Nettah Yoeli - Rimmer (1984)

Ethiopia is where it all began for coffee, where humans first cultivated the beans and learned to roast and ground them to create the beverage drunk throughout the world today. Aksum, undoubtedly the nicest café in the Marolles neighborhood, has now moved a little closer to the centre and continues its tradition of intense coffee and delicious cakes in new premises. 

You can order an espresso, café latte, or cappuccino – I prefer the latte as the espresso really takes some getting used to – but all are made with Ethiopian coffee beans freshly roasted and ground on the premises daily, which they also sell to take away. 

If coffee’s not your thing, they also have interesting herbal teas from across Africa, unusual juices and excellent cakes to accompany your drink.

The new space is a little smaller but has been beautifully renovated and promises a terrace out front, if the sun ever deems to shine again. It is also a stone’s throw from the Grand Place and the Gare Centrale, so very convenient for a quick stop while visiting the medieval city.

Those who know me are well aware that my love for pastel de nata borders on obsession. I just can’t get enough of these delicious Portuguese custard tarts. Luckily, I discovered a perfect place to eat them.

Queijinhos Doces is a very charming little café and bakery where I am always made to feel welcome. The typical azulejo wall tiles and the constant tide of Portuguese regulars make me feel like I’m on holiday in Lisbon.

They serve excellent coffee too, short and intense, and have a range of other pastries, in case you’re not quite as obsessed as I am.

I love good coffee, which is a little thin on the ground here in Brussels. Luckily, Corica has come to my rescue since I ventured in last year.

I love standing at the bar, selecting my coffee from one of the 20 or so varieties available, and soaking in the atmosphere of its refreshingly diverse clientele. The strong aroma of coffee creates an oasis of contemplation amid the hustle and bustle of the city’s medieval centre.

Corica is about as different from a brand corporate chain café as you can get. In fact, it is actually a shop, the only one in Brussels that still roasts its own coffee, using an impressively sturdy machine that sits by the door. People pop in all day to buy beans to take home, or have a quick coffee at the bar.

I love the feeling that this is a working part of the city. Nobody lingers too long, just enough time to exchange some gossip and try one of the latest blends from places like Costa Rica, Brazil or Yemen. The exotic origins and flavours of the coffee transport me a million miles away to all corners of the globe, then the friendly banter and flow of workmen in for their coffee breaks, bring me right back to the centre of Brussels.

I always felt that Place Flagey was missing a good bookshop, so I was very excited when a branch of Brüsel opened there recently. It’s a fun place to go and browse as it has an incredible selection of Belgian and international comics, as well as art books, literature and posters.

I love the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that they’re open on Sunday, a bit of a rarity in this part of the city.

Originally from Ghent, OR’s Brussels brunch is one of my favorite spots for coffee in the city centre. Very close to the Bourse, an area full of excellent bars, but quite short on good coffee places, OR is a modern, minimalist café that takes the quality of its coffee very seriously, roasting its own beans in the nearby town of Aalst.

When I’m in a rush, I pop in for a quick espresso, or linger over a longer filter coffee when I have the time. It’s a pleasure to sit and read in the larger room upstairs, so bring a book, or borrow one of the magazines and newspapers they lay out for you.

Something I particularly appreciate is that they provide unlimited filtered water to go with your coffee. Just help yourself from the tap downstairs by the door.