Au Bon Vieux Temps | Classic Old Brussels Pub

TUCKED AWAY IN AN ALLEYWAY, AU BON VIEUX TEMPS IS TRULY A HIDDEN TREASURE:

The Good Old Days

There’s no shortage of drinking places in Brussels, but if you want something with genuine old world charm, Au Bon Vieux Temps is one such pub that brings back memories of the Good Old Days. Hidden away in the Impasse St. Nicholas alleyway, this quaint and cosy pub has been around for over 300 years and is popular with locals and visitors alike.

A Nice Discovery

We stumbled upon Au Bon Vieux Temps when we were walking from the Brussels Stock exchange to Grand Place.

It’s easy to walk past the brick and stone archway on the Impasse St. Nicholas but Tony must have smelled beer wafting out of the alleyway as he went in to check. A short distance into the alleyway we came to another archway which was the entrance to Au Bon Vieux Temps and were surprised to find a classic old pub with wood paneling and stained glass windows, reminding us very much of old English pubs.

Entrance at Impasse St Nicholas

Cosy Atmosphere

Au Bon Vieux Temps is the kind of small, atmospheric pub that Tony prefers and it’s an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of Brussels. Although it is just off Grand Place, it is not crowded with tourists probably because of it’s hidden location – unless you know of the place, you wouldn’t find it. Set in a building that dates to the 17th century, its dark timber interior with its ornate woodwork and stained glass windows is a feast for the eyes.

A Quiet Drink

As this is only a small pub, don’t expect to find 600 hundred Belgian beer types here. In fact the beer range is quite small, but it includes many Belgian classics and rare Trappist beers like the Westvleteren 12.

We unfortunately didn’t have time to stop for too long at this pub as there was still so much of Brussels we had to cover. But on any return trip to Brussels, this is the kind of place that we would like to visit again. Next door to Au Bon Vieux Temps is A L’Imaige Nostre Dame, another hidden gem that we didn’t have time to check out.