This gorgeous Brussels café started out in 1886 as a delicatessen selling Italian specialities. It was founded by Francesco Cirio from Turin, who made his fortune selling tinned tomatoes. He opened similar establishments in 18 cities across Europe, but this café in Brussels is the only one to survive.
The interior was redesigned by Henri Coosemans in 1909 in the style of an Italian grand café. It still has the original carved wooden bar, gleaming iron chandelier and old signs advertising Cinzano. Almost nothing has changed since then.
It’s popular with older people during the day who like to order the house drink half en half (half white wine, half champagne). But a younger crowd start to arrive in the early evening.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
