- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Bruxelles
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Arts & Entertainment Concert Halls & Music Bars Nightlife Concert Halls & Music Bars Restaurants Gastropubs Pubs, Concert Halls & Music Bars, Gastropubs [Edit]
7/8 Harry StDublin 2
(01) 6775362
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00 - 3:00
Sun 11:00 - 2:00
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking Garages:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Children:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
€€
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
26 reviews for Bruxelles
Review Highlights
-
"A fantastic location right off Grafton Street." In 4 reviews -
"Outdoor seating AND a funky downstairs space." In 10 reviews
-
"its a sunny day so you have another pint out side, you are..." In 3 reviews
Loading...
26 reviews in English
-
Review from Matthew O.
Dublin
27/2/2012
Just a short stroll from Stephen's Green, tucked away off Grafton Street lies a Bruxelles.
It's a great spot to say the least and in an ideal location.... and not just because college is just around the corner. Needless to say there have been classes skipped in the past to satisfy the thirst.
It's a warm and cosy little place which is uncommon given you're in the heart of the city center. Myself and my friends are particularly fond of a little nook in the very corner of the ground level bar, charming and intimate. If hunger sets in after a few cold ones, the bar menu is extensive, and coy. However, prices are a little extortionate for what it is. Chicken nuggets setting you back €7.00. Having said that, the fare is wholesome and hits the spot.
We've all been there, you promise yourself "Just one or two, then I'll head home." 9 times out of 10, you don't follow up on your promise. Bruxelles has two other bars located in its underbelly. As you descend the stairs, you're presented with two options, left or right..... both lead to more drink. One 'rock' bar that plays old school rock tunes and a word of warning; it can be a bit on the heavy side. However it's smiles all around as it offers pints and other drinks for €4 after 9pm. Turn right and you're into a more chilled out room where they feature live acts, though I do believe this is only some nights.
All in all, I would highly recommend Bruxelles. On a footnote, it's one of the few places in Dublin that pour a really good pint of the black stuff.
Go for two, stay for a few....... more! -
Review from Marj C.
27/2/2012
Bruxelles is just off Grafton St and (on first impressions) one of the most laid back bars in this area of town.
Visited Bruxelles midweek and got the feeling it was quite a chilled out bar, free of gimmicks. Felt totally at home in here, and it's just like the places I love drinking in back home. Good mix of music, cosy, looks quite old school, good mix of people and good banter. Great for a quiet one after work and a decent enough selection of booze behind the bar. Drink isn't the cheapest but being situated in the city centre, the prices are what you'd expect in this part of town. Lots of people were ordering food and, due to its laid back vibe on the upstairs floor, a lot of couples were coming in for a quiet meal.
Wasn't here for a gig, didn't go downstairs and wasn't here for the weekend regrettably, but I get the impression they throw a good party depending on which night you're there. My pal is into the kind of music they play downstairs, so if you're into rock music it might be worth a shout on a Friday or Saturday. I just liked it because it wasn't self conscious, and was a great place to visit if you wanted a chat with your pals with some good tunes in the background. If I'm ever back in Dublin, this would be one of my regular haunts. -
Review from Dave R.
13/5/2012
Came there late whilst in Dublin on vacation. Bartender late downstairs charged me 14 Euro for a pint of Peroni stating "this is crazy expensive" after I saw him ring it up for 6.50, probably because I'm American. Young idiot, probably because they are always so packed, what the heck. Wasn't worth fighting, as he was a moron thinking I was such, when in fact I pitied him. Have fun, losers.
-
Review from Janet M.
3/4/2012
The bar is quaint and very Irish, but it gets very packed and there are typically only two bartenders/servers. They do not come to you, so for all food and drink orders you must wait in line at the bar. Also, they do not take credit cards. Was not an overall fulfilling experience.
-
Review from Sam S.
10/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Charming pub in town would go there anytime :-)
-
Review from Cristin L.
Dublin
20/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Out on a Saturday, we had one pre-dinner drink and then fair few post-dinner drinks here.
We started off in Flanders Bar where the music went from classic rock to very heavy to mainstream rock. A bit for everyone here.
We then moved to the Zodiac bar as it had become a tad too loud for our conversation to be heard when the DJ started his set in Flanders Bar.
Here the music was recent mainstream indie rock and at an easier level. It was also very comfortable and not jammed with people.
In the Zodiac bar, the guy working the floor was on the ball and kept all the tables cleared of empties. He also jumped in quick when a pint was spilled. All this and he still had a smile on his face. The bar staff were good too, efficient.
Toilets could be a bit nicer though.
All in all, Bruxelles has a bar type for most people.Listed in: Dublin Bars
-
Review from David R.
26/6/2011
Kilkenny AND Beamish on draught.
That's really enough, but Bruxelles also offers:
A fantastic location right off Grafton Street.
Outdoor seating AND a funky downstairs space.
A continental vibe on the main floor, a nice change of pace from a classic Irish pub. -
Review from Aidan S.
