Café Cosy Bruxelles

[Recaredo Latreche]

Whetheron a terrace under a thick blanket, at a table in a restaurant or near a crackling fire, it's impossible to hibernate in Brussels this winter. The capital is full of cosy places and "fireside" atmospheres where you can warm up with a comforting dish or curl up with your partner while sipping a hot chocolate. A reminder that the cold season has its own charms.

A landmark for those who love winter flavours, La Petite Parisienne was created by Katia, an expert trained at the prestigious Ferrandi school of gastronomy in Paris. She then moved to Brussels and opened the first certified organic pastry shop in the city, thus combining the traditions of pastry with today's requirements to be healthy, more ethical and use slow sugar - her creations are made with at least 20% less sugar to make way for other flavours.

Located in the heart of the Ma Campagne neighbourhood, Kami is one of those little gems that are shared by word of mouth. Passionate about coffee and Japan (Kami is the Japanese term for deities hidden in nature, animals and objects), Clara and Alias welcome you to their carefully designed little cocoon. The coffee, roasted in Belgium, accompanies pastries and other organic snacks, all home-made and served with a smile. For braver individuals, the back terrace is just as friendly as the interior. Everything is beautiful and delicate, right down to the cups and the rest of the tableware.

In the heart of the Bailly neighbourhood, Cup 28 has quickly become the place to be for lovers of coffee and other hot drinks. The place is warm and has a pretty urban garden around the back. You can enjoy a wide variety of hot drinks including coffees made with Wide Awake's famous beans. We recommend the matcha latte which gave the place its reputation.

A self-proclaimed "Urban Refuge", this little coffee house promises to warm you up like a thick, soft blanket. Comfortable and bright, Hinterland offers a calm refuge from the hustle and bustle of the Chausse de Charleroi. If there was any lingering doubt, their selection of drinks on the menu, with lattes, slow coffees, chais, teas and Golden Mylk (coconut milk with turmeric) will make you feel right at home.

In Swedish, Fika means coffee break, that uninterrupted moment when you enjoy a hot drink and a pastry (and if anyone knows about comfortable places to warm up, it's the Scandinavians, the inventors of hygge). It was hygge that inspired Joana to open Fika, a coffee house where wood and cushions give new meaning to the term cosy. You can enjoy delicious coffees from a roaster from Brussels but also one from Sweden! As far as pastries are concerned, we recommend the tasty Kanelbullar, Swedish specialities made with cinnamon.

Discover Belgian chocolate the Laurent Gerbaud way. A tea room that also serves as a workshop on Saturdays. It's a chance to make your own sweets and taste the best of the best in chocolate! To warm up, opt for a hot ginger or a hot chocolate, classic or gourmet version with hazelnut syrup, speculoos, Christmas spices or maple syrup + whipped cream.

Based in the trendy Rue Dansaert area, MOK is both a bar and a roastery, as it also sells coffee beans to take home. The place is warm and friendly. The menu features a wide variety of coffees, served alongside teas (from Companion Tea) and fermented drinks. You can even sit outside (for the brave) and watch the hustle and bustle of the city while enjoying your drink with a sweet or vegan snack.

Frederic Blondeel is certainly one of the best chocolatiers in town. Head for Koekelberg where his workshop is located, which is both a shop and a coffee & ice cream bar. The place is the image of chocolate in general: sweet and full of character. Alongside the coffees and other teas to be enjoyed, you can also taste their own house hot chocolate, accompanied by the chocolate or cookie of the day. Something to warm bodies and hearts.

Established in 2019, Wide Awake, plays the inclusiveness and openness card around coffee. Located at the end of the Rue de Flandre, this coffee house offers you the chance to enjoy its range of coffees roasted at CoHop in Anderlecht that you can also take home to prolong the experience. It produces one of our favourite coffees, tasty and smooth. A quality coffee that you can find in many of the capital's cafes and restaurants.

It is possible to be trendy and cosy, as this Saint-Gilles venue proves. While they can't turn lead into gold, "Modern Alchemists" Sbastien, Benjamin and Christopher, turn their drinks into real treasures. The menu has no fewer than 150(!) rums and a collection of cocktails ranging from classic to seasonal. Inside, the industrial and classy space reflects the vision of these 3 bartenders who perfected its creation over a 3-year period. Today, the main focus is on welcoming customers. A visual and gustatory experience that will leave a smile on your face (be careful if you have chapped lips because of the cold).

