Vlissinghe

Became our local over our week long stay. You can't really ask for a better recommendation. Their own house beer, I'd be surprised if there's any left ;) Oldest pub in Belgium they say, top 10 oldest on the planet, yet they keep going. Aren't we lucky! Had a fab time there helped in part by the bar staff who know how to make the space work well.

We were shown this pub on an evening walking tour we did and made a point of visiting the next day. The oldest pub in Bruges is really a remarkable place. Staff were extremely friendly and attentive, and the house beer was delicious. We didn't order food, but plenty of tables did, and it looked delicious. Extra points earned by the presence of Freddy the dog who chilled with us while we sipped our beer. Stunning building, a must visit.

Highly recommend onion soup! The beers are really nice and there is a great choice of them. We went twice and just shortly before 12 so had no issues getting a table. There can be a queue but it seems to move quickly.

Well worth the visit. We had a good time here. The food was alright as it's more of a diner however the lady with blond hair that works here is very friendly to us. We loved the outside area and the energy was lively. There was a cute dog there that visited all the tables. Pay at the counter when you're done. Great spot to grab some beer.

This pub opened in the 1500's. Not much has changed in that time, either. Great beer, great food and unparalleled ambiance. The best lasagna I ever had in Europe (including Italy) was served here. If you're in Bruges and you don't go here, you may as well have not visited Bruges at all.

Amazing history! Friendly, helpful service. Fresh, simple ingredients, and great beer!

A cozy place with friendly staff and a welcoming environment. I was seated immediately, and the staff took my order within 5 minutes. The place was small and packed, even though Google Maps showed that it was "not so busy," so expect to share a table with other diners. I ordered meat balls with sauce beer, mashed potato, and salad came as sides (€20). The dish didn't leave a good impression. I suspected that the meatballs and mashed potato were microwaved because some parts of them were still cold. The salad was off. It looks like it was cut straight from a lecttuce head without being washed and drizzled some dressing on top. I came because of the recommendation from the captain of my boat tour, and my Fear Of Missing Out mindset, but you are definitely not missing anything if you skip this place if you have a tight schedule/budget. Pick your choice.

Delicious food great tap beer friendly service good prices. Loved it! We had Chicory wrapped in bacon, beef stew, meatballs in bee sauce and fish soup. Loved them all!

Came in with a buddy looking, mainly for dinner, but had one of their great beer offerings also. Pretty cool place, especially if you are a history buff, with some great pictures and a brief history on the menu. Service was good but we came in an off peak hour during an off peak season. I had the meatballs and y buddy had the stew and we both really enjoyed them. Fair price and large portions. Beer was tasty and they had a few local options also. This is worth a look. Enjoy!

This is a tough place for me to review. In my heart it deserves all the stars in the world because it is such a cool, historical place. I struggle giving all the stars because I tried to make eye contact for a beer refill for about an hour. I think if you have half a day to relax or don't mind spending half of your day relaxing, eating, drinking then this spot is absolutely and excellent experience. Community tables so large groups indoors might be difficult. In the warmer months there is outdoor seating which looks like it can accommodate more people. Plan to be extremely assertive to get the attention of the people working there (refills or food orders). They are running around trying to make it all work (aka extremely busy). I bumped into this place on a walk around the back streets but it seems to be a destination for tourists (and locals). The historical hype definitely pulls people. Worth a try! Excellent stop. Sit back, relax, enjoy the vibe.

This place is really cool, especially when you know the history. I think it's the oldest continuously operating bar/cafe in Bruges? Something like that. Anyway, the inside is decorated along those same lines with much of the history in artwork on the walls. There is a nice outdoor area as well that is pretty big. There was no seating at the time of our visit and the weather was nice enough that we elected to sit outside. A bunch of us enjoyed one of the gazillion beers they offer which seemed to be appropriate for the occasion. A few of us took advantage of their soup special which was a fish soup and I heard really, uncomfortably positive feedback about this soup. I ordered their vegetarian croque monsieur (love to see that) which was essentially a grilled cheese but served with a very generous salad and round out a very nice snack. Great atmosphere, great beer, great food, hopefully good company but that's up to you.

