La Bécasse

xychromosome

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 3 | $$

This place is great, mainly because of how unique it is. Where else would you find a place that specializes in serving lambics by the jug-full? It's located down an alleyway off a main pedestrain street near the grand place and everytime i've gone, it's been almost empty when i arrived, but always full by the time i leave. Yes, service can be poor, but i'm not expecting great service here. i'm looking forward to some good easy-drinking lambic and maybe some snacks to perk me up. The bar itself is a work of art, lots of shiny brass and copper. They do have daily lunch/dinner specials that are pretty reasonably priced. I wouldn't come here expecting a proper sit down dinner, they are a bar first, a restaurant second.

07-30-2007 19:30:50 | More by xychromosome

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.3/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

One of my favorite bars in Brussels.

The fantastic brass barrel on the bar, jugs of lambic on every table (we had the amber mix on my last visit, 10th Oct 2006). This is a wonderful place to drink in, it is peaceful even when busy, people respect their beer that come in here. A true classic in my opinion, I couldn't visit Brussels without walking down the alley to this bar.

The service has always been fine, as has been the quality of the beers, there are livelier places to drink in Brussels, but this is what the Brussels beer scene is really all about. Miss it at your peril!

12-12-2006 13:39:24 | More by BlackHaddock

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

3.5/5  rDev -12.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

Visited here in April 2005.... It's pretty easy to find (even though it is down an alley) as it's quite close to the Grand Place and the Bourse.... look out for the bird design on the ground at the end of the alleyway...

Place was quite busy when we arrived as there seemed to be a party of Spanish university students in.... once they left though the place was pretty quiet....

Beers on tap are about 3/4 Euros each. We tried both the Timmerman's Lamic Doux and the Timmerman's Lambicus Blanc - both served in small earthenware jugs. We both enjoyed the Blanc more than the doux as it was more zesty and refreshing...

This isn't the greatest or most exciting place to visit while in Brussels but is certainly worth a quick visit and drink....

08-17-2005 14:53:36 | More by mdagnew

BrewMaster

California

4.44/5  rDev +11%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

For Belgium, this place is a bit pricey. Beers on tap are around 3.50 Euros each but the Timmerman's Lamic Doux and the Timmerman's Lambicus Blanc are the reasons to be there and worth every cent. The wait staff is very friendly but not overly talkative. In typical European fashion, they leave you alone until you ask for them. The atmosphere is very nice but definately old as there is a sign over the front door proclaiming that this building was 100 years old in 1977.

I had no trouble finding this place but I wasn't really looking for it either. I was with family from the area and when we said we wanted to sit and have some good beer they immediately brought us here.

I definately recommend visiting La Becasse when in Brussels. The beer is exceptional and the environment authentic and relaxed. When we visited last week it was quite hot and Le Becasse did not have AC or any ventialtion besides the front door. Still it was a great experience and is a place I will no doubt visit again.

06-30-2005 19:06:24 | More by BrewMaster

Bierschenker

Belgium

4.38/5  rDev +9.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$$

I went to La Bécasse with a good friend who grew up in Brussels as a child. He curently lives in Leuven, but still works in Brussel. And when I’m in Brussels to, that sometimes ends in wild evenings. He knows it well as he used to hold club evenings there with his student club (≠ fraternity). And very soon it may too become a location for my student club. I’m not from Brussel my self, but I did grew up in the Flemish belt around Brussel. I started exploring Brussel just some years ago.

It is a very old and authentical bar down an alley close to the old market and the Brussels stock exchange. Easily missed by a lot of passing people.
The interior is mode out of mainly wood. The room does not have any windows. It does have a large fireplace and an old bar on the other side. The bathroom is downstairs and the location we use for our club meetings is upstairs.
The café is filled with the same typical common-people furniture.
This bar used to be one of the favourite lower class bars of King Leopold II and Albert I.

The bar serves some excellent sweet Lambik that is being sold in jugs or per glass. They also serve some good gauze.
If you are looking for a good snack or something to fill your stomach with, the bar serves some very good traditional Brussels grub. I had a slice of dark bread with fresh cheese covered with radices and small unions. A real treat during the hot summer days. Perfect to accompany a traditional Brussels beer.

It got even better when I noticed the waiters where able to serve me in Dutch. I took the liberty to buy a bottle of lambik as I was there.

This bar is a must if passing through Brussel.

Ut Vivat, Crescat, Floreat!

06-16-2005 22:42:02 | More by Bierschenker

Goldorak

Quebec (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5

This was one of the closest bars from my hotel, and was usually the place were we'd finish our night off before stumbling to bed.

