À La Mort Subite

I have been there on 20th Dec. 2025 for lunch. Tables worn by time and wear. The place was historic, with an old-fashioned architectural style, very very beautiful. The food was well prepared and the portions were generous for both savory and sweet. We will go back as soon as possible with our friends. I recommend it.

This is the worst food I’ve ever had! It’s way too expensive. The wine they served wasn’t even authentic, and it’s cheaper in the supermarket. 😓😓 The horse meat was almost raw and bloody, and the beef stew was too sweet. I feel like I completely wasted my money. On top of that, the female waiter was very rude.

Beautiful and authentic Belgian bistro/restaurant and bar. Beer was fantastic. Food was honest and delicious. The service cheeky but very welcoming and quick!

An old establishment with a lot of history. It was nice to come.and try their beer. The prices are a little too high and the beer was not as cold as expected. The service can be better.

A la Mort Subite in Brussels is on the map; it’s well-known and frequented by locals and tourists alike. At more than 115 years old, this Brussels institution has a history of welcoming writers, those in business and more. Go there to step back in time and admire the tall ceilings and the old posters adorning the walls. Have a kriek (cherry beer), or any other beer or glass of wine. Beers can be served in three sizes. Speaking of sizes, the food portions are respectable including when you order a portion of bread (for a small fee) - the slices of bread are gigantic. The team working at A La Mort Subite are used to the crowds and do their best to find empty tables / seats for those just entering and they are prompt with delivering orders. For the nostalgia, the beer and the food, definitely visit A La Mort Subite in historic Brussels.

An old place in Brussels city center that’s been around for 100 years. The vintage interior, with its weathered tables and chairs, makes its age immediately apparent. But it seems to have lost some of the old-world charm and courtesy it once embodied. The wait staff are indifferent—and worse, they seem downright miserable. I don't expect anyone to fall at my feet and butter me up but you’d think a smile wouldn’t be too much to ask. Maybe it’s a cultural difference, but at these prices, you’d naturally expect better service. Food and beers are overpriced compared to elsewhere. Not worth the cash or the attitude. Just snap a photo and bounce.

A few days back, we found ourselves once again drawn to the timeless charm of À La Mort Subite, one of Brussels' most iconic beer cafés. Known for its classic Belgian atmosphere, rich wooden interiors, and an impressive selection of traditional brews. Hapkin (on tap) A strong blond ale poured with a golden glow and a creamy head, it delivered subtle hints of citrus, spice, and a smooth malty backbone. Chimay (on tap) Chimay Red, which brought deep notes of dried fruits, caramel, and a touch of spice. Rodenbach (from the bottle) Flemish red-brown ale, with its characteristic sweet-and-sour profile, had subtle hints of oak, and berries. Refreshing, and uniquely Belgian. Dessert: Tiramisu All Around To round things off, tiramisu was unanimously chosen — and rightfully so. The place is located well but the service was too slow. Recommended only for beer tasting not the food.

We were a group of around 8 people and still managed to get a table for all of us. The food tasted really good – I had the salmon quiche. The prices are on the higher side, but as a tourist in Brussels, I can't say for sure if that's typical for the city. Nice place with a good selection of Belgian beer and snacks. What I find really strange and inappropriate is that, as a group, we were not allowed to split the bill — we had to sort it out among ourselves. For this point, minus one star.

Like stepping back in time. If you've ever been to McSorley's in NYC, you'll have an idea of what it feels like in here. Locals who come to talk, and regulars who make this place their meeting spot. Not much has changed over the past 96 years. Even the marble stairts are worn from countless footfalls. A great place to grab a light bite (i.e. lunch). We ordered the kriek and peche beers, the quiche Lorraine, soup du jour, and a cannibale (steak tartar) sandwich. Very old school, very traditional. Food and drinks were solid. Nothing spectacular, but exactly what we were hoping for.

As I read the reviews I want to scream. It's a bar. For beer. Specifically for Morte Subite beers. The food is secondary. You go there to drink and maybe get a snack while you drink. The Morte Subite beers are all on tap. And they have a selection of bottled beer. Coffee or tea if that's what you need/want. So ignore all the morons who complained about the food or the number of beers, etc. Go there if you want a good lambic beer on tap. The Morte Subite brand is pretty good. MUCH BETTER than many other. Enjoy the architecture and maybe read about the history about how this place got its name. And ignore the morons who wrote the 1, 2, and 3 star reviews. They have no idea what is going on.

