Two of the Best Cafes in Brussels

The most charming coffee culture you could find in Western Europe

Written by Gracie Rounds

Introduction

Coming into our mid-winter trip to Western Europe (concerning Belgium, Luxembourg, and Northern France), my college travel bestie and I had no idea the type of coffee culture we would happen upon in a place like Brussels.

We were so pleasantly surprised by the amount of fantastic coffee shops in and around where we stayed in the northern part of the city.

Our two most enjoyable cafe recommendations in Brussels are as follows!

Leopold Cafe

In regards to ambiance, aesthetic and vibe, this was absolutely our favorite cafe of the whole trip. And given the manner in which the place was always jam packed, we weren’t surprised that many seemed to feel the same.

Any drinks we ordered at Leopold were exceptionally delicious. Where I tend to stick more towards espresso-based drinks, my friend Alex is a hot chocolate fanatic, and she couldn’t praise this spot enough for their cocoa.

We were also pleased with the food we ordered that came in large portions, and seemed to be intentionally sourced with high quality ingredients.

The cafe has multiple different staggered levels and an upstairs that overlooks the lower. Mismatched chairs and tables occupy the different rooms in an enjoyable, homey way.

And although we couldn’t possibly recommend Leopold Cafe enough, we will add that there were times that the staff was a bit rude and unfriendly. But that didn’t detract from our experience much!

Bouche

If you are a coffee nerd, this spot is for you. If Leopold is for ambience and vibes, Bouche is for dialed in espresso shots and perfectly steamed milk.

In general the amount of passionate coffee shops put into their beverage cultivation was impressive throughout this entire region, and Bouche was a shining example of that.

The lattes were exceptionally smooth, where a sip combined espresso and milk seamlessly. The latte art was impressive and gave our experience an extra touch, and added to the concept of the passion of baristas there.

We were pretty certain that the set-up of this shop inspired a lot of others in the area as we found many cafes that looked quite similar, and after speaking to a barista there we found that to be true.

The seating in the space was lacking a bit, it almost seemed awkward and cramped to actually sit inside. They also don’t allow for any laptops so this is not the spot for digital nomads.

Bring a friend, sit and have a chat, and enjoy fantastic drinks instead!

Conclusion

We were truly blown away by the coffee culture in Brussels, it was probably one of our favorite things there!

Especially for a mid-winter trip, you will not be disappointed by the number of places to pop in and cozy up with a quality beverage.