Brussels

[trainman]

I going in pretty blind on the beers, unfortunate descriptions such as 'deliberately slightly vinegary' do not inspire me!

Can you folk please help me with etiquette though?
Does one take a table and wait, a la French cafe society, or approach the bar comme Bretagne?
And do they run a tab, or expect payment per round? And what's the story re tipping? Is there any, or is it all now 'compris', like France?

Thanks! j

[PaulOfHorsham]

Just watch what everyone else is doing! Beery bars are well used to tourists, so I wouldn't worry too much. If it looks 'pubby', head for the bar; if it looks 'foody', take a seat.

Enjoy your day.

[gillhalfpint]

I tend to take a seat, and had a look through the beer menu. They come and serve you. I haven't tipped unless having something to eat as well. We have paid per round and paid at the end of our session. If they ask I pay, if they don't I ask for the bill when we are ready to leave.

[rpadam]

I was in Brussels for a few hours earlier today, and found a useful little leaflet entitled 'Brussels on Draught' on sale for 50 cents at the tourist office in the Grand Place / Grote Markt.

This has a couple of useful walking routes, and lead me to:

• La Fleur en Papier Doré (spiritual home of Belgian surrealism... http://www.lafleurenpapierdore.be/)
• Delirium Taphouse (27 draught beers on... http://deliriumtaphouse.com/)
• Greenwich (famed for its Belle Époque architecture... http://www.greenwich-cafe.be/)

Also called in at the curiously-named http://www.drugopera.be/ (not what it sounds!) because of its attractive Christmas decorations.