Brussels has a wealth of heritage treasures in every corner of the city. La Fleur en Papier Doré – an emblematic café nestled in a 17thᵉ century house – is one of them, transporting you into a timeless atmosphere. Today, this preserved place offers a space where conviviality, culture and artistic memory intermingle. The listed walls, covered with over 400 works of art and aphorisms, bear witness to the work of major artists such as Magritte, Hergé and Brel.
From the historic hall to the garden, via the veranda and the auditorium, the unaltered décor and eclectic programming make the “Goudblommeke in Papier” a living reference. Having endured closures and rebirths, the bar now shines thanks to its loyal community and recent international distinction. We come here to read, debate, listen to a concert or simply soak up this unique heritage… Shall we take you there?
La Fleur en Papier Doré: a surrealist haunt steeped in history
Behind its simple, ornate façade, La Fleur en Papier Doré defies time and invites you to travel back in time. The café’s walls are entirely covered with 418 works, photographs, texts and objects carefully assembled by Gérard van Bruaene, the place’s creator. There are also aphorisms inscribed in his own hand on the plaster.
The entire décor, which has been listed since 1997, is protected and cannot be altered. We stroll among the wall quotations and period furniture, immersed in the spirit of the place where Magritte, Jacques Brel and Hergé crossed their destinies. In addition to Magritte, a key figure in the Surrealist movement, the estaminet also became a meeting place for members of the Cobra movement, including Dotremont, Alechinsky and Pol Bury.
However, this historic venue has twice come close to disappearing. In 2006 and again in 2022, La Fleur en Papier Doré went bankrupt but was bought out, prolonging its existence. Since the end of May 2023, Het Goudblommeke in Paper has closed its kitchen to become once again a café where you can meet, read, listen to concerts or take part in conferences. An economic choice that seems to be bearing fruit.
A century-old bar rewarded and enlarged
In January 2025, La Fleur en Papier Doré was named best bar in Europe by The European Bar Guide, with an exceptional score of 9.7 out of 10. Since 2007, the café has expanded under a veranda in its rear courtyard. There’s now an auditorium and premises in the adjoining building, once home to Belgium’s first Communist Party in the 1920s.
Occasionally, the venue hosts readings, concerts or meetings, all in keeping with the exceptional heritage assembled by Van Bruaene. For day-trippers and connoisseurs alike, this bar is much more than a meeting place: it’s an authentic Brussels experience!