Classic really old time bistro/pub. Great beer, loved the Grimbergen in particular. Service is good. BUT, the food is really sub-par. The Croque Monsieur was 2 pieces of ordinary white bread with one very thin slice of ham and a similar slice of cheese, and no dressing.

On the one hand it's a stunning interior, much like an old hotel from the 1950s or such. It's beautiful and quaint with the menu showing up on mirrors on the wall. Waiters are in formal white like a classic steakhouse. It's an interesting experience. That being said, for being a classy spot in Belgium, I would've hoped for more beers on draft and a wider variety of bottles. They had the four major Belgian trappists in bottles and a Westmalle & Chimay on tap, but the menu felt surprisingly limited. Especially when it included things like Guinness and Heineken. Prices were also not cheap. I would say easily 1-2 euro more than anywhere else we got beer in Brussels. I was rather disappointed actually

A busy locals' spot in a historic building. Perfect for drinks and snacks. We had a fun happy hour. Pate' was great. Meat and cheese tray was good too. We left happy.

A very old bar with lots of very good choices for Belgian beer, but I'd suggest getting their own lambic as you'll not find it anywhere else. Yum! Yes, it's a little touristy but this IS the tourist district of bruxelles. They do have some decent looking nibbles.

Imagine a Belgium brasserie in days gone by. With waiters in formal dress with neatly laundered & pressed aprons. Food & drinks delivered to you with respect that you'll only see at five star restaurants... That's what you'll experience here. The place is like it's stuck in the 50s. With the decor matching the style of the staff. I enjoyed the place. It's nice to get away from 2017 every now & then. Obviously they serve their own beers. The fruity ones I feel are the best of the brands I've tried. My wife will offer a differing opinion, but she always does.

We were out and about in Brussels seeing the sites decided to have a drink before dinner. I found A la Mort Subite on Yelp and it was close to our hotel. The restaurant interior as you may expect has what you would expect in an old French bistro/bar. It has a well worn but quaint interior including a mirror that has the main (or in another time the only) menu items and their up to date prices. There is outside seating as well on the street which is common for a lot of bars/eating establishments. After reviewing a some what limited menu of beers ordered a Gueuze Sur Lie and my wife had a Coke Zero. The gueuze was tart but smooth with slightly acidic after taste. The waiter we had was some what surly and left us alone after ordering and we went thru the flagging him down for the check. Beverages 3.5 Limited selection, that I would of liked to have and would not go back. Atmosphere 3.5 Well worn French pub/bar. Some people may like it if it was a first timer. Service 2.5 Not much to say other than attitude was not great and certainly not what we typically experienced in our travels. Price 3.5 Prices were in range. OA 3 There are better bars, this was one of the few places that did not have the brewery glass to match the beer you ordered a delightful practice in Europe.

This place looks right out of a movie: tall ceilings with lots of mirrors and wooden tables and chairs. The servers look the role in their crisp white and black suits and they play the role, too. The woman who served us was very impatient and practically scoffed at us several times. The beer selection is good, though, and they brew their own lambic flavored fruit beers. We did not eat, but at the table next to us the salads and croque monsieurs look great. Also, the rest of the vibe is convivial; it's worth stopping and having a drink as long as you know that the servers are not friendly.

A la Mort Subite is a large, old-fashioned, kind of touristy bar. There are plenty of tables, and it wasn't too crowded on a Tuesday after work. I didn't think the inside was that much to look at, but it does seem like a great place to try several different styles of Belgian beer. There's a good but limited beer menu, as well as some other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Based on the other reviews, I didn't order a full meal here, but I did snack on a very average salami and cheese plate, which I would easily order again if I had to come back and had as strong of a beer. Service was surprisingly good and fast. Bathrooms were very clean. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way for this place, but the location is convenient, so I will probably be back at some point.

Cool atmosphere, older place, and although this is a touristy area, quite a few locals were there. We just had beer, but the waiter was rather condescending. We were friendly and even tried A little Dutch and French, he only to get "The Look" followed by average at beat service. Don't want to condemn the place based on one waiter and experience, but as the expression go's...... "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression"

When we went it was empty then slowly got packed. Beer was pretty good, maybe a bit expensive. Nice place near grand central to sit down and have a drink.

The bar doesn't play music, doesn't have wifi and doesn't have tv but they do do great beer. A bit of a tourist trap but not in a bad way. It's a beautiful Art Deco bar with lots of interesting decorations. If it opened now it'd probably be accused of being a hipster bar but it works and seems historic. The drinks menu is extensive and the staff are happy to recommend things if you're not sure what to try. The warm wine was delicious and the perfect drink after a winter walk around the city centre. They have an excellent selection of beers too. They serve a small selection food which we didn't try but it looked good.

