Les Brassins, Brussels

Celebrated table

Les Brassins

Jean Callens restores a historic Ixelles estaminet serving classic Belgian recipes, flaky pastries, and local craft beers.

The story

Les Brassins Brings Authentic Belgian Cooking to Ixelles

The kitchen and its style

Les Brassins serves traditional Belgian cooking along Rue Keyenveld in Brussels. Jean Callens rescued the former establishment and restored its original character without losing the neighborhood charm. Recognized for its authentic spirit by Le Fooding in their 2026 listing, the restaurant maintains a straightforward approach to classic Belgian recipes.

Signature plates

The chicken vol-au-vent arrives as a modest rectangle of slow-cooked thigh wrapped in incredibly flaky puff pastry. It holds together perfectly when sliced open, revealing tender meat inside. Other reliable choices include the carbonnade de joue de boeuf and the famous boulets à la liégeoise served with either tomato or archiduc sauce.

Room and atmosphere

Enameled wall plaques and a rustic tavern-style ceiling set the tone for this estaminet. The space feels distinctly Brussels, encouraging conversation over glasses of local craft beer while celebrating the broader Belgian culinary tradition. Recent guests note how the renewed ownership successfully returned the venue to its previous glory.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
Le Fooding
Listed

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

Le Fooding 2026 — Listed
Cuisines Belgian
Services Outdoor Seating

History

On the record

2026
Le Fooding — Listed

Looking for a taste of Amsterdam in Brussels? Head to Les Brassins, this bruin café that was nearly abandoned but then saved at the last minute by Jean Callens (Épicerie Nomad and ex-Callens Café). It all takes place on Rue Keyenveld, the discreet street where Audrey Hepburn was born. Our initial impressions: the estaminet-style decor still operates the same charm – in a space with enameled plaques and a rustic, tavern-style ceiling, the ambiance is that of a delightfully Brussels-style zwanzeur. The night we went, we opted for ham mousse served with two pieces of toast and two different sauces (cocktail sauce and herb sauce), along with a small salad; followed by a chicken vol-au-vent made with juicy and tender chicken thigh, slow-cooked and enveloped by an incredibly flaky puff pastry, served here as a modest rectangle, which doesn’t fall apart when sliced open. Regretfully, the fries were lacking crispiness, and felt more like mashed potatoes served in stick form. // Salty Litchi

Established

Location

Find us

Rue Keyenveld 36, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium
+32 2 346 43 35
Visit website
Map showing Les Brassins