Fancy a trip back in time in the Belgian capital? Located opposite the Brussels Stock Exchange, the Falstaff is a café-restaurant created in 1903 by Émile Houbion, a carpenter and collaborator of Victor Horta. A blend of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, this listed building (October 2000) retains much of its original decor. Its woodwork, ornate ceilings and stained-glass windows bear witness to the various stages of expansion carried out between 1906 and 1916. Recent restorations, in 2016 for the stained-glass windows and in 2019 for the parquet floors and ceilings, now allow us to appreciate this historic site.
The Falstaff: a blend of Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture
Like places like La Taverne du Passage and La Fleur en Papier Doré, it’s the architecture of this brasserie that interests us. To find Le Falstaff, head to the first floor of a 19thᵉ century building on rue Henri Maus. Its facade combines rounded shop windows and Art Nouveau stained glass with an Art Deco marquee and vertical sign. A beautiful blend of genres.
The interior retains the original layout of two adjoining rooms, gradually extended to four between 1906 and 1916. The woodwork, glass partitions and ceilings reflect the taste of the Belle Époque, while incorporating elements added during successive restoration campaigns. Listed as a heritage site since 2000, the building is recognized for the historical and aesthetic value of its fittings. A journey into the past awaits us.
A brasserie serving Belgian tradition
Today, Le Falstaff operates as a brasserie-restaurant, frequented by locals and visitors alike. The menu features traditional Belgian dishes such as Flemish carbonade, mussels and French fries, shrimp croquettes and stoemp. The offer also includes vegetarian dishes, served in a setting that preserves the atmosphere of the cafés of the early XXᵉ century.
Even today, the establishment retains continuous activity and welcomes a varied clientele every day, attracted as much by the decor as by the menu. Recently restored to improve its spaces and preserve its decor, the Falstaff remains a benchmark for heritage cafés in Brussels. A must-see if you’re in the heart of Brussels, near the Stock Exchange. And while you’re there, drop in at Cirio – an Art Nouveau brasserie right next door!
📍Rue Henri Maus 19, 1000 Brussels