L'Imaige Nostre-Dame, Brussels

Tucked away at the end of a long, narrow alleyway just a few steps from the wonderful St-Nicolas Church and not far from La Bourse, this popular beer bar doesn't have any windows or doors inviting you, but the wide variety of high-quality domestic beer together with medieval charm and speedy service makes it well worth visiting. It's a no-nonsense kind of place that's there for gathering rather than impressing, yet the decor is very rustic-feeling and eclectic; what it lacks in elegance it makes up in character, and one could spend quite some time simply looking around. Both inside and outside, the atmosphere is easy-going and special indeed – you can often (from Thursday to Sunday) hear live music, and it doesn't take long for the courtyard to get filled with a friendly, colorful crowd of Brussels locals.

Definitely worth a look if you want something off the beaten path, with some great, well-served Belgian beers on tap (including "La Malheur"). The only downside: it's cash-only, but that seems to be the usual practice in Brussels.