Probably my favorite beer hall in the city. First off: This is not a proper restaurant, even if there is food on the menu. Come here for beers and maybe some snacks (I enjoy a side of gouda). Don't come here expecting to have a proper three-course meal with a waiter ducking in to check you every five minutes. I enjoy ducking in during the afternoon or the evening and reading or having drinks with my boyfriend when he's in town. The building itself is beautiful and looks very old-world. It has a rundown-chic vibe going for it and looks like something out of time. There are no big distractions -- no WiFi or TVs showing a football match or live music -- so the focus can be on the beer and the company. The beer menu specializes in lambics, namely Gueuze and Kriek beers. You'll also find the usual Belgian standbys (Orval, Duvel, Chimay, Westmalle) and a few that are slightly harder to find in other bars (my favorite is the Grimbergen dark, and having it with a plate of cubed gouda is one of life's simple pleasures). They also have wines, some foreign beers (think Guinness and Carlsberg) and spirits, plus non-alcoholic drinks. Prices are a bit higher than comparable places but the bar is well-known enough and well-located enough (an arcade path on the opposite street will take you almost to the Grand Place area) that the price premium is just baked in. The service varies a lot depending on which server you have. The service is always good but some servers are friendlier/bubblier than others. I've never had a problem getting initial service, getting my beer in good time or asking for the bill. They have it down to a science (often filling a tray with 3-4 tables' worth of beer orders) and it's amazing that they can keep it all straight. I'd call this a must-stop if you're visiting Brussels, whether you're into beer or not. It's an experience.

There were 1,428,362,862 people trying to get seats outside this historic pub. I got a seat (I just pushed the German grandmas outta the way) and had mort subite white beers (1/2 pints). The waiter was quick and dropped the beers and the check off at the same time. Across the street, you can watch the chicks rent and get on their version of Citibike, while wearing short skirts. Its mad hectic on this block...so be prepared.

We loved our visit to A La Mort Subite. As you enter, you can feel the history of all of the visitors. I really liked the atmosphere and loved our beers. My favorite was the Pecheresse, a delicious Peach Lambic.

I stopped in this place while exploring Brussels and after reading about it on Trip Advisor. I left wondering why it received such outstanding reviews then realized, crap, it's a tourist bar. Yes, the location is superb. Yes, the beer offerings are great. I am a huge fan of lambic beer since trying it a the ripe old age of 19 (I have yet to meet a university student in the States who adheres to the age 21 drinking law) so I immediately ordered a Raspberry Lambic. Yum! The place was full of other tourists, the service a tad slow because of this, but overall, a good place to sit down for a spell and drink a bit.

The gueuze they have made for them was tasty and the cheese plate was nice. If your into Belgium beer and nearby, its worth a stop.

I loved this nice and cozy place, it's not too far from the Grand Place, but still feels perfectly far from the too touristy places. Don't get me wrong, we were not the only tourists, but locals were there too, which added a better vibe. Do try some of the beers in the "Mort Subite" category for a special, fruity experience.

A definite must visit for a least a beer. On our week long trip to Belgium we stopped in here since it was listed in a guide book to try. The first time we stopped by I thought the guide book got it wrong. We decided to stop by several days later as we were walking by. I am glad we did . I am not sure but it was whole lot better the second time around. It was busier with more tourist who came in for a beer or two then left. My friend and I sat around for several hours trying different beers and actually talking. Skip the food and stick to the cheese and sausage. I can see how many of these places use to exist around town for locals to gather, share a beer, and talk.

Well, this is an odd place, visited twice on a weekend trip to Brussels. In the early/late afternoon both times, and it wasn't busy either time. There is table service which is still a novelty for the Irish (drinker), but will keep our American brethren happy (no offence meant). The waiters are friendly, maybe a little bit too much so, one guy - jokingly? - wrote his number on the back of a beer mat when I asked for the bill. The interior is very old fashioned and is kind of Victorian/Parisian in style. Hasn't been changed since I reckon, the ceiling is mustard yellow from years of smoke stains. The selection of beers is not as vast as some other bars/cafes in Brussels, but they cater for most tastes. According to Wikipedia the Mort Subite Beer takes its name from this café. I had a pint of it, and I enjoyed, beware I had tasted it before and knew what to expect, but the flavour is not for the faint of heart. This beer is after all brewed in open barges on the Senne River; where the bacteria lend itself to give the unique flavour. Perhaps if this scares you try one of the fruit beers, Lambic (cherry) or Frambose (raspberry). Worth a visit in my book, but whatever you do, don't move the tables out of line ! Check out my photo which I have attached (Blue T-Shirt) to see the pint of beer.

