The Best Coffee Bars Along The Coast, Belgium

Its fresh coffee and tea made the newest addition to the Ostend Mijnplein a fast favorite with the locals. In 2014, only a year after owners Coby and Cris opened their doors, De Familie Jansen had already bagged the title of ‘Best Coffee Bar in the Country’. If you’re feeling adventurous you can try their signature cup, the ‘kokoslimoentje’: a coffee based on the unusual flavor combination of cocoa, lime juice and coconut milk.

This cozy coffee place is located at the corner of the Torhoutsesteenweg, in a tiny house that used to be home to Ostend legend Madame Rouge, (a flamboyant lady who always dressed in red and wore brightly colored red lipstick). ORA is a true family venture, owned by the friendly Kosovaran Hoti family. While Mama Arijeta and oldest daughter Fiorda run the day-to-day business, dad provides fresh homemade burgers on Saturdays and we have another daughter to thank for the simple and elegant Scandinavian design.

At Brazila, by far the best place for coffee in Knokke, you are met by that sweet smell of freshly ground beans as soon as you swing open the door. True aficionados will be pleasantly surprised at the large variety of choices at the bar, and the warm personnel ready to recommend what suits your specific taste. The long wooden counter proudly displays the coffee they roast themselves.

Mi Gusto

Lovers of traditional arabica coffee and different blends of tea find an abundance of choice at Mi Gusto in Nieuwpoort, one of the trendiest cities at the coast. Take a break from hiking one of the beautiful nature trails to stop for a refreshing iced tea or soothing latte at the terrace.

Albert 1 Laan 196, 8620 Nieuwpoort, Belgium, +32 (0)58 23 66 31

A wide variety of teas | © Mi Gusto

Li o Lait

At Li o Lait, the art of serving a good coffee is held in high esteem. Baristas with steady hands perform Pac-man latte art while your neighbor at the other table gently sips his anti-hangover coffee (a long black coffee with a slice of lemon) with extra marshmallows. This is a place where you sit and wind down as your clever dripper (a mug with a filter on your cup that you take to your table) runs through. No hasty phone calls, no work stuff. Li o Lait is the slow coffee trend at its best.

Dweersstraat 30, 8000 Brugge, Belgium, + 32 (0) 50 70 85 70

Espressobar I Love Coffee

The people at I Love Coffee aren’t lying. Their love of the black gold shows in everything they do, from the roasting of their own beans to the effort they put in picking a great espresso and latte of the week every single time. They also explain exactly why their selection is special to them. Wooden paneling and brick walls create an industrial impression but the toned-down lighting keeps the place bathing in the warm atmosphere.

Sint Jakobsstraat 10, 8000 Brugge, Belgium, + 32 (0)498 51 63 40