Discover & Taste – DOWNTOWN KANAAL
- FRANK.
Frank (& Francine at night) is known for great food and amazing wine in addition to specialty coffee. This is a restaurant with a real kitchen, serving some of the best coffee. One of a kind, even tho all restaurants should serve great coffee 😉
- Ana Attento
Formerly known as OR’s cafés. OR is still roasting, but stopped doing horeca, and now, please welcome a new owners but still serving some of the best coffee in town.
- Kaffa Bar
Marc opened a bit remote from the center a while ago. Not so many people know the place, and yet, one of my favorite. Why? because they serve a great frangipane (can I get a break from global food and carrot cake pleaaase) with amazing beans from Mok and other roasteries (Nomad from Barcelona for instance). Also, hospitality is unique over there, you feel like a special guest every time, and this is too rare to not be mentioned.
- Le Phare du Kanaal
Great food and co-working space. One of the pioneer place serving local food and decent coffee. I love the place for that. They don’t pretend to serve coffee from the best trained barista, but at least they have specialty beans and real local food. Comfy and yummy!
- Peck Velvet
Colombian coffee in a brunch palace. There is still room for improvement, but same as Le Phare, they opt for much better coffee than so many fodd place in town.
- Mok
Leading specialty roastery in Belgium, yass!! and they food offer is insane. Not to mention wine etc… let’s cut the blabla, you just can’t miss Mok.
- Wide Awake
Definitely the best addition in town in the last years. A great roastery with a cool team and awesome merch. Can I get a refill?
- Extra love : Yuka
Moussa is one of the most dedicated barista in town, and still under the radar after more than 5 years in the game. Ni filter here, but espresso love brewed to perfection. Say Hi from me.
Discover & Taste – UPTOWN Saint Gilles
- Nomad
Aurélie attended a few classes and couldn’t think about including specialty coffee to her brand new co-working space. She can set a grinder and serve one of the best espresso from around. If you need a space to work and enjoy great espresso, you know where to go.
- Pardon
They serve a blend from Belga & Co and also have Wide Awake beans. But the trick here is that they do their own biscuits including speculoos, and waffles. Oh gosh, me love it when dipped in a perfect coffee or even a cold brew in summer.
- Hinterland
Vegan food, beautiful design, OR beans on Faema 61, and very instagramable 🙂 a pioneer in the neighborhood and still looking very fashionable.
- Le Petit Mercado
Looking for Black Coffee and Oat Latte, NITRO INFUSED, in cans? That’s the place to go.
- Kami
Well, expect just the best. Clara and Ilias are just amazing and passionate. The place looks cute to perfection, with a garden! They serve beans from Kolonel, Antwerp, on espresso, and have beans from various roasters around Europe for filters. So many equipment to buy to brew at home!! Full shelves waiting for you.
- L’Alchimiste
Perrine serves vegan food, all home made, and is very passionate. This is her universe: quiet, comfy, and tasty. She also sells beans from various roasters, depending on when she travelled or ordered recently. If you leave around, don’t miss.
- Extra love : La Boule
I love this place so much! The team came to OK classes a bit by coincidence, and since then, followed all of it, switched to specialty, and set their grinder everyday. I don’t even mention the bread, one of the best in town!! Go quick and enjoy some beans from Wide Awake on espresso with a great pastry.
- Extra love : Marina Bautier
This place sells high end furniture to start, but then Marina wanted to open a café in her store, and oh my gosh, it’s one of the most beautiful place in Brussels, lost in a residential area down St Gilles. They also serve food and everything is DELICIOUS. One of my favorite place in Brussels.
- Extra love : Tuck Shop
Also down St Gilles, they are a pioneer in their neighborhood and serve very very good coffee. They actually made me drink Americano for the first time, and now this is where I host a lot of casual meetings. Not to be missed!
- Extra love : Epicerie Horta
Down the Forest Park. Lots of tasty organic products to go, including coffee from OR, but also kombucha, beers and ice creams.. Summer will be hot, and Horta is here to help us enjoy it at its best.
Espresso Extravaganza – Uptown Trinité
- Kafeï
An asian restaurant, known for the fluffiest pancakes around, but also for having a barista station in the middle of the place! This should happen more often. Great spot and huge reputation well deserved.
- Khobz
Best Bakery in Brussels. So expert that I don’t understand what they post on Instagram.. but damn, I want to eat their bread and pastries for the rest of my life. Oh, and they serve Mok on espresso and filter (and maybe cold brew now)
- Ultra
Home away from home, with a great garden. They roast their own coffee and kinda pioneered in the area. Challenge well achieved, it’s a super known spot now.
- Jackie
Formerly known as Parlor Coffee. Kiliane took over the place late 2021, re-designed it and added to the coffee concept a well curated magazine supply. I love the vibe, this is where I host my meetings in the neighbourhood. And a little tip, they serve cocoa husk infused in water or milk, a must try!
- Hinterland
Vegan food, beautiful design, OR beans on Faema 61, and very instagramable 🙂 a pioneer in the neighborhood and still looking very fashionable.
- Kami
Well, expect just the best. Clara and Ilias are just amazing and passionate. The place looks cute to perfection, with a garden! They serve beans from Kolonel, Antwerp, on espresso, and have beans from various roasters around Europe for filters. So many equipment to buy to brew at home!! Full shelves waiting for you.
Summer Menu Tour – Uptown
- Cup28
Team Kafei in control! and the place has been totally revamped.
- Hinterland
See above
- Jackie
See above
- Stella
New kids on the block, super creative and Stella, the dog, is their mascote.
- Le Petit Mercado
A place for food, gorceries and coffee in can! Find UpHill there, latte or black.
- Kami
See above
Summer Menu Tour – Midtown
- Bouche
You were looking for the most innovative spot in town? There you gooo. In addition to food and wine, you’ll have frozen competition coffee brewed on filter only for your eyes. I’m living for this!
- Misao
Sandrine is all about pepper and spice, but like the way I do in coffee, with values and taste. Just don’t ask and go! My tip, her classic black pepper from Kivu for your savory dishes or your chocolate mousse.
- La Caï
Açaï bowls with specialty coffee and one of the most creative and fun summer menu I have seen – my non coffee favorite: Aloe Vera Cherry on Ice – Fun and Taste on the Menu. Reminds me of NYC.
- Gruun
Plants for reaaaal, and coffee from Mok
- Lucifer Lives
A bold personality, a hugely inclusive community space, the place where all freaks including myself feel at home when everybody else won’t accept us. Expect vegan food, horror movies, hip hop or metal music and forget about your gender or any other social norms.
- La Fruitière
Best place for cheese, by FAR. And also the place where I teach. A cheesy home away from home thanks to Veronique, Leo and the team.
- Kaffa Bar
See here above
- Extra Luv: Eatik
Alex is one of the first organic grocery stores to have switched to organic specialty. And now he is so much into it that he even serves coffee to go from a small barista set up in front of the store, almost on the sidewalk of the rue Haute. Thanks Alex!
Extra : Coudenberg
- My Little Cup
This one is there for a while, and changed owners for the best in town, Antoine! not to mention the team, super dedicated to competitions etc… Simply one of the best spot in town.
- Kiosk
A radio in the royal park, streaming the local scene and brewing decent coffee for you to enjoy in the green.
- Café Boudin
Recent, good, beautiful, well located in front of Bozar, and the owner posts funny crazy stuff on Insta. A new favorite location, with a big heart, definitely.
- Buddy Buddy
They simply killed it, the look of the place (even copied in Russia), the choice of coffee and all of this doesn’t even showcase their main activity which is Peanut Butter. Have a try and let your taste buds thank you.
