In Bilbao there are not residents, there are txikiteros. Txikiteros are names given to those who drink txikitos, small glasses of wine served in the bars.
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Brussels, like the rest of Belgium, can boast of being a cosmopolitan place in the broadest sense of the word. It has become a melting pot of cultures in its own right, with more than 180 nationalities among its inhabitants.
For this reason, we can see, in its streets and within its walls, shops of all nationalities, restaurants with all flavours and taverns with everlasting glasses.
And it is about these taverns that we are going to talk today, making a compilation of the most beautiful taverns in the Belgian capital.
We'll stroll among taverns that are considered historic places in Brussels, both for their history and their architectural style. So let's enjoy some local craft beers in the city's most beautiful Art Deco and Art Nouveau taverns.
Proof of this was the birth of Art Nouveau, which at the end of the 19th century changed the perception of almost all artistic representation both in France and in Belgium itself. This style was based on curved lines that maintained a high level of attention to detail and played with colour.
After the white flag of the First Great War (1914-1918) came the era known to all as the Roaring Twenties. In addition to laughter and Charleston, it brought with it a new artistic trend known as Art Deco. Straight lines prevailed and the importance of symmetries, the play of contrasts and the surface of materials was emphasised.
Both styles are the clear dominators of the Belgian capital and between their straight and curved lines stand some of the most iconic buildings of European architecture. Among them, beyond the great monuments, we highlight the well-known Belgian taverns.
Join us on this tour of the most representative of both artistic movements and, if you are a great fan of both disciplines, we encourage you to take part in the Banad festival. You can visit buildings, attend talks and even buy objects and furniture from the period.
Av. Jean Volders 48, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Although it is a restaurant, it is possible to stop by for a drink or a beer, although we recommend you do so after the peak meal times have passed. It is a clear example, and perhaps one of its greatest exponents, of art nouveau with great beauty and love for detail. Although inside you can also enjoy a magnificent art deco decor.
This establishment has not fallen into the tourist craze and remains faithful to its local roots, both in style and menu. A place to feel local and admire the grandeur of this architectural and decorative style.
Rue Royale 316, 1210 Bruxelles
Its foundations date back to the mid-19th century, although it was renovated according to Art Nouveau canons in 1904, which explains its current appearance. Once again, we find a restaurant with the soul of a tavern, or vice versa, where the elegance and quality of the interior decoration of each of the rooms, from the hall to the poetry room, blend with the high quality of the table.
Rue Henri Maus 19, 1000 Bruxelles
It was not until the year 2000 that the building that houses the well-known brasserie-restaurant "Le Falstaff" was named "historical monument". With its doors open and fully operational since 1903, this place feels every heartbeat of the city as it is located in the very heart of the Belgian capital.
Besides its obvious beauty, it is one of the best, if not the best, brasserie-restaurants in the whole city and a local atmosphere that makes it a must on any visitor's route.
Rue de la Bourse 18, 1000 Bruxelles
"Emblematic" may be an understatement when it comes to this legendary establishment in the Belgian capital. Its marvellous façade, dating back to 1909, and its pampered interior have been serving dishes and beers to its visitors for more than a century, since 1886. An ode to Belgian tradition, as much in food and drink as in appearance and ambience.
Rue du Finistère 1, 1000 Bruxelles
You will not be able to walk past this beautiful and representative marble Art Deco façade. Taverne Esperance, just 60 metres from rue Neuve, dates from 1930 and has lines, both in its stained glass windows and in its original marble interior decoration, that offer a visual continuity typical of this period and architectural style.
Rue Antoine Dansaert 6, 1000 Bruxelles
On the always busy and fashionable Antoine Dansaert's Street, this 1937 cocktail bar will delight those looking for a great atmosphere, fantastic music and an architecture and décor to match its drinks menu. Its sober and distinctive blue façade is home to a wide range of nods to the art world; from its small art gallery to live music. With music as its main attraction, in addition to drinks, they host concerts and events such as Saturday's "Jazz After Shopping".
Rue des Bouchers 13, 1000 Bruxelles
You can't miss the opportunity to put on your best clothes and visit this elegant restaurant offering the best of Brussels cuisine. Open since 1921, Aux Armes de Bruxelles has recently undergone a complete renovation, creating, as icing on the cake, a full kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances to bring you the best taste of the city, but without giving up one iota of its origins.
Galerie de la Reine 30, 1000 Brussel
As was the case with Aux Armes de Bruxelles, La Taverne du Passage has changed many aspects of both the part that the customer sees and the part that remains hidden behind the bar. In this renovation, they did not want to give up their identity, starting with their emblematic location in Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, but they have given way to a new look.
