English. My french was bueno enough to order a couple of beers along with a couple of grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. The sandwiches were good but the beer was everything it's supposed to be and more. After enjoying one each of the blonde, 8 and 12 we walked the grounds and my DD played for a bit on the playground out front. I would make this a stop on any trip I make to Belgium \ Paris in the future. Besides the cafe, you can take in the Flanders region of Belgium \ France which is steeped in history. Can't wait to make my next visit! read more

What can be said that hasn't already been said? This is pretty much the only place in the world where you can 'legally' purchase Westvleteren beer. It's everything you want it to be. I wish the menu was more substantive -- it's basically just multiple varieties of grilled cheese -- but it is tasty and gets the job done. Try the cake made with hops, and the ice cream made with Westvleteren XII, both are fantastic. Pay attention, this is important: should you have the privilege of visiting this place, please don't embarrass yourself and everyone around you by asking to buy various things you see. If it isn't in the shop, you can't buy it. You know the rules, that's why you're here. It won't happen. You're not the exception, so don't try. The extensive outdoor seating area is perfect on a sunny summer day. Don't miss it. They have some odd closing days, though, so be sure to check your schedule -- we almost missed out. read more

Anyone who knows beer knows that this is the Holy Grail for beer lovers. The world's rarest beer (a moment of silence, please) Set out in beyond the boonies, and even further out than that. ;) YOu schlep way out and find yourself at the Abbey where this beer is made. You MUSt make an appointment if you want to buy this beer to take along with you. To do so you have to play phone tag with a number that is not awlays answered. Make sure you don't call until you have your rental car because you have to know your license plate number to pull up to the drive through where they let you buy the beer. Seriously, it's that hard core. You can risk it and hope they sell it in the gift shop the day you are there. However, you are limited in how many bottles you can buy and they also only sell one of the three beers per day, it's luck of the draw when you get there. You cannot tour the abbey here, but you can go to the tasting room which has an educational display about life in the abbey and the beer making. The tasting room is enormous holding a huge indoor area and large patio. The food is not that great. AVoid the pate and abbey cheese. It's disgusting. I love pate and I've rarely met a cheese I don't love. Both were awful. However, the beer...... It's delicious. Be sure to try all three beers. (you are not going to get a DUI out here) there is NOTHING out here. (not that I'm condoning that, I'm just sayin....) The café is crazy crazy busy, so be prepared to wait so order your next beer about halfway through. Enjoy being one of the few people of the world who get to savor this beer!! read more

The Belgians are known for brewing the best beer in the world. For the best beer in Belgium the place to go is the Trappist Abbey in Westvletern. The In de Vrede Cafe is the only place you can enjoy these truly delicious beers. When we were there there were three styles on tap (try them all, if you're with a friend consider sharing): Westveleteren Blond (5.8%) Westvleteren 8 (dark, 8%) Westveleteren 12 (dark, 10.2%) read more

This is the best beer in the world hands down! With a little bit of a crazy countryside drive to way out in the middle of b**t f**k Belgium, you can find this little gem hidden in the beautiful Belgium countryside along many a farm house and lots of cattle. Made by Trappist monks in the grounds of the beautiful Saint Sixtus Abbey in the Vleteren region of Belgium, this place is a must go to if you are in Belgium! I'm serious! Rent a car and go! The Westvleteren 12 is my all time favorite, but every single beer is delicious and believe me I've tried many a beer around the world and this is THE BEST! You can also order food, but just a little bit of info; everything is in Flemish. From the menu to the staff. Some of the staff knows some English, but not much. So be prepared. I have been to and recommended this place so many times I can't count! Just go! read more

Well worth the trip across the world to try the Westvleteran 12 on tap. This haunting flavor I will not forget. I can't wait to make the trip back! read more

Good beer, but this place is overrated. The owner decides when to actually sell the beer and then keeps people waiting for hours after giving a time but then changes the time. Lunch at this place is another story. They were out of various items on the menu, then they messed up my order, then their cappuccino machine was broken. Not worth coming back here. Owner doesn't care about customers, only making money. read more