To me, this is Brussels personified. It's also a perfect spot to sit outside, enjoy a beer and people watch on a sunny afternoon. The Mort Subite Lambic white (draught) is a perfect compliment to a warm summer's day. I didn't try the food (based on previous Yelp reviews) but it's ideal if you're in between meals and looking to relax for a while. The prices are outstanding for the quality of the beers they offer; in the states you can't get Chimay for less than $8 a bottle, whereas here a half-pint of Chimay Blond is only about 4€.

One of our first stops in Brussels, it was the perfect place for a drink and to take in some of the local ambiance. Terrific service despite the large crowd, and a fabulous selection of beer. A great place to head for a mid-afternoon or pre-dinner break.

100+ year old spot for fantastic and varied Belgian beers and excellent snacks. A must-visit on any trip to Brussels, Belgium.

A la mort subite is a great place to have a Belgian snack and a Belgian beer! It is also a beautiful place to hang for a quick lunch. The menu got you covered with everything from cheese to salad, omelette to paté, and other Belgian speciality. Just 4 stars out of 5 because our waitress forgot us and we had to wait, but she was very nice about it.

Coming out of Yelp retirement to document this extremely subpar experience. I can't believe I wasted a night of dining at this place. Does it have ambiance? Absolutely. And I expected them to be riding off of that ambiance and reputation a little bit. But not this much. I ordered a croque monsieur and it was the worst. Store bought mass produced bread with a little cheese and ham in between pressed into a panini machine. On the side was soggy iceberg lettuce and gherkins. It is one of the worst sandwiches I've ever ordered, and in Brussels no less! I asked for a waffle, which was on the menu. "Sorry, we haven't made waffles for a long time," was the response. "We should really take that off the menu. A complete con. You can do so much better.

A pretty enough pub, with a good selection of beers. But as it's a Belgian pub, you'd expect that. I don't really remember everything of note, so I can only say it was average.

Incredible beer selection! Don't leave without trying the blanc mort subite. Also absolutely beautiful period decor, feels like a trip back to the 1920s. If you're an American like me don't be scared to wave or make eye contact to get the attention of a waiter. They have a very hands off vibe even for Europe. But yeah wouldn't let a visit to Brussels go by without stopping here, especially if you're a Belgian beer lover.

Divine beer haven and home to some delicious kriek. The space is beautiful with dark wood and various narrow rectangular tables to fill up the high cielinged space. The staff are dressed up in black and white suites, older guys, that make it truly feel like an old-time brasserie. For beer lovers, very much suggested between wandering points while in Brussels.

The selection of beer and food is limited, bit what they do well they do very well. The Gueze will be served almost warm, but that is the way this was intended. If you want a similar beer that is not as sour go with the Faro.

You can almost feel the history of the place. Great beer cafe with Art Deco interior. Given the name, I expected something a lot more dreary/dark. But this light and airy cafe surprised me. Cafeteria-style seating with nondescript tables and chairs that can easily be clustered together. I love the drink selection scrawled on the aged mirrors and the servers with attitude. We came on a Sunday night, so had no problem with overcrowding or slow service. I was starving and ordered a waffle, and the waiter brought over a waffle in a wrapper. Really now?! We're in Belgium, how is that acceptable!

As far as touristy places go this one is pretty alright. Wait staff doesn't actually ignore you, interior looks nice, ambiance is nice, beer selection is alright. But so much more expensive than other places though....

First and foremost a tourist bar. Escape the Grance Place, walk through the Galerie de la Reine and sit down here for a beer. Nothing else - I have not tried the food, but I was pretty sure that was a good decision. The place can be packed, and full of groups. Still a tourist spot for sure, but still not a bad place. Plenty of character and the service that I've experienced was surprisingly friendly, if a bit slow (when full). Sure it looks a bit grubby, but the waiter cleaned our table as soon as he was asked. Would recommend it as a place to take a break and to have a (simple) drink, and then head out again for dinner elsewhere.

