Bars

Hanging around in the Mosquito Coast always feels like travelling at the same time. Not just the decorating, but the whole atmosphere breathes: I am not at home! In Hoogpoort you will find this bare necessity of mine, next to the Connections store. You know, when you are all in the mood to go, you just walk in and buy your ticket. Not good for the wallet though.

Mosquito has two floors and two terraces for that matter. A lot of room to let people eat, yes, but do not be fooled. It can get quite busy and reservations are a must sometimes. But for a cheap glass of white wine in the afternoon sun I am sure you will be able to pick a spot.

Next to a lot of drinks, from cocktails, beers and coffees to absinth, there is a very good kitchen that I urge you to try. They have small plates like a modest croque monsieur, but also real delicacies like kangaroo or ostrich steak!

Talking about that kangaroo or ostrich. some people are offended when i say mmm that is delicious, but put a piece of meat in their mouth and see what happens My last dinner guest was like WAW, oh my god! That’s soooo good So, yeah, duh

It took me two and a half years before I first walked into Het Muzi(e)kantenhuis, although it was only a one minute walk. Pretty silly really. In this place a lot goes down, from some musicians playing all night to some improv theatre with youngsters.

The prices of the drinks differ by the way if there is an event or not, a system you can favour or not. This bar is pretty mixed with cultures and very easy going. When there is nobody performing, it is really comfortable to talk without any shouting and try a water pipe/shisha. But you can have lovely meals too! I guess they do not really care about the law.

The one thing I stay confused about is the spelling of this bar’s name. On the window, you will see Muziekantenhuis, but on the website it is spelled without an -e. Make up your mind!

Before I became a somewhat resident at Jan Van Gent, I often came to the Hotsy Totsy Club, a bar on the other end of the Oude Houtlei and close to Walter, the nice coffee bar.

The Hotsy Totsy has already a long history (it already exists more than 30 years now!) and is mostly known as an artists or jazz café. The walls are filled with art and exhibitions by photographers and other creative masterminds.

The couches in the front are accompanied by some old lighting and in the back you can find games to play like Monopoly. But you can only smoke in the front. If you like jazz, this is must been address. On their website you will find their upcoming and past activities, and it mostly is for free!

Het Spijker is a bar downtown, next to the famous Gras- and Korenlei. It has two floors and is always pretty crowded.

At first I was a bit skeptic, but there is a really good vibe here, so I understand that everybody wants to be there. The bar offers many types of beer, also right off the tap for the real beer lovers.

Het Spijker differs from other bars while its interior is also very woody, with barrels and logs in the ceiling. And I still have to check it out, but apparently, besides the terrace in the front, there is also one in the back with a great view of the old fishing mine (a very nice place by the way which was recently reopened after being closed for more than fifteen years). But untill then, We keep tasting new beers on tap and wandering to past memories.

De Trollekelder or basement of the trolls is a place I was introduced to only last week. Opposite the church of Sint-Jacobs, de Trollekelder is a bar with lots of steps and low ceilings. I am close to being claustrophobic sometimes, especially when it comes down to low ceilings in cellars, but the atmosphere is rather nice and cosy. They also have their own beer!

I also noticed a fire place, so I can imagine coming here on a cold winter night, running through the rain, hanging myself to dry next to those licking tongues and have a nice twelve degrees Rochefort beer or something like that.

It is near all the hip and trendy bars like Charlatan, but I definitely favor this one and the trolls are just lovely!