Had a terrific time here in a sunny afternoon (Easter day actually). You wouldn't know from the outside but there is a wonderful courtyard behind the building. Add to that the terrific beer list and super nice service and this is a winner!

A really cool old pub. Friendly vibe, good beer selection and good, basic pub food selection. Service was friendly and efficient.

Excellent food, beer selection and atmosphere. The garden was very quaint, and the servers were friendly.

Great meal! The garlic prawns were the best! One of my favorite meals during our trip. A very casual and quaint place to grab a delicious bite.

Great food, great service and great atmosphere. My wife enjoyed sharing a table with another couple and their children.

Squeaked in just before the kitchen closed my first night in Brugge, and it was an awesome find. Really efficient and nice staff, convivial vibe (you'd hope so after 500+ years of taverning :)). What's also really nice is that it's off the immediate beaten track of the city center, so although there are clearly loads of other visitors there, I got the sense that locals also frequent it.

Had to stop in at the oldest bar for a beer. Cafe Vlissinghe dates back to 1515 so it's worth stopping in for a pint to see the interior and garden in back. Charming, quiet, peaceful. A great way to unwind st end of the day.

There are certain bars and restaurants in Bruges that demand a revisit on following trips. This bar is one of them as there is no way you anyone can take in the surroundings in one visit. The second reason is the beer, of course. Nothing better than having a few Bruges Zot. On arrival we were greeted by bars 'owner', a great little terrier that wanders around checking everyone out. A great character and, he even understood English LOL. Coming up to the winter months the stove was burning brightly and it was surprising how much heat that stove threw out. As a child I remember my grandmother having a stove like that in her house. On top of that stove stood a pot of stoverij. Memories returned. A bar that can be difficult to find but worth the hunt. Especially as it is away from the main areas of Bruges so, we found, never too crowded.

Great spot. Off the tourist track. Stopped for a quick house beer and a few snacks. Excellent atmosphere. Filled with locals. Will be back again!

Oldest tavern in Belgium! Well off the beaten path and worth the find. You won't find groups of tourists here. Primarily just locals and anyone, like myself who has found it by word of mouth. This is a must if you're in Bruges. It feels like you're jumping into an episode of Game of Thrones, with the long wooden tables and ancient decor everywhere. Grab anything to drink off the menu and you'll be satisfied. Price is good as well. I would even stop in for a house soup next time I'm in town!

Awesome cafe. I won't repeat all that 500th anniversarry stuff in 2015 but I will add that it means they're not going on vacation this year. Huge back courtyard that is perfect on a sunny day. Got a croque and a Brugse Zot on draft, they got soup and waffles, and it was all spot on.

This old tavern is a bit out of the way from the main tourist area, but worth the walk! I came here with my sweetie for a late lunch and beers (around 3pm) and were really pleased with our visit. All of the food was delicious, they have a good beer selection with fair prices, the service was both attentive and friendly, and the tavern itself has tons of character and history. They've retained a lot of the old decor and had placemats that talked a bit about some of the historical features. But this place is most memorable to me because of the food! I found the menu to be pretty substantial (contrary to what another reviewer said; perhaps it depends on what time you are there), with lots of traditional Belgian foods, and several interesting looking salads. I especially enjoyed the cheesy toast that came with the french onion soup, which is the perfect size to put directly in the soup and let it soak up the oniony goodness. It becomes quite mushy, of course, but still retains its shape due to the cheese. The bacon goat cheese salad was another memorable dish, with several thick slices of soft goat cheese (chevre) wrapped in bacon and then grilled until caramelized, served on top of a nice big bowl of romaine lettuce, raisins, and tomatoes, with a sweet creamy dressing. A few things to know: * there are very few small tables for 2-4 people, most of them fit 8-12, so you are likely to end up sharing a table with strangers (unless you are with a large group, of course!) * They also do not take cards, only cash! While the food prices felt fair for the quality, it wasn't the cheapest place in town (my salad was 16€) so be prepared. * ...however if you're looking to dine on a budget, their daily soup is only 5€ and they have several good beers on draft for only 2,50€. Also, another reviewer mentioned the cute dog that ate out of her hand... DON'T FEED THE DOG!! There is a reason they have a sign asking patrons not to feed the dog. The dog is smart, cute, and very food-driven. It comes to each table as soon as the food is served and will sit there looking cute, hoping that you'll feed it. You can imagine that if even a few people cave in to his begging each day, he would be quite fat and unhealthy.