Hidden behind the imposing Opera de La Monnaie, The Dominican offers a sleek and classy bar. There's always a slight feeling of being on holiday when you sit in a hotel bar. Add to that the softness of the velvet armchairs and sofas, the plushness of the carpet on the floor and the open fire that welcomes you at the entrance, and the combination is perfect. All that's left to do is order!

At Moeder Lambic, you won't find the classic mass-market beers, but a selection of craft beers and microbrewery gems. The waiters are very helpful and will help you discover some surprising beers! A meeting place with two locations: the original in Rue de Savoie in Saint-Gilles, or the latest, established in the centre, at Place Fontainas, since 2009.

Just across from the Manneken-Pis , you'll find the Poechenellekelder, a genuine medieval estaminet, perfect for a drink with friends. In the past, the building was the meeting place for many guilds and all kinds of conspirators. In other words, when you enter this unique bar, you'll be immersed in the thousand-year-old history of Brussels!

A neighbourhood bistro featuring Art Nouveau decor located next to the Bourse, Cirio is a genuine period caf where you can imagine meeting Hercule Poirot the famous detective, while sipping your 'half en half' (a cup filled with a 50/50 mix of sparkling wine and white wine), the house speciality.

Just a stone's throw from Flagey, nestled in the very narrow corner formed by Rue Lesbroussart and Rue de Hennin, Le Petit Canon exudes a cosy atmosphere almost like home. This super cute place is a wine shop and bar with a retro decor. It has a very intimate feeling, whether you are in a group or a couple. The wines are natural and come from small producers. They can be accompanied by small dishes, appetisers or other delicacies to nibble. It feels so good that you may find it hard to leave.

Wood, exposed bricks and a neighbourhood caf atmosphere that is as warm for the neighbours as it is for those who come from further afield. Chez mon ex is a carefully selected range of beers, especially on tap, juices and other home-made organic soft drinks. And "Mon Ex" has a big heart because when you buy a drink, part of the money is donated to one of 3 proposed associations (you choose which one). A perfect way to warm the heart.

A 20s vibe and subdued lighting... The Ethylo cocktail bar has what it takes to warm up bodies, minds... and moods. Spirits abound with more than 200 products, classic or signature cocktails on a regularly changing menu, always with a local and seasonal character. Preparations from the workshop, just below, also enhance the menu of shrubs, syrups, fruit juices, liqueurs and infused spirits...

Located on a small island on a lake in the heart of the Bois de la Cambre, Chalet Robinson will delight young and old alike with its boat trip across the lake, which is a bit of an adventure. Come and warm up in this charming setting with a breathtaking view of nature. We happily linger there for a hot chocolate, a Brussels waffle, or simply for one of the generous dishes on offer (there is always room for a boudin-compote, Americain with chips and a mushroom fristouille, right?).

The Les Brigittines restaurant is located in the heart of Brussels, a stone's throw from the Grand-Place, the Sablon, the Palais de Justice and the Marolles. In the special atmosphere of its Art Nouveau setting, it offers classic French-Belgian cuisine based on fresh seasonal products and beers.

This small restaurant transports you to the Alps. At Au Petit Suisse, you can enjoy famous Swiss classics. Their cheese fondue, raclette, rsti and many other specialities will keep you warm all winter long.

On the Parvis Saint-Pierre in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, the Auberge des Maeurs is an urban farm offering organic local cuisine. The site, with its rustic accents, is listed as a Brussels heritage site and dates back to 1748 (although it was destroyed by fire in 2009). The softness of its seats, the warmth of the exposed beams and the plant decorations instantly make you feel good. The inn can boast of having been the first certified organic restaurant in the capital. The agricultural cooperative La Finca, located less than 6km from the restaurant, provides the organic fruit and vegetables and the fresh eggs. The cuisine is Belgian and French, and some products are available for sale in the small organic store next door.

Cosy and friendly, Flamme boasts a high-quality, local menu. The vegetables come from a nearby cooperative called "Terroirist" and the sausages are from Dierendonck, a famous Flemish family butcher. The burger has breads from Boulengier, with meat or veggie fillings. You can also opt for the very traditional (but no less perfect) stoemp-saucisse. The room is dominated by a large central wine cellar and the floor shines with its superb period mosaic. A perfect combination for some quality time.

A hushed setting and a sober but resolutely modern atmosphere in the upscale Chtelain neighbourhood. The restaurant has all the glamour of New York's boutique hotels and its menu offers classic dishes with an Asian twist. Enjoy the freshness of a simple, sophisticated cuisine, which uses high-quality produce and a menu that changes according to the seasons and the chef's mood. Odette en ville also acts as a cocktail bar. Stylish, but casual.

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