Aksum Coffee House

This is a great cafe located at the Galerie de la Reine in Brussels. The coffee quality is very good and you can tell they are using high quality beans. I also enjoyed a croissant and a few of the pasties which were delicious as well. The place has a great vibe and is a tribute to the African culture with a lot of nice artwork and statues from Africa. Definitely recommend a visit if you are in Brussels.

Sadly, reviews are right. Awful service indeed! We waited over half an hour for a €20 waffle. But it turned out they lost the order 😂 we ended up getting a refund instead. The coffee is also not good. I would go anywhere else in Brussels. Lots of better cafe options elsewhere. It is overpriced and not worth it here! Such a shame for such a beautiful cafe.

I recently visited Brussels and came across Aksum Coffee House—what a gem! The waffles were some of the best I’ve ever had, and the coffee was rich and full of flavor. The staff was super friendly, which made the experience even better. A must-visit if you’re in town!

I stopped by Aksum Café while exploring Brussels, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. The aroma of freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee pulled me in, and the taste didn’t disappoint—rich, smooth, and authentic. The café has a peaceful, cozy vibe, with beautiful decor and friendly staff who were happy to share the story behind the beans. I tried their espresso and a traditional pour-over—both were amazing. If you’re a coffee lover visiting Brussels, Aksum is a must. I’ll definitely return next time I’m in the city.

We were here as a group of around 8 people and found a table without a reservation. The waffles and Chai Latte/coffee were very good, and the prices were reasonable. The only downside was that there was only one staff member at first, who had to call a second person to help serve our group. It took quite a while. I would definitely recommend having at least two people handling orders, especially for a café on a main street in the city center. Nevertheless, the food and drinks were amazing — so still full stars from me!

Lovely café in the middle of the arcade, it’s a nice little respite from all the shoppers and tourists at the Grand Place. They have a great variety of coffees, teas, specialty coffees and desserts. I like the seating availability (inside the café or “outside” at the arcade so you can watch other shoppers go by). This place has a great relaxed vibe in a touristy area. Service was great, and coffees were hot and amazing. The staff made us feel very welcome, and we were greeted with big smiles. There were enough patrons but not too crowded. Highly recommend.

☕✨ Coffee with soul, in the heart of Brussels 🇧🇪 Stepped into Aksum Coffee today — a gem tucked inside the historic Galeries Royales. From the moment you walk in, the warmth of Ethiopian heritage blends seamlessly with the aroma of freshly roasted beans. Their Harar blend? Bold, floral, and unforgettable. The pastry display is a feast in itself, and the latte art? A gentle reminder to slow down and savour the moment. Aksum isn’t just a coffee shop. It’s a celebration of culture, craftsmanship, and comfort. If you’re ever in Brussels, do yourself a favour — take a seat by the window, order a cup, and let time pause. 🌍💛 #Brussels #AksumCoffee #CoffeeLovers #HiddenGems #EthiopianCoffee #CafeVibes #TravelMoments

Good coffee! The waffle was nothing special, but still delicious. We ordered three cappuccinos and a glass of tap water on the side, but either the server forgot or they don’t provide it. Expect it to be overpriced. However, the atmosphere is really nice for chilling and relaxing.

fantastic coffee and great service! The pastries are good too, busy so you might need to wait.

Nice relaxing great ambiance coffee shop. Friendly entertaining baristas. Decor is great. I love how I don't smell like stinky coffee after I leave the shop like how starbucks coffee shop in the USA. I bought some of their coffee beans. Great place to lounge.

Just a great coffee shop in Brussels. I was skeptical given it's in the heart of a very touristy area. But the coffee and the ambience are just great. It went on my list as must return to. Inside is nicer than outside if you don't want the tourist parade.

The lungo coffee was good. The barista recommended it to me. , plus the cake divers was yummy. The ambiance was nice and the barista was nice too. Yes will recommend to friends.

This coffee shop is the vibe! If you are not immediately drawn by it's cohesive and attractive decor, then I don't know what moves you. The coffee shop has beautiful original photos on its walls, showcasing the artistic taste of its owner. The seating is lush, colorful and so very relaxing. We ordered a cappuccino and a matcha, both were pleasing to the eye, and the taste buds. The service was fast and friendly. This is a place I can come to over and over again, if I lived in Brussels.