Dublin
14/3/2011
€5.50 for a pint of Guinness after 11 O'Clock. thieves!!!! Won't be here again.
In fairness the music is great, but getting pushed all over the place because the pub is too small, plus the fact that they have the cheek to raise the price of drink after 11 o'clock, adds to my disgust of this pub. -
Review from Alison C.
10/2/2011
Is it fair to judge Bruxelles merely by its open mic night? I say it is-- if they have a truly crappy open mic night, and then constantly invite the public to suffer through it.
I read about Bruxelles' open mic night in every single city guide, events magazine, and guidebook that crossed my path. Coolest indie bar in Dublin. Up-and-coming soon-to-be-famous acts playing at the amazing open mic night. OK fine. I have nothing better to do. I'll go. And I'll drag my husband along with me.
Crappy Music: The guitar-playing singer/songwriter guy who seemed to run the whole show was the only one with decent songs and a decent voice. The rest of them were very, very, very bad. All of the worst, self-indulgent things you hate about open mic shows: Long sets. Self-imposed encores. Song explanations. Deep, meaningful pauses. Gag me. It was like Sarah McLaughlin had horrible children with Dave Matthews.
Crappy Drinks: Slushie what? A shot made of more than 3 alcohols? Wait a second...am I at a frat party in Missouri?
Crappy Bartenders: Hey. HEY. HEY!!! Sourpuss the bartender must have forgotten he was actually at work...you know...tending bar...instead of sitting at Bruxelles enjoying the open mic showcase. At least somebody was. -
Review from Gilli S.
25/1/2011
In town on a cold but sunny day and was walking past this pub when I noticed they had Mussels on the menu for lunch. How could I by pass that?
Sat outside as I had the dog with me and placed my order. The staff were great and even offered water for the dog. The Mussels were great and I throughly enjoyed every single one.
Slight problem as the weather changed and it started to rain BUT as their outside seating area is good with awning I was able to position myself to avoid most of the drips.
By the time I had finished the sun was out again - life is good.
The extra star is for them offering water for the dog.Listed in: Eating in the City
-
Review from Lisa J.
29/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
noisy, busy and very entertaining place. they have 3 sections, a room upstairs which is sort of for tourists and watching football matches and 'normal' people, while downstairs is for rock/heavy metal (can i call it that?) and mixed music
the only bad thing is that it can get so packed that you will only get standing room and it can be hard to get to the bar.
its not really a place to take your posh friends as its pretty much down to earth. i like the music downstairs to the left as they play from 80s right up to present day music. -
Review from Bryan B.
30/5/2009 1 photo
Perfect spot to grab a pint and watch the foot traffic of Grafton St. go by. This is one of my favorite places to meet friends for an early evening pint since it's very centrally located and you can easily hope from pub to pub from here.
On certain nights they have music down stairs for the "Zodiac Sessions" and it can get a little crowded but it's well worth it. I was a little sceptical at first when my friends brought me downstairs but the quality of the music really impressed me.Listed in: Night Out in Dublin's City…
-
Review from Gavin M.
Great buzz yesterday evening in Dublin supping a few pints of the black stuff outside Bruxelles watching the world go by. What more could a man want.
-
Review from Josh G.
12/7/2009
Unless you're having a pint outside on a sunny day, walk right past the dreadful upstairs pub into the basement. Turn left, and you find yourself in a dark metal bar, the jukebox blasting everything from classic Sabbath and Maiden to Slayer and weird Scandinavian bands that might give you nightmares.
Turn right, and it's a completely different vibe. Sleek, modern decor straight out of SoHo (either one will do) and indie music.
It seems weird at first, but when I lived in Dublin this was one of my mainstays, since I could walk back and forth between the rooms, chatting with friends and listening to great music. -
Review from Mary Ann C.
6/11/2010
before i got a job at the Point - i worked around the block from here at this terrible place (which i will leave unnamed) ran by a woman who constantly told me to put MORE lipstick on (i had lipstick on - a lot of it)
ok back to my review
the best part about Bruxelles is that its like a few bars in one - there is a cozy pub when you first walk in - the food is very good - the patrons friendly - a mix of tourists and locals
then you can venture downstairs and sometimes its hard rock, or punk or death metal or the jukebox - there are a lot of nooks and spaces to lose yourself or just to get away from people for a bit
downstairs gets super crowded late but if you go early you can relax away from people
def rec this place -
Review from Alexandra M.
Dublin
9/7/2009 1 photo
Bruxelles is many things rolled into one, meaning that it appeals to different people for different reasons. Located off of upper Grafton Street, a lot of Dubliners will be familiar with this spot. Some shoppers come here during the day to relax outside in the terrace with a cool drink. Others, like the older generation maybe, prefer to sit inside where the ambiance is more traditional pub. Music lovers might choose to go upstairs or downstairs depending on what they want to hear. The top floor puts on classic rock and jazz shows while the basement caters to metal heads.
