Le Cirio

A jaw-dropping 1886 Art Nouveau brasserie beside the Bourse, all brass, mirrors, and waiters in waistcoats, famous for the half-en-half — half white wine, half sparkling. A friend sends you here for one drink in the prettiest café room in Brussels. The food is fine but ordinary; come for the glass and the setting.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Is Le Cirio touristy?

It gets tourists — it's too beautiful and central not to — but it keeps a genuine local clientele, especially older Bruxellois in the afternoons. Weekday off-hours feel most like the real thing.

Is Le Cirio a restaurant or just a café?

Both — it serves classic brasserie dishes like shrimp croquettes and stoemp alongside drinks. Honest take: the interior outclasses the kitchen. Come for a drink and maybe a croquette; save your big Belgian dinner for elsewhere.

Is Le Cirio expensive?

No — a half-en-half costs about what you'd pay for a decent beer, and café classics are normal brasserie prices. For an interior this grand, it's remarkably democratic.

Why is Le Cirio famous?

It opened in 1886 as a showcase for Italian food merchant Francesco Cirio, and the interior — carved wood, brass fittings, painted mirrors — has barely changed since. It's a protected slice of Belle Époque Brussels where locals, including a loyal older crowd, still drink daily.

Where exactly is Le Cirio?

Rue de la Bourse 18-20, immediately beside the old stock exchange building (now the Belgian Beer World museum), two minutes from Grand-Place. The Bourse tram stop is right outside.

What is a half-en-half and should I order it?

Half still white wine, half sparkling — the house drink, born around the Bourse cafés over a century ago. Yes, order it; it's the whole ritual of the place, refreshing, and cheaper than a glass of champagne.

What are Le Cirio's opening hours?

Daily from 10:00 until midnight, stretching to about 1:00 on Friday and Saturday nights. No booking needed for drinks; just walk in and take whatever marble table is free.

Can I just take photos inside Le Cirio?

Buy a drink first — it's a working café, not a museum, and the staff take pride in that. One half-en-half buys you all the time you want to gawk at the ceiling, discreetly.

Nearby in Ask Brussels

• Le CoqBar0.1 km · 1 min walk
• CelticaBar0.1 km · 1 min walk
• Maison DandoyCafé0.14 km · 2 min walk
• Mappa MundoBar0.17 km · 2 min walk
• L'ArchiducBar0.2 km · 2 min walk