Our Favorite Local Spots:

Westvleteren’s St Sixtus Abbey:    If you can secure a pickup for the best beer in the world at this place, do it. This was truly a unique experience.

In De Vrede:  This café offers tasty local treats made at the abbey next door. With a small shop and the ability to drink as much of the famous Westvleteren beer as you want (at a reasonable price) this café is a must if you’re in the Vleteren area (only 45 minutes from Bruges).

Be sure to read about the local cuisine in Bruges- it’s sure to please.

De Struise Brouwers: Located in the town of Oostvleteren (45 minutes from Bruges), this brewery is located in a converted school house and is something incredibly unique. It offers 30 specialty hard-to-find (and some exclusive only the brewery) De Struise Brouwers beers on tap. Open from 2-6 PM on Saturdays.

De Struise Bottle Shop: Can’t make the trip directly to the De Struise Brouwers in Oostvleteren? That’s okay. De Struise Brouwers’ beer shop is in the center of Bruges near the Basilica of the Holy Blood. They offer a handful of their own unique beers as well as other hard-to-find beers from Belgium and the Netherlands. You can find their hours and location at the De Struise Brouwers link above.

Den Amand:  This is where we enjoyed our delicious dinner in Bruges. Reasonably priced and exceptional value. Near the main Market Square. Reservations recommended.

‘T Bruges: This local hot spot has an excellent selection of Belgian beers and has won many awards. If you want to be guaranteed a seat, the earlier you get there, the better.

Zwart Huis: Made famous by its appearance on “In Bruges”, this restaurant offers a delicious assortment of local fare and seafood and has a handful of Belgian beers on tap.

Le Trappiste Brugge: Located in an old cellar, this charming and authentic bar specializes in Belgian beer. They have hundreds of beers available with a large number of taps. If you’re wanting to try multiple beers, they offer flights of 5 four ounce beers for 10 euros.

Hotel Koffiebootje: This hotel was in an excellent location. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it had great value at 99 USD per night. Included was a wonderful hot and cold continental breakfast.

The Bottle Shop: There’s not much to their website, but at least it gives you a location. The Bottle Shop is your one stop shop for Belgian beers. It has an excellent variety and a knowledgeable owner who is happy to make recommendations. The earlier you get there, the better, as it gets quite busy in the afternoon. This is a must visit for beer lovers in Bruges.

De Halve Maan: The only brewery in Bruges’ city center, De Halve Maan offers tours of the brewery in multiple languages. For 8 euro per ticket, you get a tour as well as a pint of their famous “Bruges Zot”. They also have a café where you can enjoy lunch or a pint of your favorite beer.

2B beer wall: We stopped here very briefly. With a large wall created from classic Belgian beer bottles, this is a great place for a picture opp. There is also the 2B bar inside where one can enjoy one (or two, or three) of the fourteen beers on tap.

De Garre: With one of the most sought-after beers in Bruges (De Garre Triple), this quaint little pub, hidden down an alley near the Market Square, is a great place to stop for a pint or a snack.

 More Recommendations – My “Next Time” Wish List:

Beer Museum: This museum is dedicated to the history of beer in Bruges. End your trip with 3 five ounce samples of beer whilst overlooking the historic center of Bruges.

Choco Story: A museum entirely dedicated to Belgian chocolate. Enough said.

Flanders Fields Day Tour: Visit the major World War I battlefields and Flanders Fields museum.

Restaurants: Generally speaking, I’d like to try out many more Bruges restaurants. We missed out on trying true local Belgian fare. For next time.

Belfry Tower: For me, I want to walk up the tower because of the movie, “In Bruges”; however, there’s a ton of history and an amazing view from the top of this central tower.

Basilica of the Holy Blood: Said to house the relic of Jesus’ blood within its walls. This gothic basilica sits in the middle of Bruges’ old historic center.

Don’t forget to read about our trip for more ideas of what to see and do!