In Brussels, people have long enjoyed decent coffee without giving it a second thought. Then a new generation of roasters set up shop —in Sainte-Catherine, Ixelles, and Saint-Gilles—and specialty coffee became a serious business, with traceable origins, lighter roasts, and baristas who ask you what you like. Here are six spots in Brussels, and what each one does better than the rest.
Corica, the roastery that’s been in business since 1850
It’s the oldest by far. Corica is a family-run roastery that has been located since 1850 at 49 Rue du Marché aux Poulets, just a stone’s throw from the Grand Place. Inside, you’ll find about twenty coffee grinders lined up, an Italian-style counter, and baristas who offer advice to both the curious and the purist alike. A sure bet: a Sidamo lungo from Ethiopia, for around €3, served with a cookie. The shop also sells coffee machines and beans to go, if the cup wins you over. Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10 a.m. on Saturdays, closed on Sundays.
Aksum Coffee House, the roastery tucked away in a shopping arcade
This is the most unlikely spot on this list. Aksum Coffee House is located at 3 Galerie du Roi, right in the heart of the Royal Saint-Hubert Gallery, and roasts beans sourced from certified organic Ethiopian farms in the back of the shop. It’s also the only one on this list that stays open until 9 p.m.—making it a great late-night spot rather than just a lunch break. An unexpected bonus: the menu features African beverages you won’t find anywhere else in the city, from baobab juice to Senegalese tea and Ethiopian beer. Open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
MOK, the go-to spot for purists
If you talk about your cup of coffee the way others talk about wine, this is the place for you. MOK has been roasting its own beans since 2012 using a Probat roaster, with a roast profile tailored to each specific coffee—in other words, nothing is mass-produced. The main location is at 196 Rue Antoine Dansaert, and the company has opened a second location, the MOK Studio, at 36–38 Rue Saint-Laurent. The Dansaert location is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends; the Studio is open Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wide Awake: Two Locations for Two Very Different Experiences
Wide Awake had the good sense not to duplicate its concept. The Sainte-Catherine location, at 2 Rue Sainte-Catherine, is the main one: an extensive coffee menu, pastries, lunch specials —the kind of place where you can settle in for an entire morning with your laptop. The Flagey location, at 34 Rue Lesbroussart in Ixelles, on the other hand, embraces the espresso bar format: you walk in, have a drink, and leave. Choose based on how much time you have. Sainte-Catherine: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekends. Flagey: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekends.
Café Capitale, the one that never closes
The selling point of Café Capitale, at 45 Rue du Midi, can be summed up in two words: seven days a week. On-site roasting , homemade pastries, milk served in reusable bottles—and above all, the certainty of finding the doors open on a Sunday in November, which in Brussels is no small matter. Open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8:30 a.m. on weekends.
Belga & Co, for those who start early
Last on the list, and the earliest to open. Belga & Co opens its doors at 7 a.m. on weekdays at 2 Avenue Brugmann in Saint-Gilles — it’s the go-to spot for those who start their day before everyone else. A long-established Brussels roaster, the shop serves a highly sought-after oat-based flat white and homemade pastries, with carrot cake and granola leading the way. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
