Driving, cycling or hiking between the highlights of this region in the north of the French Meuse…read moredepartment, you won't have any problem finding the village of Breux. You might have a small problem trying to find this pub though. But it's worth the search. Located between the monastery of Orval and the basilica of Avioth, The Oak Inn is a tiny country pub serving about a dozen of real English ales & bitters, some Belgian beers and local delices as Orval trappist ale, maitrank and local wine. It's quiet, there's a nice big terrace for long summer evenings and a wood stove with a crackling for long winter evenings. The building is pretty impressive; the pub is just a small part of what owners Mike & Paskie eventually want to convert into a pub/recording studio/music venue. The music studio is actually open, but not in its definite form yet. Mike will be happy to show you around and tell you all about it. Every good review mentions a few downsides as well... Hard to come up with any, but there you go: although there's probably not much demand for it (Breux has a population of just over 250), it would be nice if the pub would be open in the afternoons too. And a simple snack/meal would be ideal. Just some 'tartines' with Orval cheese, a quiche or a pizza... No, nothing more on the down side really. Here's a treasure map for you: at the church coming from Orval, take a left into the northern part of the Grande Rue. Coming from Avioth, go straight ahead at the church. Look for number 44 (right hand side), go around the building and there you are...

Fun and small little cafe. Good assortment of Belgian beers.read more

The location might be nice but the service is really poor…read more First, we entered and no one said "hello" ... Also, no one asked us how many we were and proposed a table where to sit. Ok, anyway, we found a table in the terrace, started looking at the menu and ... wait ... wait... wait... after 15' a waiter finally came - the terrace was full at this point - to bring 2 coffees, take the order of one table, and then left again. People at our left had been waiting for even longer than us. Seriously, guys? Your terrace is full and we have to wait for 15' before someone comes to take the order of only 1 table. At this point the best thing to do is to leave and find another place to have lunch!

One of the best beer bars in Leuven. Lots of character. Blues and Rock and a great beer list. Live…read moremusic Mondays in the winter and they get great bands.

Grant place for a good Belgian beer. One of my favourite places. Always great to pop in on Monday…read morenights to catch some live jazz. It can get quite busy, but of you like jazz, it's definitely worth your while! Order a St-Feuillien Saison for a leisurely beer.

What an epic experience to see Fleet Foxes here! This is a…read morehistoric location and venue! This place is known for its exceptional acoustics. The Kings of Leon recorded a live EP here. There are 3 levels and if you arrive early you can get seats in the rear, otherwise you are standing the entire show. Go here to see a live show!

Only a very lucky human being gets to see one of her favorite electronic groups while traveling…read moreoverseas. Just think of all the factors that must fall into place - the band's tour dates, availability of tickets, and proximity to the venue. It's pretty much the ultimate trifecta of coincidence. As it turns out, I am that lucky person - someone who was gifted a Hot Chip ticket to a sold-out Saturday night show in Brussels! Because I wanted to live like a local, I took the metro instead of a cab. And then walked. And walked some more. Gosh, Belgian maps are difficult to read. Of course, I found it. Ancienne Belgique is this beautiful, contemporary music venue that feels spacious with its soaring ceilings but in actuality, the capacity makes it quite intimate. In fact, I didn't think I'd have a shot at running into some new friends who were also going to the show but alas, I found them by the first bar I set my thirsty sights on. Luck strikes yet again! The sound quality is superb. If you prefer to drink while watching your favorite band take the stage (yes!), then angle for a space on the floor near one of the doors. That's how the savvy Belgian boys do it anyway, and I was right there to capitalize. If you'd rather take a seat, there's 'romantic' seating in the back and then there's also two levels of terrace. The bars work on a token system so make sure to head there first. And if you have a coat or anything else you'd prefer to dump during the show, head downstairs and grab a locker for €1. So convenient! Hopefully sooner than later, I'll be back.

Cafe Tribunal was a serendipitous find years back and we have made it a point to visit everytime…read morewe've come back. Located steps from the main campus of Maastricht University is caters to a mixed crowd from 20's-70's. We were there twice in one day which says a lot. The seasonal menu is posted on a giant blackboard against the east wall and the beer selection is likewise posted on the south wall. There is also a menu card for their standard offerings. Soups reign supreme here and are offered in giant coffee cup bowls. We had the asparagus soup and were wowed out by the delicate broth and the fresh taste. We also enjoyed the goat cheese salad. I have to admit I do not like goat cheese....I devoured this one. In the evening the place fills up with after work crowd of students and local residents many sharing communal tables. It get quite lively as the night progresses. This a "good time place" and if you aren't having one...it's your own fault. They offer live music most nights and free peanuts with your beer. We always come back.

Low price, check. Delicious food, check. Near the university classes, check. Friendly service,…read morecheck. Only thing about this place is that if it gets busy, service becomes significantly slow. Which is very understandable. I enjoy the interior as well as the exterior of the shop, very warm and welcoming. There's a bar in the middle and plenty of tables inside and out. They have a wide selection of sandwiches that accommodate both meat lovers and vegetarians. I've tried the brie sandwich as well as the brie and honey sandwich, both were as tasty as they sound. I recommend eating here at a time where it isn't as busy. This is definitely going to be my normal spot for the next couple weeks of studying abroad in Maastricht!

Avoid this place like the plague! The manager, Didier, is a complete a**hole (my opinion) who…read moredenied our PAID IN ADVANCE reservation and let people without reservations have seats ahead of us (fact). When I pointed this out to him, he got violently angry with me (fact), and threatened to physically throw me out if I didn't "sit down and shut up" (in the bar stools at the back of the room, with the view blocked by other patrons without reservations who Didier also let in after us). My opinion: you make an online reservation / bank transfer with this guy at your own risk. He will take your money and may or may not honor your reservation - probably not if you don't speak perfect French! Don't let jerks like Didier make a profit by treating customers like dirt! If a band or musician you love is playing here, wait until they come to a different locale - it's not worth the hostile atmosphere and maltreatment.

Music, drinks and foosball! Had a great time last night. I found out about this cool little…read morepub/venue on an app while looking for some live music. An Irish band called Seafoam Green was playing folk rock while I sipped some spirits and chilled with some new friends of the world. The staff are friendly, helpful, and attentive. The best part is I got to also introduce a local Belgian I met at a cafe to this spot who was also looking for something to do. A fun time and will come back someday.

If you're in Brussels and need your Metal fix, this is the place to come…read more It's the premiere Metal bar in town and has a decent selection of (mostly Belgian) Ale's for reasonable prices. Nothing too outstanding here but as with most Belgian bars that I've visited, the quality of the beer is very good to outstanding. Where this place shines is with regard to the atmosphere and music selection. It's dimly lit and cavernous in feel. It's oblique shape tends to make it feel more spacious than it really is. This is the only place I've ever visited on this planet that actually played "Bonded by Blood" by Exodus on vinyl. How cool is that? A former bar maiden there (Jessica) also spun "Mercenary" by Bolf Thrower for us one night. Again, this place really shines with regard to Metal "nuggets" and every time I come to Brussels, this place is a must visit destination (much to the chagrin of my travel partners...) Drop in, Start drinking Duvel and get your Metal groove on...