The 5 coolest cocktail bars in Bruges

Knock on the door to enter Edward Vanhoutte’s intimate gin bar. Hidden down a quiet lane, the room holds no more than 20 people, so you may be turned away on a busy night. Vanhoutte has built up an exceptional collection of almost 400 different gins including some rare bottles.

A serious cocktail bar located in an impressive baroque town house with a dark wood interior. The friendly bartenders know how to shake a Long Island Iced Tea or a Bloody Mary. They also serve interesting Belgian beers.

Located in an old brick gabled house, this relaxed spot opened in 2018. It offers a range of exclusive gins and whiskies, along with tapas. You can sit in the lounge or out in the walled courtyard at the back.

This tiny bar hidden behind the Cathedral has a few tables outside squeezed next to Sint-Salvators ancient walls. The friendly young owner Nina Corty keeps interesting beers including Sint-Bernardus on tap. She also offers classic cocktails and tapas dishes.

Gaëlle Boedt opened her little cocktail bar in 2015 behind cafe Craenenburg, an old Bruges bar run by her father. The two places couldn’t be more different. The cocktail bar has a dark, romantic interior created by Frederiek Van Pamel with Moroccan tiles, candles and a cow skull. Locals come here for the friendly mood and the gin cocktails flavoured with fresh herbs and spices.