Hidden alley taverns and historic cafes of the centre, ending at the city's best craft-beer bar; order gueuze, kriek and lambic along the way.
Best time: From late afternoon into the evening
The route, stop by stop 1 A la Mort Subite 1928 cafe; one gueuze; 40 min.
A 1928 cafe with mirrors, long benches and waiters in white aprons; order a gueuze or kriek, the spontaneous-fermentation beers of the Brussels area.
2 A l'Imaige Nostre-Dame Alley pub off Rue du Marche aux Herbes; 30 min.
Old dark-oak pub tucked at the end of an alley off Rue du Marche aux Herbes, with brass lamps and an unhurried crowd.
3 Au Bon Vieux Temps Tiny 19th-century cafe; 30 min.
A tiny 19th-century cafe up a narrow alley with creaking floors and stained glass, overlooked by most people walking past on Rue du Marche aux Herbes.
4 A la Becasse Down the corridor on Rue de Tabora; 30 min.
Hidden at the end of a narrow corridor off Rue de Tabora, a wood-panelled tavern with communal tables serving lambic and gueuze.
5 Le Cirio Half-en-half by the Bourse; 30 min.
Belle Epoque cafe from 1886 by the old Stock Exchange; the house drink is the 'half-en-half', half sparkling and half white wine.
6 Goupil le Fol Sofas and chanson; 30 min.
A dim, maze-like bar crammed with sofas, old records and French chanson, a block from the Grand-Place.
7 Moeder Lambic Fontainas Finish with rare lambic on Place Fontainas.
Craft-beer bar with over 400 beers and around 40 Belgian draughts, including rare lambics from small producers - where Brussels beer geeks actually drink.
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