The international, cosmopolitan nature of Brussels is reflected in its trendy bars and chic brasseries, but sometimes the moment calls for something a little different.

At times, I like to peel back the European veneer of the city and imagine the bustling medieval town upon which the city was built. A L’Imaige Nostre-Dame is the perfect place to soak up the city’s medieval charm and I come here quite often for a quiet drink or as a precursor to a longer night out.

It is a dark, atmospheric estaminet, or small pub, which just a handful of tables and a large selection of Belgian monastery and abbey beers. Located in a small alleyway, where beer was once brewed, it would be easy to miss without the charming sign over the door. This place is so evocative of old Brussels that the toilet is still located outside, in a cupboard!