You maybe don’t think of Bruges as a jazz town. But you can track down some fine venues if you know where to look. The most hidden spot is a relaxed bar called 27Bflat.
The bar kept its old name (inspired by its address) when it moved to a new location close to the centre. It now occupies five rooms of a town house furnished with wooden tables, sofas and low lights. It stays open until 1am, or even later.
Local musicians come here to play jazz and blues in an intimate room lined with bookshelves. The kitchen (open until midnight) offers Belgian specialities like garnaalkroketten (grey shrimp croquettes) and vispannetje (fish stew). And the shady garden at the back is still something of a local secret.
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.