The downstairs comes to a bit of a shock if you've wandered down there to use the toilets. It's very dark and hardcore head banger. Someone once compared it to a scene from Wayne's World. I think that sums up the atmosphere nicely. -
Review from Slim D.
Dublin
26/5/2010
Popped into Bruxelles yesteraday as it was sunny and they have a grand seating area outside. When it got chilly we went downstairs for a game of pool.
While I dragged up some OLD heavy metal on the impressively stocked juke box, I was bought a JD and coke slush puppy which tasted like coke. The Guinness was sound and the music was great. Anyone we played against was a good laugh and the barstaff looed.....like barstaff in a rock bar... Pissed off. Very funny.
It loses a star because we were a bit bleh by the couple (Courtney Love look-alike and some feckin eejit) nearly doing the full gonky at a table near us. Get a room, Jesus.
All in all, if you love good rock, its a great little bar downstairs and don't forget the statue of Phil Lynott for photos outside, bring a rose for Philo -
Review from Beki B.
18/3/2011
Used to play shows there with The Mary Stokes Band .. always a good time! Great atmosphere and the perfect corner on Grafton @ Henry St. .. I always send people there from the States! XO!
-
Review from Alan H.
Dublin
15/7/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've been drinking there since I was.......well old enough to drink ;) Love the place, always a great pub to start your friday night. We used to always drink downstairs in the 'Mod' bar, but they modernised it a good few years ago, so now we just drink upstairs. Friday gets packed with the after-work drinkers, but it's well worth cramming into a spot, especially when the DJ starts playing all your favourite classics !
-
Review from edel n.
4/5/2010 ROTD 7/6/2010
Had a bite to eat here on Friday last. OMG it was fabulous. Very very tasty traditional irish grub. My friend from Boston had Bacon, cabbage n'mash with parsley sauce, two of the group had shepherds pie with side salad and two others had fish n'chips. There wasnt a sound as we munched happily on our food with words of 'god this is soooo good. Portions were plentiful and a couple next to us raved about their meal of coddle and mussels. A must for visitors from overseas who want to get a flavour of good aul' Oirish grub. Gets a thumbs up from me. Oh and the service was fast and very friendly
-
Review from Wesley W.
1/9/2010 7 Check-ins Here
This is one of my favourite pubs in Dublin. There is always a good crowd here, and they play good music. Don't expect that stuff you hear on the radio - they have a very alternative crowd here most nights and play lots of good alternative/indy/metal/goth tracks. One of the best things that makes this place a Dublin landmark is the fact you can park your bike (motorcycle) right out front and you're just a few metres from Grafton street. I hit this place at least once a week and any time I am driving up to Stephens Green. The staff are brilliant (many are bikers themselves) and the atmosphere is brilliant.
-
Review from Tiffany G.
14/5/2010
I was in Dublin for a week and found Bruxelles by chance one Saturday night. It was by far the best music bar that I had been to in Dublin. There was just such a great vibe there. Everyone was really friendly, the pints were tasty and the music ROCKED! It was soo good that I went back one more time - and still had a fabulous night. The next time I am in Dublin, I will definitely be making an appearance at Bruxelles.
-
Review from M M.
Dublin
10/7/2009
Excellent rock club downstairs with good crowd and lots of regulars so fun friendly atmosphere! It can get very crowded down here but it only adds to the fun feel of the place!
-
Review from Brónagh M.
Dublin
5/2/2010 1 photo
so your walking down Grafton street and you have a thirst for a pint, into Bruxelles you go, a lovely old looking Irish pub with long windows and benches underneath them. the bar almost covers one length of the room which gives it a lovely old school feel. its a sunny day so you have another pint out side, you are protected by a big awning and fency things but you still feel like your part of the pub and part of the street at the same time.
anyway you have had two pints at this stage and your bladder is calling for an enptying so down the dark stairs you go into a totally different world of rockers and long hair, black clothes and leather, you quickly do your business and run up the stairs again before your swallowed by the scary basement!
now i realise that all the other reviews say how great a place it is downstairs but rock music has never appealed to me really, i find it a bit scary! but im sure that it is a great place, i just like light and sunshine and happy music! -
Review from Susan D.
9/6/2010
We are from the U.S. and stumbled upon this place last week for lunch. Fantastic! One of the highlights of our trip.
I am writing not so much a review, as to ask what those great little pickes were on my plate (I had the Ploughman's Platter), and can I buy them here?
I am not a huge pickle fan but these were less salty/vinegary than our dills and yet not as sweet as our sweet pickles.
It wasn't the Branston pickles--that is what we call pickle relish (only ours is green). And the Branstons--that I know I can buy here at one of the British Tea shops.
Sue -
Review from Karina C.
Dublin
3/12/2009
I used to go here when I was in college and hang out in the downstairs section where all the heavy metal folk and rockers are! These days I tend to stay upstairs though! I love it in here. It's both cosy and lively and the staff are really friendly. It's open late at the weekends too so it's an ideal place to go when the other pubs are closing up. They serve food and while I've never eaten here I know people who have and would recommend it.
