Best for chilling out
Vino Vino
Owned by the down-to-earth and welcoming Rick, Vino Vino attracts a young and lively crowd for affordable after-dinner drinks. With several beers available on draft, a decent selection of wines by the glass and a substantial menu of tapas and larger dishes including albondigas and lasagne, Vino Vino is a great place to relax after a long day's pavement-pounding. 15 Grauwwerkersstraat, Bruges
De Republiek
With Cinema Lumière located upstairs, this large cafe-bar attracts an arty crowd for pre- and post-film beverages. The drinks list is extensive, with an assortment of rums, beers and cocktail pitchers, including mojito and Singapore sling on offer. There's also a large outdoor terrace for sunny evenings.
36 Sint-Jakobsstraat, Bruges; derepubliek.be
Retsin's Lucifernum
A truly one-off venue, Retsin's Lucifernum is a private house, which opens to the public on Saturday nights only. You'll need to arrive early and ring the bell to get in, but once inside this brilliantly bizarre bar-cum-gallery you'll find it's well worth the effort. Order a potent rum cocktail, enjoy the Latin American live band and let the oddness wash over you.
6–8 Twijnstraat, Bruges
Best for music
Hot Club de Gand
A lot of places call themselves jazz clubs when they aren't – this is the real deal however. Hiding at the end of a spooky alleyway this is a mellow, inspired jazz club with a warm atmosphere. The tiny main room decorated with musical instruments is packed with silent, engrossed 30-somethings listening to live free improv, while upstairs and in the heated terrace outside, others chat and feast on tapas.
15b Schuddevisstraatje - Groenten markt, Ghent; hotclubdegand.be
Best for music
Lafayette
Every night of the week Lafayette rocks to its own beat, drawing a varied mix of drinkers of all ages to its dark and moody interior. Owner Paco is extremely passionate about music, frequently manning the decks himself and spinning an eclectic mix of jazz, disco, funk and Belgian soul to which feisty locals spontaneously burst into dance, twirling around the space between the small red formica tables.
12 Langestraat, Ostend
Ancienne Belgique
Mingle with Brussels' musos in this huge, multi-room venue. Catch a gig, choosing from an action-packed roster of music, from local Belgian jazz-rock and Euro indie to international acts such as Peaches and Bonny Prince Billy.
110 Anspachlaan, Brussels; abconcerts.be/en
Best for cocktails
Stereo Sushi
This achingly cool sushi restaurant in Antwerp is also a club, turning up the volume to get everyone dancing after the dinner service. It hosts mainstream DJs like Hedkandi, as well as playing everything from soul to R&B and hip-hop. 6 Luikstraat, Antwerp; stereosushi.be
Brazza
This lively cocktail bar has an extensive list, which incorporates classics such as tequila sunrise and whisky sour alongside some inspired inventions, including the dangerous femme fatale. Take a pew at the long wooden bar and watch owner Luis mix the drinks or, on warm evenings, lounge on the deck out front and survey the action of nearby nightspot-packed Langestraat.
5-7 Monacoplein, Ostend
Loui Bar
If you're in Brussels and in a dressing up mood, take a trip uptown to Conrad Hotel's swish and exclusive Loui bar. Pull up a bar stool and sample the award-winning cocktails of debonair head barman Nicolas Everard, who specialises in making pretty pink drinks with a flourish.
Conrad Hotel, 71 Avenue Louis, Brussels; conradhotels.hilton.com
Villa Ernesto
This Latin-themed bar in Leuven is the place to shake your stuff to all things salsa and Latin, while refreshing yourself with a cocktail. Cuban-inspired decor and a friendly crowd make this venue a bit like a holiday within a holiday.
51 Mechelsestraat, Leuven
Best for clubbing
DirtyDancing
If you're willing to travel a little out of town, are pining for Hoxton and fancy something a bit more, well, elitist, make a date at the fashiontastic DirtyDancing night. You have to pull out all the stops to get past the door staff to the electro mayhem within this chic, superclub-style venue.
Café Mirano, 38 Chausse de Louvain, Brussels
Mille Mechelen
If you're in the market for some laidback dance and a supercool crowd, hit the (packed) dancefloor at this Mechelen local's favourite, where you can party to live DJs with a mixed-age crowd until the wee small hours of the morning.
10 Nauwstraat, Mechelen; mille-mechelen.be
Café Charlatan
This young, fun Ghent favourite has several rooms, and is incredibly eclectic, hosting everything from live concerts to DJs, and encompassing rock, eggae, funk, hip hop, rhythm & blues, disco and dance music.
6 Vlasmarkt, Ghent; charlatan.be
Scheld'Apen
This club is far from the city centre, but it's famous for being an avant-garde hangout for local artists and musicians. One resident fondly recalls a fancy dress night when everyone came in cardboard boxes. Music can be relied upon to be both experimental and bohemian.
36 d'Herbouvillekaai, Antwerp; scheldapen.be
