Brussels’ beloved park cafés, the popular guinguettes, are back, marking the start of the open-air season. From late May, terraces across the city’s parks reopen for what promises to be a particularly vibrant 10th anniversary edition.
A Season Kicks Off Across the City
The first openings set the tone for the weeks ahead: Maurice at Parc du Cinquantenaire was among the first to welcome the visitors from 25 April, followed by Émile at Parc Duden on 26 April. Over the following weekends, more locations gradually come to life, spreading across Brussels’ green spaces – from Jette to Laeken, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Evere.
Now firmly embedded in the city’s cultural fabric, the guinguettes have evolved far beyond simple park bars. Since their launch in 2017 as part of the PARK DESIGN initiative, they have transformed public parks into lively, inclusive hubs where locals and visitors naturally gather.
More Than Just a Drink in the Park
What sets Brussels’ guinguettes apart is their community-driven spirit. Alongside food and drinks, many locations now offer activities ranging from acoustic concerts and dance classes to yoga sessions, pétanque tournaments and creative workshops.
Some even feature small play libraries for children and bike repair stations – a reflection of their role as everyday neighbourhood meeting points rather than just seasonal pop-ups.
Local, Sustainable, and Thoughtfully Designed
Sustainability remains at the heart of the concept. Operator BARC, a long-standing partner of the project, continues to focus on local, organic ingredients, earning two Good Food toques for its efforts this year.
From short supply chains to cargo bike deliveries in collaboration with Urbike, and a strong emphasis on reusable materials and waste reduction, the guinguettes reflect Brussels’ broader push toward greener urban living.
Where to Find Them
This summer, the guinguettes return to six parks across the city:
- Henri in Parc Georges Henri (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert)
- Maurice in Parc du Cinquantenaire (Brussels)
- Émile in Parc Duden (Forest)
- Fabiola in the Parc Roi Baudouin (Jette)
- André in Parc de Laeken (Brussels)
- Vincent in the Parc Bon Pasteur (Evere)
Open daily from 11:00 to 22:00, they offer an easy, relaxed way to enjoy Brussels, whether for a midday break, an after-work drink, or a long summer evening outdoors.
