Off to Bruges!
Author
Discussion

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Right off to Bruges this w/e in my mates RX-8 for a little hoon, we're staying over and inteding to sample some fine Belgium beer and generally enjoy ourselves.....have any of you lot been to Bruges? Any recommendations for good bars/ things to do for 2 early 30's chaps of reasonable means looking for a good night out?

vetteheadracer

8,273 posts

283 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Went there last September.

Depending on how you are getting there i.e. Chunnel / Ferry but we went to the V1 rocket site at St Omer on the way there which was good.

Main square of town has lots of restaurants with seating outside to assess the "talent".
Chocolate Museum was okay, especially the demo at the end

Dunno about nightclubs etc.

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
vetteheadracer said:
Went there last September.

Depending on how you are getting there i.e. Chunnel / Ferry but we went to the V1 rocket site at St Omer on the way there which was good.

Main square of town has lots of restaurants with seating outside to assess the "talent".
Chocolate Museum was okay, especially the demo at the end

Dunno about nightclubs etc.


Marvellous, I have a mental image of sitting at a cafe in the summer sun slowly quaffing a biere blonde whilst surverying the other kind of blond

The idea is to take a cruise along the N1, maybe take in some of the museums on the way/ beaches.

Not really into clubbing, more the bar/pub type of guys really.

Battlecat

945 posts

268 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
I drove over there with the girlfriend last xmas for a few days. Quite a good city to visit with her but not sure its lively enough for 2 guys, but that might be due to the xmas period. The most lively bar we found was on the east side of the square found 3rd grid-square in from the left at the bottom of this map:

www.trabel.com/brugge-mapstr-center.htm

Afraid i can't remember the name of it but it was busy most evenings with younger clientele and loud music.

As someones already said starting from the market square is the best bet and then wander around until you find somewhere you like.

A tip for the journey - after leaving Calais there aren't too many petrol stations until crossing the boarder. I had to be rather light on the loud pedal for a while.

DJFish

6,017 posts

293 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Don't drive down a pedestrianised street, the police have no sense of humour when you try to explain that you wouldn't have done it had their roadsigns been in written in English......

Town square for starters, then there are a load of little bars just off the square that stay open all night.
Try the Irish bar off Briedelstraat and theres a cracking little pool bar on Hoogstraat

aliged

1,081 posts

269 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Find the fondue restaurant down one of the little side streets.......it's feckin magic!!

>> Edited by aliged on Friday 26th August 11:50

timmy30

Original Poster:

9,325 posts

257 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
DJFish said:
Don't drive down a pedestrianised street, the police have no sense of humour when you try to explain that you wouldn't have done it had their roadsigns been in written in English......

Town square for starters, then there are a load of little bars just off the square that stay open all night.
Try the Irish bar off Briedelstraat and theres a cracking little pool bar on Hoogstraat


this is sounding more like it. The hotel we're going to is on the square itself 't Zand so we should be able to wander around pretty easily.

Hmmm the one way thing could be an issue, we'll need to be careful of that I think esp in a bright red RX-8

SlidingSideways

1,345 posts

262 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Visit the Straffe Kenderik (sp?) brewery.
Lovely stuff

apprentice

1,219 posts

290 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Yep head for the central square, perched in the shadow of the 13th century belfry.

1.Make sure to sample the raspberry beer - tracked one down at 13% ABV last time I was there... but strangely I can't recall the name of it, or the bar I staggered out from searching for breakfast.

2.Proceed to 'line your stomach' in the morning, with a large portion of chips covered in mayonaise; followed at lunchtime by a bucket (I kid you not!) of MoulesMarinieres, washed down with a further selection of stong beers.

3.Then proceed to the nearest canal boat (about 800m away), select a seat in the stern and ready yourself to 'chum-up' the water a bit!

You have then cleared your system in readiness for the journey home.

A tried and tested itinery!.... Happy Days!!

apprentice





leosayer

7,829 posts

274 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
You know Bruges is about 3 hours drive from the Nurburgring don't you?

Stamp

3,609 posts

266 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Been there, done that.... You will have a good time

Church of Noise

1,654 posts

267 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Before you get plastered: 'De Karmeliet': 3* restaurant.

Beer: Straffe Hendrik is quite good, Duvel too! Don't go drinking/eating at the town square: they have separate prices for tourists!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Last time I was there, the mosquitoes killed me....

Selmer

2,760 posts

272 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:
Last time I was there, the mosquitoes killed me....
hmmm...reassuring isn't it when you think that they've been feasting on shite in those stagnant canals all day too

Selmer

2,760 posts

272 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
Go to the central railway station and see if there's a really fit bird called Else who might still work in the sweetshop there.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

285 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
Selmer said:

mybrainhurts said:
Last time I was there, the mosquitoes killed me....

hmmm...reassuring isn't it when you think that they've been feasting on shite in those stagnant canals all day too


I think that's what killed me....

8Pack

5,182 posts

270 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
Selmer said:
Go to the central railway station and see if there's a really fit bird called Else who might still work in the sweetshop there.


Is THAT what they're calling them in Belgium now?

8Pack

5,182 posts

270 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
timmy30 said:
Right off to Bruges this w/e in my mates RX-8 for a little hoon, we're staying over and inteding to sample some fine Belgium beer and generally enjoy ourselves.....have any of you lot been to Bruges? Any recommendations for good bars/ things to do for 2 early 30's chaps of reasonable means looking for a good night out?



Just (almost this minute) come back from Germany through Brugge...........It's still there Timmy, so I guess you're OK!

Centre is ringed by a canal,and an inner ring road. Large centre cobbled square with resturants and Bars......and at night you'll find that little something extra that wasn't there during the day :wink:

From the coast I usually go in from De-Haan, via a small road(turn right at the centre lights in De Haan). follow the Brugge signs, under the Motorway. and on to a steel bridge over the central canal ring. As the inner "ring rd" bears right after the bridge you turn left (lane provided) down the to the end of rd until you meet the canal again, turn right with the canal on your left into the centre or park as I do beside the canal (many places)and walk in, it's not far from there. May seem difficult to follow that but it's dead easy - honest.

Famous for Chocolates, Lace, Beer, a hand played Bell tower(rather like an Organ) in the square that you can visit, Beer, Food, Tempting shops Beer(did I say that before? P.S. Try a "trapist" those monks sure did know how to make beer!

>> Edited by 8Pack on Saturday 27th August 02:29

mrmaggit

10,146 posts

278 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
I'm not a "Town" fan at all, but I really like Bruges. There is a nice bar just across from the main church, heading North, and going south, straight past the church, over the canal bridge, third or fourth shop on the left, has a marvellous (and wide) selection of beers. Wish I'd had more space to bring more back.

Can't wait to go back. From the main square, heading North again, there is a narrow street, which turns left at the end, there are the same cafe's as the main square, but cheaper, IIRC.

Don't forget to have a boat trip around the canals.

DJFish

6,017 posts

293 months

Saturday 27th August 2005
quotequote all
"Big up to all my homies in Bruges!"