Amazingly, I didn't have much difficulty finding it, between the Rue Marché aux herbes and the Bourse. Either look for the small neon sign, or better yet look down for the ceramic design of the Bird, that will lead you to an alley where the front door is, with a small sign saying "cette maison est centenaire" (this house is over 100 years old). The decor inside is nice and comfortable, with stoneware jugs above the bars in different sizes, ranging from a small jug for one to a huge 4 liter monster. Check out the certificate from the "Order of Faro" on the wall and the little bird over the taps.

Beer selection was good, but I was there for the white Lambic. I really liked it a lot. And served in those jugs, that just kicks ass.

Service was friendly, especially when I started to chat with the waiters about martial arts (I know jack shit about them, but posters from a martial arts school were plastered all over the bathroom walls so I figured they were into them). Unfortunately, my shmoozing didn't convince them to sell me that bottle of Cantillon near the bar sitting in that wicker basket...I turned it over and it had a massive deposit underneath, they said it was at least 5 years old, maybe more.

Food was simple and reasonably priced. We took a cervelas sausage and cheeze plate and I had the lasagna once, all good.
I really enjoyed this place.

10-01-2004 01:02:53 | More by Goldorak

Dukeofearl

California

4.18/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5

I visited this little place with a new-found BA friend on a recent Brussels trip, and I made the mistake of having coffee (it was a long day!). This is a charming little place, with old-world atmosphere unlike any other I have seen. The other reviews adequately describe the beer and atmosphere, so I have little to add there, but I wanted to add the notion of the beer being served in stoneware jugs, and beer unlike anything anywhere else. If you are not from this part of the world, this is a must-go for something different. I really wish I had tried the beers; I don't get the impression that they are anything exceptional or out of this world, but they are so unusual in this day and age, that you owe it to yourself to try something like this place. I tried Faro elsewhere in Brussels (I had never heard of it before this trip), so I can guess what the Doux was like, but the white ale must be something else. I have to go back!!!!

09-13-2004 20:12:02 | More by Dukeofearl

Popsinc

Ontario (Canada)

3.86/5  rDev -3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4

Another great little bar hidden down one of Brussells many alleyways just off the centre of Grand Place. I would not have found this bar without my Stephen D'Arcy guide.

We stopped here on a weekday, early afternoon, so it wasn't very busy. I loved the interior, 1 large and spacious room (overflow upstairs) with he typical wooden tables found in most Belgian beer bars. Ceramic beer jugs decorated the walls and the shelves behind the bar along with old bottles of lambics.

The most appealing part of this bar is having your lambics served to you in large ceramic jugs. It adds to the atmosphere and overall drinking experience. aside from the somewhat pricey beer list, i thought this bar was particularly warm and comforting.

Aside from the price, i highly recommend it.

10-29-2003 11:39:44 | More by Popsinc

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3

Brussels has Cafés that not many people know about. There are a handful of them hidden down small dead-end alleyways, overlooked by passers by.

La Bécasse is just one such Café & it is not that easy to find. Hidden away, but within easy walking distance of most of Brussels main attractions. From the Grand Place, take Beurre towards La Bourse, Rue du Tabora is a short street that runs off to your right. Walk down the street, but look out for a brass woodcock like bird on the pavement (this is where the Café gets its name by the way).

The small alley has waist high dark green & brown tiling, & white-washed walls, that can be rather dingy on a night time. Right at the end of this alley there are two old-style wooden framed doors that are inset with a stained glass picture of the Bécasse bird. This is where you enter the Café; it dates back to 1793 & looks to have remained unaltered since then.

Apart from the fact that Café is well hidden & offers a good retreat from all of the other tourist traps, it does happen to have a rather a good Beer List with two special features. The list runs to about 30 with some notable luminaries which make it just worth a visit. But the jewel in the crown, & the real reason why you should come here, is to try two of Timmerman’s draft beers that are rarely seen.

The first is ‘Timmerman’s Tradition Lambicus Blanche’, which is 4.5%ABV. It is, I believe, a cross between a lambic & a wheat beer. It benefits from both styles & is an extremely accomplished offering, very rare & highly refreshing.

The second is, ‘Timmerman’s Doux Lambic’, which is very rare these days, but it is served here, & it is still decanted from the traditional stoneware Jugs, just as in Breughels days. The “lambic doux” is actually a Faro; a sweetened version of the usual lambic beer that once acquired wide spread popularity in the Brussels area, but is now extremely hard to find in its traditional format. An acquired taste, but such a classic example of the style, that it is worth the visit here alone.

There are two levels to this bar, but I always stay on the ground floor. It is bedecked with many long wooden tables, which you may have to share when busy. Simple snacks & Cheese are served on wooden platters.

Medieval in character, with many original fixtures & fittings makes this a genuine Belgium Café worthy of a visit. Thankfully, because of its location, you will not have to fight tourists once you get here. A well-kept secret.

Last Visit: 30th Nov. 2002.

06-21-2003 21:52:08 | More by TheLongBeachBum