Compared to other dining I've experienced in this city, Mort Subite is sub-par. The food was unremarkable and the service slow and a little on the side of impolite. Credit cards not accepted for less than 15 euro, even if only by a few cents. Alternate suggestion: Nuetnigenough

Certainly one of the best Belgian watering holes we visited. A good selection of beer, including their own rather fruity offerings on tap (try the blanche, it is actually a wit, but no one seems to call them wit's in Brussels?!). We had a few rounds, and some bar snacks (pieces of cheese and salami), pretty good although perhaps a little pricy. The only negative was the service on our first visit. It seemed the whole bar was being served by one guy who seemed totally immune to us trying to get his attention to order a drink - at this time our glasses had been empty for all of 15 minutes :-/ Is this a cunning way to keep tourists from getting too sauced on the deceptively strong beer? or is it just legendary Belgian service? Needless to say it didn't put us off coming back.

This is what I was looking for in Brussels. Unfortunately, it seems one of a kind. I guess it'd be considered a dive bar as they have cheap beer, but these cheap beers are the same ones that cost ~$15 at home in the US. Skip any and all food unless you're really hurting, but do get yourself into an alcohol-induced happy place.

I wasn't too keen on this place. Given the name 'morte subite' (name of a Belgian Beer..meaning sudden death of course) I expected something far cooler..with a bit of an attitude. This is actually reminded me of some grander Parisian cafes I have (for some reason) been to with its layout and high roofs. It even came complete with authentic sarcastic French speaking waiter. Grimbergen blonde beer was alright..there wasn't a fantastic choice. Serves food.

Feels like a very classic, old-school Belgian experience. No music, bar looks and feels like it's out of 1954. Really long beer list of course. Apertifs but no liquor. I'm sure it's very touristy in general but on a Sunday in March there was plenty of room.

I tried this place based on proximity (20 mins walk) to the B&B I am syaing at. I just had an omelette mixte which was nice but too expensive (almost 9 €), that's why it only got 2 stars. This review was written in 2009. The décor was great though.

Looking through the reviews here, I gather I came to this place on a quiet night. Came here on a travel site recommendation, not having any inkling at all the significance of the place ahead of time. I guess they're accustomed to being very busy -- they brought the check right after the beers came out, making it pay up and move along after our drink. The indoor decor is fantastic. I'm not doing it justice with my words here - it's a very classic building in a city full of old buildings (to different extents of the word "old"), and this was one of the more impressive interiors we encountered. Their menus provide some insight into the pub's name (English: "to the sudden death", renamed for the drinking games that became a local tradition in its youth). We only popped in for a drink at the start of our evening so I can't speak to the food here, but just on that one visit this is someplace you should certainly visit - if only briefly - during your stay here.

Off the uber-touristy Grand Place, but not too far away. Definitely a tourist stop, but a good one. Beer list is unique . Try the Gueuze- its not very good, but..... When in Brussels, do as the Belgians do!

Gueze and lambics on tap! And a good selection of Belgian beers. Casual food. Great atmosphere for a drink with friends

If you value style, authenticity and original values, look no more. Love the history, building and the layout. Treat yourself, go!

It is a real tourist trap and drink is expensive but I still think it's worth a visit even just for one beer. I don't know how the waiters know whats going years of experience in suppose. In the early afternoon it was packed and we were lucky to get a table. Will be back when I have people visiting.

Great traditional bar with great beers. Serves full-on beer in full-on measures. The 'fish-bowl' style glasses make this the perfect place to enjoy a couple of drinks with friends then walk into a wall on the way out.

Nice place, with a very professional service and fantastic omelette and special Belgian winter beer. Congrats

We stopped here per the recommendation from our tour guide. It's a traditional Belgian beer hall and we loved it. The wait staff does not speak a ton of English, but it kind of makes it more fun. It was filled with Belgians enjoying their night. The atmosphere was cozy. The prices were a touch expensive but sonsidering the size and percentage of the beer we thought it was reasonable! Would absolutely recommend for someone looking for a traditiona experience!

I'm usually not a beer person but man. Mort Subite, you have me on my knees. Belgium, thus far has granted me the best beer of my life. (Let's see how Ireland's like) I've tried peach, cherry and raspberry. Peach is definitely my favorite. I love the atmosphere here. I came for drinks after dinner and it was really nice. The interior feels grand. Servers are relatively quick. They don't have much patience for you so if you haven't decided yet, let them know cause they don't like to wait on you. I'm definitely going to miss this the most about Brussels.

Just a stroll away from Galeries Royales St-Hubert, the Lambic White Beer Morte Subite is everything that Shock Top wishes it could be. Fantastic beer and a pretty good sampling of charcuterie.