Best Cafes to Work in Brussels

One of the beauties of working remotely is the ability to work out of a new city. Meeting new people and being inspired by new surroundings is crucial to maintain motivation and creativity in your profession. One of our Brandsmen spent a year in Brussels working frequently from coffee shops in Europe’s capital city.

After spending copious amounts of time consuming caffeinated beverages in Brussels, we’ve put together a list of the best cafes to work in Brussels. While there are other coffee shops to work from, these are the cream of the crop.

JAT Cafe

• Internet Consistency: 9/10
• Coffee Quality: 9/10
• Ambiance: 7/10
• Work Setup: 9/10

This was my go-to cafe during my time in Brussels and it became my second home. JAT Cafe is a popular coffee joint just outside of the downtown tourist area. While it can get a bit crowded around lunch time, it’s big enough that I never once had trouble finding a place to sit down, and there are plugs available for nearly every seat. The staff are friendly and don’t seem to mind digital workers as there are always some working from there. The coffee is excellent, they have some decent food options, and most importantly the Internet was very consistent with good speeds.

Cafe Maison du Peuple

• Internet Consistency: 9/10
• Coffee Quality: 7/10
• Ambiance: 9/10
• Work Setup: 7/10

Situated just off a beautiful square in the St. Gilles neighborhood, this was the place to go when I wanted to enjoy my surroundings while I was working, while still being able to get some work done. Cafe Maison du Peuple is a hybrid establishment serving as a coffee shop, restaurant, and popular bar in the evening. It’s got a very stylish feel to it and it’s a great place for a long work day that start with a coffee and ends with a beer. The internet is consistent, but there’s not too many plugs around as many of the tables are in the center of the rooms. This place definitely doesn’t cater to the remote worker as much as other places, but in general they don’t seem to mind and odds are there will definitely be a few other people on their laptop.

Belga & CO

• Internet Consistency: 8/10
• Coffee Quality: 9/10
• Ambiance: 8/10
• Work Setup: 8/10

Truth be told I’m currently sitting in this coffee shop as I draft this article. Belga & Co is a great little cafe located in the trendy, Chatelain neighborhood. It’s not one that you usually find on other lists for good remote working coffee shops in Brussels, which is a good thing because it’s a smaller place. It’s got an African theme, a wonderful patio and a very comfortable feel to it. The coffee is excellent, there are an ample amount of plugs, and the banana bread alone is a reason to check it out. It’s a nice mix of people working, reading, or just chatting over a cup of joe.

Ultimate Atome

• Internet Consistency: 8/10
• Coffee Quality: 7/10
• Ambiance: 9/10
• Work Setup: 7/10

Located off a gorgeous square in the Matonge neighborhood of Ixelles is a very famous restaurant serving up traditional Belgian cuisine at a fair price. Ultime Atome seems to be open all the time and it’s a massive place with a really cool Art Deco style. There’s a huge patio that pours out onto the streets and the WIFI seems to flow quite nicely for both indoor and outdoor working. It’s more of a restaurant than a coffee shop, but because it’s so large it’s easy to find a space to work and the staff don’t seem to mind. It’s not setup for remote workers so it’s not always easy to find a place to plug in your laptop, but if you come with a fully charged battery on a nice day, you will be very content sitting outside watching the world go by in between work  tasks.

OR Espresso Bar (2 Locations)

• Internet Consistency: 7/10
• Coffee Quality: 9/10
• Ambiance: 8/10
• Work Setup: 8/10

OR Espresso Bar has tasty, strong coffee that’s guaranteed to get your mind moving. There are two locations in both Place Jourdan as well as the heart of central Brussels. Both locations have a clean, modern feel to them and remote workers are more than welcome. The Place Jourdan location is larger and a bit better equipped for bringing your laptop, but the central location is a bit more cozy with a great little second floor. The internet can be a tad spotty at times, but the ambiance and quality of coffee often made up for that.

Remote Working from Brussels

Overall Brussels is a great city for digital nomads and remote workers. Whether you are living there or just trying to get some work done during a trip, these work friendly coffee shops are all great places to visit. If you have any questions about working remotely in Brussels or suggestions of other places to add to this list, please contact a Brandsmen.