This is the oldest bar in Bruges and its pretty cool. It looks pretty bar like inside- a standard round wooden room- and it gets pretty crowded in the evenings. But they do have an outdoor space and a huge garden as well and I went to sit there. the servers speak some english, which is nice and they are helpful when it comes to making recommendations but bewarned that the food fare is a little limited. The drinks are fantastic though, and they have a lot of beers to choose from. They also have a cute dog that doesnt let you pet him but stands on his hind legs and looks at your table for the food he knows is there. He also will eat out of your hands if you choose to feed him (I did). I think he makes a good addition to the place.

This is the best bar on the planet. Just come here, get a beer, and go out back to play krulboulders. Nothing else needs to be mentioned.

This place looks fantastic with the old pictures around the walls and the wooden roof: (See photo below) (See photo below) Although the bar area itself is relatively basic, with a nice old feel to it. (See photo below) I had a Brugse Zot, a decent beer. There was a door marked 'Toilet Terrace' which in my mind meant urinating from a balcony. Fortunately this was not at all the case, it just led to an outside area (with its own charm) from where the toilets could be accessed. (See photo below) I also found this funny room out there, that wasn't being used. (See photo below)

You can't ask prospective patrons for "current Covid Tests" that are within 48 hours unless Everyone is tested Every 48 hours!! This is illogical nonsense. And for a place that has almost no one in it, it seems like very bad business. Either our vaccinations WORK or they don't. We haven't been denied entry ANYWHERE in Bruge except here. But we did have a lovely (and $$$) dinner at Pieter Pourbus and I'm pretty sure we didn't INFECT anyone!

Highly, highly recommend this place! The oldest tavern in Belgium, this is off the beaten path and a little hard to find. We were pleasantly surprised and would recommend this to anyone visiting Bruges. We had a great afternoon here sampling beers and meeting other travelers. We didn't try anything off the menu as we had been sampling our way through Bruges. Everyone working in the tavern was friendly and we met several other travelers while here!

Add this to your "must visit" list. The advertise that it's "probably" the oldest pub in the world. Dating back to 1515, It only makes sense they claim that? We had the House beer and a few appetizers. They food was homemade and fresh. Cool little jack Russell dog running around. Enjoy!!!

Cafe vlissinghe is celebrating 500 years of existence this year. Standing the test of time, this is what it means, I suppose. The cafe is not open on Mondays and Tuesdays. But on the other days it's open from 11AM. They also have a nice beer garden at the back, for those warm summer days. They have a decent selection of locally brewed (Bruges based) and other Belgian beers. The service seemed pretty good. Looks like we timed our visit right, just before crowds of people started swarming. I must admit I did feel a lil strange waiting outside their door waiting for them to open at 11 AM (think Weatherspoons outside train station, prior to holiday). Bruges as such is a beautiful city and having a pub/cafe this old kind of just adds to the charm. Visit it, if for nothing else, simply for experiencing a piece of medeival history.

Walking through the damp quite streets then came across this gem! Loved the simple menu that offered cheap yummy plates. GREAT house beer and the onion soup was perfect! Def a perfect choice for a light dinner or lunch.

Wow! This place is just perfect... From the wonderful beer and staff it is a must stop for anyone that visits Bruges.

an absolutely fantastic experience! yes it may be publicized and become for that reason a tourist point but authentic it remains. Great conversation with Brits, French, or Americans and a fine beer selection are enough reason to tour abroad. Good Norman pub food and a night is complete. A great but simple quiche and my father's simple but complex ham-wrapped chicory in a bechamel sauce preceded a fine slice of soft apple cake. The oldest pub and still relevant!

Favorite bar in the world. The selection of beer is great and the food and people are even better.

