Renowned Brussels café re-opens under name Greenwich Modern

The famed Greenwich café on Rue des Chartreux in downtown Brussels re-opened today following a closure of seven months. It is now known as Greenwich Modern.

The Greenwich has been at number 7 on Rue des Chartreux since 1907 and is now a protected monument. It was known for its chess boards and players who would spend hours over beers and games. Famous Belgians were regulars of the Greenwich through the years, including painter René Magritte.

Brewer Alken-Maes owns the building and went looking for new management when the previous brasserie owners declared bankruptcy last May. A new brasserie, Greenwich Modern, has now been opened by Cédric Gérard, who also runs the Café des Halles at Halles Saint-Géry.

Jazz & electronic

The historical décor has been cleaned up and a piano added for a touch of jazz. There is also a new DJ booth, which, says Gérard will feature mostly Brussels DJs.

The menu has been limited to a few Belgian essentials, including vol-au-vent, which “simmers in a lambic that we brew together with Bobbi Brewery,” Gérard told Bruzz. “It ages in the cellars of the Halles Saint-Géry.”

The new Greenwich opened without a lot of bells and whistles, says Gérard “because we want to give neighbourhood residents the chance to discover it again at their leisure”.