Enjoy the city: The season of guinguettes in Brussels!

The season of guinguettes in Brussels is back! We are eagerly waiting for the return of all the sunny terraces, rooftops and other outdoor establishments around the city. Guinguettes are one of those popular places which serve as hotspots in different parks and green areas during the warmer months.

What is a “Guinguette”?

If you are not a native French speaker, you might be wondering what the word means exactly 🙂 “Guinguette » is an old French word for an outdoor drinking establishment, originally located in the suburbs of Paris and other French cities, which often doubled as dance venues. The origin of the term comes from guinguet, a sour local white wine.

Season 2024 Openings

Fabiola in Roi Baudouin Park and André in Laeken Park are the first two guinguettes which opened on 20 April and will remain open until October. On April 25 guinguettes Chez Vincent in Bon Pasteur Park and Chez Henri at Georges Henri Park also opened its doors.

Next in line will be guinguette Chez Émile in Parc Duden on 3 May and Maurice in Cinquantenaire park which restarts on 5 May. Opening hours for this popular spot in the EU Quarter are Monday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm.

As explained on the website of Barc guinguettes, the concept revolves around gathering the inhabitants of a neighborhood around a drink or a meal, but in a park. Under the impetus of Brussels Environment, the Guinguettes Barc were born in July 2017. The guinguettes obtained the Good Food Label from Brussels Environment and are oriented towards local, seasonal and environmentally friendly products.

You can also discover more about all the the Barc guinguettes in Brussels, or stay updated via their dedicated instagram page.