Ethiopian Iced coffee Classic plain Belgian waffle The vibes and aesthetics here are hipster but immaculate. Prices are alright for the area.

I thought Aksum Coffee House had good coffee, great pastries, and pretty good waffles! It was a good place to come and get some work done, as well as people watch a bit. The staff were friendly, the environment was nice, and sitting in a little European coffee shop doing work was such a vibe. I liked my experience here so much, I came twice! Would recommend anyone to stop by if they're in the area!

A coffee house? Yes, this truly is a coffee house. I had limited time walking down the gallery and needed something quick. I went in thinking they gotta serve some variety of waffles and perhaps even some chocolates. I was wrong! It's a real coffee house! So many different kinds of coffee to choose from! My bad for assuming every single shop in Brussels has to serve waffles and chocolates. Again, a one woman show kind of business! There was a lady making coffee, taking orders, and cleaning up. I ordered two mini chocolate waffles (1.5 euro each) and a soda. I had to wait awhile for her to bring out the waffles because she was busy serving other customers who were behind me in line. I had to ask the waffles served in a to go bag because I was short on time. She actually gave me 3 waffles instead 2 and told me she felt bad about the wait. So sweet! Free WiFi for the win. If you have ever lived in Europe or traveled in this part of the world before, you know not to take free WiFi for granted. Good for a rest stop, catching up with friends, or grabbing a cup of coffee!

They specialize in Ethiopian coffee. Their place is cute & hipster-like and located perfectly in a shopping area. I stopped by in January so the warmth of the store was a nice welcome from the chilly frost from winter's weather. Their latte (in my opinion) had more milk than espresso so the ratio was a bit off. Their latte tasted more like a warm milk drink. Their American would have been great of their coffee wasn't so acidic. I love black coffee but not when it tastes too sour. It felt like I was drinking coffee that has sat out and cooled down in the January air. Mehhh... Skip their Americano.

Ambiance is great. Very relaxing and central Location. High quality snacks and pasties.

Fantastic waffles, quiche and coffee!!!! Lovely atmosphere and they open earlier than most coffee places too. Love this cafe!

When they bring your coffee to your table in a glass, that should be a sign this isn't going to be good. It started to downpour so everybody ran to the galleria so they wouldn't get wet, needless to say 20 people came into the coffee shop to gett warmed up until it quit raining, and the poor staff was hit hard with a long line of customers. This shouldn't be an excuse for terrible coffee. Way too much milk with little bit of coffee, this was not a true cappuccino, not more than a latte, which I didn't want, or I would have ordered one. Very bitter after taste. I won't be coming back here it's that bad.

Rainy day in Brussels I decided to come in for a latte to warm me up. The coffee house was cute with a few tables and seating outside, order than sit down where they will bring your order to you. Coffee here was horrible. European coffee is a hit or miss for me, this place was a definite miss.

It was a nice and pleasant surprise to see Ethiopian coffee represented in such a nice way. The coffee was great, the staff were knowledgeable and helpful

I came because there was a place I could sit after a long day of walking. The plus side to this place is that there is an option of indoor or outside seating. People like it outside because it is in the hallway of the nice looking touristy gallery. Inside there are more tables where you can sit, relax and even work on your computer. The one thing I disliked about the place is the coffee. Everything else is pretty good. The pastries, the selection of juice/water/soda,... So given that it is a coffee place, I am sticking with 2 stars. For those interested, the house coffee is a light to medium roast. My complaint about the espresso I got was that it was too watery and the portions do not seem consistent. The person next to me ordered the same thing and it looks like hers was only half the amount of what I got. I actually might have preferred that. The service is somewhat mixed as well. They are understaffed and I understand how they can get exasperated with customers, but at the end, they have to handle the pressure or perhaps tell management to get more people.

I would highly recommend coming here. Very good and moderately priced cappuccino. Very quick, pleasant staff, great atmosphere. If you're a espresso connoisseur, you'll be at home!

There's just not that much to say about this coffee shop except that it's a great place to sit for a coffee and people watch. The prime location gives it a fourth star. Otherwise, just a coffee shop with expectedly decent coffee.

