Poechenellekelder

Eikstraat 5 , Brussels, Belgium

 

Overall: NR    Food: NR    Drink: NR    Atmosphere: NR   

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The RatePubs Experience

If you’ve ever visited Brussels you’ve almost definitely seen Poechenellekelder. This quirky little pub is located just across the road from the landmark Manneken Pis. In good weather the pavement outside is laid with 8 or so tables from where you can enjoy a beer and watch the tourist cameras clicking away by the hundreds, making it a pleasant stop. In the evening, or during bad weather, or if you just don’t like the sunlight you can venture inside where you’ll find it’s much larger than it looks from outside.

We visited on a Thursday evening and made our way up the metal staircase that is just inside the door. Inside the primary furnishing is wood and there are two room separated by an archway. The front room was empty when we arrived at about 8pm and we made our way into the second where we found a table and sat down. The room itself is not too large and holds about 6 tables and maybe 80 people.

The bar takes up a good section of the corner though you don’t need to go to it to be served. Just as well as you have a lot of beers to choose from. On our visit we counted 117 available, ranging from relatively standard ones like Leffe to obscure ones where they even specify the year it was brewed. If you’re feeling adventurous be sure to check the price first as some of these go up to 40 Euro a bottle. Every option we picked from the menu was available and as you can expect from such a range there are some you will prefer to others. I don’t believe Poechenellekelder (don’t try saying the name at the end of the night!) serves food though I didn’t specifically ask about this.

To call the walls busy would be to do them an injustice. They are covered in pictures, cartoons and mirrors of the Mannekin Pis interspersed with what appear to be random pictures and posters of other objects. The most unusual are either the muskets & crossbows on the ceiling, or the wooden dolls hanging from various points around the room. Or maybe it’s the two life-size mannequins having a chat at a table by the back stairs. It can be hard to tell after a few different beers.

Whether the decoration policy is deliberate and calculated or whether it just evolved is hard to say, my guess is that it’s a bit of both. But whatever the source it does not feel forced and gives the bar a quirky atmosphere. This is further enhanced by the selection of 50s easy classics from people like Dean Martin and Doris Day which provide the soundtrack to the night.

Though it was not in use tonight there is another room down the stairs beside the two mannequins at the table. The tables here are topped with old fashioned sewing machines though the walls are less busy. The toilets are also down here and they were clean throughout the night, with all toilet paper and soap present.

By the time we left the bar it had filled nicely. Both upstairs rooms were full and the low hum of conversation bubbled below the 50s songs. It might be busier on a weekend but based on our visit there are a lot of worse ways to spend a Thursday night than in Poechenellekelder. If you’re looking for a relaxed and enjoyable night in the center of Brussels it’s worth a visit and a taste of a few different beers.


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