Au Bon Vieux Temps, Brussels
Serving customers since 1695, Au Bon Vieux Temps (“The Good Old Times”), located just minutes from the Grand Place, is among the four legendary alleyway taverns in Brussels (along with À la Bécasse, L’Imaige Nostre-Dame, and Toone). Duck beneath the statue of the bishop and enter a bygone age: dark wood tables and chairs, a beautiful fireplace, stained glass windows, as well as great decor and furnishings – including a great-looking little serving bar, and beer-advertising enamels adorning the walls.
Despite the relatively cramped interior, there are lots of seating options throughout, and one can enjoy a nice selection of all the classic premium beers – including the rare Westvleteren (10.2% ABV, yellow cap), brewed by Trappist monks and frequently cited as the best that Belgium has to offer. For such a distinctive location, prices are quite reasonable (at €15/bottle, the Westvleteren here is actually lower than most places), so definitely check this place out if you are into historic bars and great beer, while keeping your service expectations on par with other Belgian establishments.
Tip:
No cards accepted, so make sure to have plenty of bills on hand. Secondly, if you want to use the toilet, note that the bartender needs to unlock the door (by pressing a button under the counter). Thirdly, as a beer alternative, consider ordering the Picon Vin Blanc, a unique local cocktail normally drunk as an aperitief.
Despite the relatively cramped interior, there are lots of seating options throughout, and one can enjoy a nice selection of all the classic premium beers – including the rare Westvleteren (10.2% ABV, yellow cap), brewed by Trappist monks and frequently cited as the best that Belgium has to offer. For such a distinctive location, prices are quite reasonable (at €15/bottle, the Westvleteren here is actually lower than most places), so definitely check this place out if you are into historic bars and great beer, while keeping your service expectations on par with other Belgian establishments.
Tip:
No cards accepted, so make sure to have plenty of bills on hand. Secondly, if you want to use the toilet, note that the bartender needs to unlock the door (by pressing a button under the counter). Thirdly, as a beer alternative, consider ordering the Picon Vin Blanc, a unique local cocktail normally drunk as an aperitief.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Brussels. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Au Bon Vieux Temps on Map
Sight Name: Au Bon Vieux Temps
Sight Location: Brussels, Belgium (See walking tours in Brussels)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Brussels, Belgium (See walking tours in Brussels)
Sight Type: Food/Drink
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Brussels, Belgium
Create Your Own Walk in Brussels
Creating your own self-guided walk in Brussels is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
The European Quarter Walking Tour
Along with Luxembourg and Strasbourg, Brussels is one of the European Union’s de facto capitals. The office blocks of the European Quarter are mainly concentrated along and between two wide boulevards – rue de la Loi and rue Belliard – which Léopold II built to connect his Parc du Cinquantenaire with the city center.
Begin your exploration with the EU’s most symbolic construction, the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Begin your exploration with the EU’s most symbolic construction, the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Brussels Introduction Walking Tour
Nowadays a major center for international politics, the capital of Belgium, Brussels, is often referred to as the "Crossroads of Europe". Indeed, nestled at the heart of the continent, this city has a history closely linked to that of Western Europe. Repeatedly changing hands between various duchies, empires, republics, and kingdoms, it has evolved from a small rural settlement to an... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Brussels Beer Tour
Belgians are not very prone to boasting, except with things such as chocolate, fries and, evidently, beer. They treat beer the way the French treat wine: for the makers, it's a prized art; for the drinkers, it is something to be savored and discussed. They say that, on average, Belgians drink 150 liters of beer per year per person, and one would often see them sipping it from early in the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Chocolate Tour in Brussels
Belgium is considered one of, if not the, best producer of chocolate in the world. The country's capital, Brussels abounds in opportunities to taste more than 2,000 different varieties of this delectable treat. There is a plethora of chocolate shops in the city which offer chocolates of all imaginable shapes, sizes and colors.
Planète Chocolat’s chocolate-making demonstration make a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Planète Chocolat’s chocolate-making demonstration make a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Brussels Historical Churches Walking Tour
As well as being Belgium’s political and cultural capital, Brussels is the spiritual home of its most significant churches. Historically, the city has been predominantly Roman Catholic, especially since the expulsion of Protestants in the 16th century. The pre-eminent Catholic temple here, located just a couple of minutes from the Grand-Place, is the Brabantine Gothic Cathedral of St. Michael... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Mont Des Arts Cultural Walk
Mont des Arts, meaning "hill of the arts", is one of the most important cultural sites in Brussels. A classic among the city’s vantage points, it offers a fine city garden and restored showcase of architecture, in addition to several great museums.
Start your journey by traveling towards the old part of the city, where you’ll find the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, greatly admired... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Start your journey by traveling towards the old part of the city, where you’ll find the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, greatly admired... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
What to Buy in Brussels: 15 Ideas for Travelers
It's no secret that Brussels is not all about JCVD muscles and EU headquarters. Small country as such, Belgium abounds in signature items, such as beer, chocolates and... the peeing boy. All of these have made prime Belgian souvenirs for years. Now you can explore the Brussels gift scene in...
Belgian Beer Tour of Brussels
Belgium is world-renowned for its beers and Brussels is the best city to sample the huge variety of flavors. We'll show you the best places to buy them and to drink them. We'll even show you a family brewery where the liquid gold is produced right in front of your eyes! This tour is meant...