Café Vlissinghe has the title of "oldest pub in Brugge", and has the character to match. The pub is small, with family style seating indoors, and a number of tables in a courtyard outside. The beer selection is great, and they offered a few local beers we didn't see at any other pubs in Bruges. The menu is fairly short, but our food was tasty and filling (lasagna and a croque monsieur). It was cash only when we were there, so make sure you have enough cash if you're planning on sitting and eating/drinking for a while. If you're really into the tourist thing, there are t-shirts you can buy, and outdoors had lawn games available to play, and a shelf full of board and card games to play inside. It was super relaxing to enjoy beer and play games for the evening. As a plus there is a Jack Russel Terrier wandering around, complete with a sign on the wall with his picture stating "Don't feed this dog". Definitely worth a stop for a fun night in a unique setting.

It's pretty humbling to know that when you come here, you're sitting in the same place where people have been coming to eat and drink for almost 500 years. This is Bruges' oldest pub (from 1515) and it's a great place. The pub is small, but has so much character within its walls. The food we had (spaghetti and croque monsieur) was very tasty and of course, the beer was out of this world. This is definitely a spot you have to check out when you come to this amazing city!

Okay, you gotta admit, there is something pretty cool about a pub that has been continually operating since the 1500s...especially when you consider that they have probably been serving beer from one of the local breweries (De Halve Maan) since the 15 or 1600s. The servers here aren't particularly friendly, but the owner (who will probably be cooking in the tiny kitchen) is quite nice. Well worth popping in for a beer (or two) and a look around....and get the Onion Soup....you won't be disappointed!

Oldest bar in Brugge. This is off the beaten path located in the quiet ST Ann area, but we'll worth it. It's about 10 min from the main square. Cross over the canal, wander down an alleyway, and you will see a flag. The weather finally warmed up over here so we sat on the expansive terrace. With lots of tables, grass, picnic tables, etc it is a fantastic patio. They don't have a huge beer list, under 30, but the ambiance, cozy facto make up for it. Food is also served and both the beer and food are rather cheap compared to closer in town. A must see.

Great meal. Just did the planes, trains, taxi from Dallas Texas, enjoyd the beer friendly local crowd great beer selections as well. Fred

We stumbled upon this tiny place in a tiny street after a long walk back to our apartment. Turns out it is the oldest pub in Bruges (1515!) Super cozy and cute inside and filled with locals and kids playing board games. The food is standard Bruges pub fare- lasagne, spaghetti, croques. We had the grilled ham and cheese with bolognese and salad. Tasty and hit the spot. Perfect with local beer. Loved this place!

An oasis. I could spend all day in the yard out back. The service was wonderful, the space is charming, and the drink selection is fantastic with all the local beers you could want. The food is slightly above average bar fare. This place is nothing fancy, but as comfortable as could be.

Warm and cozy place with a good variety of Belgian beer and local food at very decent prices. Lovely interior with an old wood stove and lots of trinckets from the past around. Definitely a place with lots of charm and character. There are individual tables and a big one for sharing. The garden is lovely, spacious and a great place for sitting when the weather is good.

I'm only sad that we didn't come here more. We just kind of wandered over not expecting much and it blew us away. Our server spoke at LEAST 3 languages fluently and was pleasant to all. The beer selection was unique and extensive for the area. And the vegetarian lasagna was the BEST I have ever had. Ever. I'm actually sad that not all places have lasagna this good. We sat by the lovely fire to warm up at a communal table with a cute little pup wandering by. Wish this place was in my home town .

Had to stop by Brugge's oldest pub & have a beer. The 500 years old pub is very quaint. My beer was great & the service was warm & friendly! 5 Stars!

The oldest bar in Brugge. Older than the U.S. Cool to say you got a drink there and rub elbows with locals.

Laid back and cozy, exactly what you would expect from the oldest bar in Bruges. We went there and tried a few blondes! Beer that is!!! We decided not to have food because we had a late breakfast but the tables next to us had onion soup and lasagna and were raving about it. I also noticed a lot of locals were there having deserts. Next time I would fit the lunch in there.

Great to be drinking in the oldest pub in Brugge (dating back to 1515 I believe). However, the atmosphere was nothing too special, beer choice was good, it's a tiny place inside but has a larger beer garden out the back. Worth a visit if you are already in the area, not really worth a special trip.

Great place to grab a beer. Really friendly staff. The meat and cheese plate was good enough, but nothing spectacular.