It's so freaking cold outside, just coming inside and so happy to find this coffee shop for breakfast. Walked in and about to order, the girl at the counter said " Sorry, I can't take any order right now cause I have to prepare order for customers and will take a long time. If you want to come back 20 minutes later ". Ok, understand. We walked out try to find other breakfast place then. Unlucky that all other places around seems to be packed of people. After an hour we walked back to this place for 2nd chance. Got a seat, I went back to order and all I want is just a coffee and croissant. There's a man with 3 kids in front of me. When he start to order , the girl said " I can't take any order at this time cause I'm still doing order for other customer, if you want come back later ".. What the heck .. I just take my coat and get out. I was getting a little grumpy. I can't believe how hard to just get a coffee in this touristic area. Oh well, good luck with your business. I don't know how good the coffee here but the service is really turn me off. Aurevoir..

You had me at free wifi. I was walking though the gallery trying not to stop in every chocolate shop with my laptop in tow looking for a place to get some work done. When I peaked in I saw a really welcoming shop with plenty of tables in the back. So even though the sign announcing free wifi made me stop, I am really glad I did. I got a rooibos tea and worked for a couple hours at one of the tables in the back. During my visit, I saw lots of people come and go. Locals and tourists alike. Everyone was treated with the same kindness the barista showed me. My French is a work in progress. I'm conversational at best and really only after I've been in a French speaking country for a couple of days. So, I really appreciated her non-judgement on my ability to speak French as she quickly switched to English. The coffee shop also has a few things to nibble on including brownies and rice cakes. Aksum is a great place for the weary traveler to take a break or for the local to grab a quality cup of tea or coffee.

Great coffee/tea stop in beautiful Brussels Centrale. Great music and good coffee/tea and a nice warm space to regroup before hitting the shops!

The place is absolutely lovely, the staff is decent but the coffee tastes like liquid newspaper. The hot chocolate is not too bad but basically it's a small bit of chocolate bits melted into warm milk.

It was what what you'd expect from a cafe in a touristy location. The coffee and pastries were slightly higher price than you pay further from the city center but didn't mind since it was a nice view. Because they get swamped with tourists, service was a bit slow but again, nothing more than expected.

We stumbled upon this amazing cafe. The BEST coffee. Smooth, delicious, and flavorful. The staff is also incredibly friendly and the ambiance is peaceful.

This place was amazing. The best coffee I had in Belgium by far. With many different roast to choose from I highly recommend stopping by.

very cute coffee cafe, however it did seem a little over priced and the service was very slow. it took almost 20 minutes to get my cappuccino, but the barista did seem quite busy so seems like a result of them being understaffed. the wifi also only worked half the time

Coffee was good, friendly service, good location & free WiFi. Nice atmosphere and plenty of space to have a seat and chill. They have the menu in the counter.

Excellent service, treated me like family. The food was delicious- the soup was an unexpected treat, too!

Americano was good. Free WiFi is a plus. Lots of tables. Lacks power outlets. Had to wait for over 10 mins to place an order and get a coffee in the morning. Only one person worked here but the place was busy.

It's the most horrible place I've been to within over 10 years of living in Brussels. I came for the first (and definitely the last time) on a December Sunday after lunchtime. First, the place is very dirty (used napkins, pieces of cake on the floor and the tables). The tables are sticky but the staff doesn't bother to wipe them off or remove dirty napkins and other rubbish left by previous clients. I ordered a tea and I paid 4.95 euro which is a rip-off for a tea from a teabag. By the way, the selection of teas (or infusions to be exact) is very limited (less than 5 different types). I got the teabag when paying at the counter. The hot water arrived only 20 minutes later. The cup I got had a piece of cake sticking to it on the outer side and lots of stains and fluffs from a towel inside. I asked the lady bringing the water "Could you please give me another cup because this one is dirty?" When I showed her the sticky cake she replied "But this is on the outside". Then I said "It's also dirty inside and, by the way, even if it was dirty only outside, do you think it would be ok to ask me to drink from it?" She was insisting that the cup was dirty only on the outside. Finally, I said "If I pay 5 euro for a tea, I think I have the right to drink it from a clean cup". Then she said I could by more respectful. Wake up, woman! I asked you politely more than once so you could have just brought another cup rather than getting into a fight on whether the cup was dirty enough to be changed. I can stand high prices and slow service if the quality of food/beverages is fine and the staff is reasonably professional. But EXPENSIVE, FILTHY PLACE WITH SLUGGISH SERVICE AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND RUDE STAFF is too much! TO BE AVOIDED!