Le Cheval Marin

This place already existed back when Brussels was a seaport, before being rebuilt in the 19th century. Since then, Le Cheval Marin has been given a new lease on life thanks to Léopold Van der Gracht, Charles Levie, Jean Van Campenhout and Tanguy Soille, the team behind Café des Minimes and Café Circus. Inside this huge bar in a historic setting (wood paneling with a bright lick of paint, coffered ceilings, central banquette seating, low lighting), come for flawlessly executed classic cocktails (Moscow Mule and Negroni at €11) and more imaginative concoctions (Smuggler Princess with mezcal, sake and yuzu sour at €12), as well as beers on tap (IPA Goose, Triple Karmeliet, €5 and €5.70 for a half-pint), local brews (En Stoemelings, Brasserie de la Senne, Illegaal, Cantillon, 3 Fonteinen) or natural wine, like the Meinklang, an Austrian orange wine from Angela and Werner Michlits (€6.50 a glass) or a white Calcaires from Nicolas Renaud in the Gard department (€56 a bottle). To soak it all up, the selection of snacks go well beyond your basic peanuts: saucisson made in Gaume, homemade cheese or shrimp croquettes, spag bol or an américain (aka Belgian-style steak tartare) made with beef from Dierendonck (€5-€19). Live music on Thursdays and DJ sets on the weekends. // Idoine Gérard