Bruges for a day or two

[Josho]

2 couples 25ish and driving to Bruges early Sat morning staying one night and back Sunday.

Us two lads like a drink and I'm sure theres a decent beer shop in Ghent.

Where else can we go/what should we go and see? Any decent restaurants or pubs?

Cheers

[ecsrobin]

Josho said:

Us two lads like a drink and I'm sure theres a decent beer shop in Ghent.

Where else can we go/what should we go and see? Any decent restaurants or pubs?

De Hopduvel is the beer shop in Ghent However it’s closed Sunday and Monday much to my disappointment. I actually preferred Ghent.

If you don’t have parking at your accommodation then the train station in Bruges is very cheap and a short walk away.

I can highly reccomend breakfast at the gingerbread tea rooms.

[eggchaser1987]

Just as I speak/type, my wife and I are waiting at the eurostar waiting to go for the weekend.

It's more of a last weekend away before we have our first child rather than a beer weekend away as she is 4 months pregnant but I shall report back if there are any places I can recommend.

[krunchkin]

There’s more than enough in the central tourist circle to fill that time. Just take a stroll around, catch a boat, gawp at the architecture, guzzle frites from the stands in the central square (which are the best you will find), find a charming restaurant and enjoy some delicious moules while getting slightly ripped off but not caring, see some art and weird churches, scoff a waffle. That should fill your time easily. It’s a great spot
Oh and watch “In Bruges” before you go and then have fun spotting all the places Colin Farrell acted the tt

[ocd]

Brewery Huyghe is well worth a visit. 't Dreupelkot in the middle of Ghent on the river is an authentic schnapps bar and one of my favourites. Put your drinking boots on though....

[MXRod]

Beer museum,included in entrance charge is a tasting of about 6 beers out of many in small glasses
Diamond house, get locked in a secure room and are allowed to hold diamonds worth hundreds and thousands of
pounds/euros
Chocolate museum
The ice palace may still be open by the main railway station, wrap up for that one and have shots in ice glases
Enjoy

Edited by MXRod on Friday 11th January 06:42

[Rosscow]

We're going back for our 3rd visit at the end of the month, love the place.

Good restaurant: https://www.bistrozwarthuis.be/
Traditional pub/restaurant: http://www.cambrinus.eu/default.htm (normally you have to book, very popular)
Nice wine bar/restaurant: http://www.wijnbarest.be/ (it appears they have retired/sold it after 21 years! Shame but hopefully new owners are good)
Half Man Brewery tour/bar: https://www.halvemaan.be/
Our favourite chocolate shop! http://www.thechocolateline.be/

It's just a wonderful place to wander around. As above, grab a portion of fries, enjoy a lovely waffle.

[Shnozz]

If you’d held off a couple of weeks you could have gone when the beer festival is on. I’m there again this year, albeit last year is hazy in parts..

[Dog Star]

ecsrobin said:

If you don’t have parking at your accommodation then the train station in Bruges is very cheap and a short walk away.

I just use the mahooosive underground car park accessed from the underpass; it makes getting in and out a lot easier, it's warm. It's very secure. The spaces are vast.

[J8 SVG]

If you can get away with it - this is th ebest bar I've ever been to - http://www.letrappistebrugge.com/

Very easy to come out a lot more wobbly than you went in!

[Gareth1974]

In Bruges:

Cambrinus, as already recommended

De Halve Maan Brewery - already recommended, but I’d add, try to do a tour that finishes at lunchtime, their tasting room does a good quality, good value lunch.

Beerwall (bar/shop) has a nice canal side location https://www.2-be.biz/en/home/

The other brewery - https://www.bourgognedesflandres.be/en have never done the tour, but the bar is nice, very central and next to the canal

Something for the ladies? - Chocolate afternoon tea https://www.oldchocolatehouse.be the tea room is above their chocolate shop

The famous bar, Brugs Beertje https://www.brugsbeertje.be/en/home-2/ huge choice of beer

De Garre, another well known bar, down a tiny alley off the street between The Burg And The Markt http://www.degarre.be

Edited by Gareth1974 on Friday 11th January 09:13

[SpeckledJim]

ecsrobin said:

Josho said:

Us two lads like a drink and I'm sure theres a decent beer shop in Ghent.

Where else can we go/what should we go and see? Any decent restaurants or pubs?

De Hopduvel is the beer shop in Ghent However it’s closed Sunday and Monday much to my disappointment. I actually preferred Ghent.

If you don’t have parking at your accommodation then the train station in Bruges is very cheap and a short walk away.

I can highly reccomend breakfast at the gingerbread tea rooms.

Bruges is lovely, but I preferred Ghent as well.

[toon10]

We went to Bruges in Feb 2012 and loved it. If you like beer, I'd make a stop at Cafe Rose. The beer menu is massive and the staff are really knowledgeable and more than happy to direct you to new gems based on the beers you love.

As mentioned earlier, the half moon brewery tour is worth a go. You get a free Bruges Zot beer token but you can sup on a couple of Straffe Hendrick quadruples before you leave.

We didn't get to go up the belfry tower as it was closed for repair work but my other half wants to go back and do that and a canal tour as they were frozen over when we went.

[Rosscow]

J8 SVG said:

If you can get away with it - this is th ebest bar I've ever been to - http://www.letrappistebrugge.com/

Very easy to come out a lot more wobbly than you went in!

That looks great - will go there at the end of the month! Thanks

[Shnozz]

Seriously, if you like a beer you should visit Bruges when the beer festival is on. It’s epic.

https://www.visitflanders.com/en/things-to-do/even...

[JakeT]

MXRod said:

Beer museum,included in entrance charge is a tasting of about 6 beers out of many in small glasses
Diamond house, get locked in a secure room and are allowed to hold diamonds worth hundreds and thousands of
pounds/euros
Chocolate museum
The ice palace may still be open by the main railway station, wrap up for that one and have shots in ice glases
Enjoy

Edited by MXRod on Friday 11th January 06:42

I agree. We went just before Christmas and did most of these. It's bloody expensive, but we stayed in the Dukes Palace hotel and it was amazing. Great location, and on site parking. It's a 2 min walk to the main square. Loved it. We also went and saw the windmills on the outskirts too. They're lovely. Oostend is also nice to go to on the way or on the way back. Nice little seaside town.

[Ardennes1944]

We also love Bruges, its the perfect size city.

Can also recommend ZwartHuis restaurant, lovely and cosy restaurant with good food and a great owner.

[Dog Star]

Shnozz said:

Seriously, if you like a beer you should visit Bruges when the beer festival is on. It’s epic.

https://www.visitflanders.com/en/things-to-do/even...

I'm a frequent Bruges visitor (it's our default crossing to Europe now as getting to Dover from oop north has got so awful, was also do several "mini cruises" a year) and never knew there was such a thing.

I'm having some of that next year!

[SwanJack]

I agree - forget Bruges and go to Ghent.

[chopper602]

JakeT said:

, but we stayed in the Dukes Palace hotel and it was amazing. Great location, and on site parking.

We stayed there for a couple of nights after a couple of nights stay at the Pillows Hotel in Ghent (https://www.pillowshotels.com/ghent/), which to my mind was a better hotel and the city doesn't get as crazy busy as Bruge. Why they have to take your eyes out for parking on-site is beyond me, when the hotel is already expensive.

If you can find it (in Bruge) try the volkscafe Sint-Jakobs. A lovely little micro-pub, which only sells beer from smaller breweries. The owner is very friendly and works the bar.