After Forest Park’s long-awaited renovation its historic guinguette bar has also reopened, with a new chalet restaurant set to open in 2026.
Géraldine and Alice, who first launched the project in 2017, are back with a new concept, this time with the help of Woodpecker, La Derniere Heure (DH) reports. The pair had run the park kiosk bar together for four seasons before the renovation work began.
As the works were finishing in the park, the Forest municipal council began searching for caterers to reopen the site – and the two jumped at the opportunity.
In the interim period, they had kept busy by having done a string of other restaurant and catering jobs, including at the National Theatre and Bozar.
Credit: La Guinguette du Parc de Forest / Facebook
On the menu, the pair say they are trying to have something for every budget. "We have burgers, crocs, Greek platters and tapas. We also have a vegetarian option," they told DH.
"For drinks, you'll find Brasserie de la Senne and Brasserie La Mule for draught beers, with other microbreweries also on the menu, as well as craft soft drinks."
A new chalet
As part of Forest Park’s years of restoration, the nearby historic chalet was also renovated after years of abandon. This too will soon have a new catering business established on the premises.
This has been made possible with the help of Woodpecker, who are adding both the guinguette and the chalet to their already rich portfolio of catering establishments and kiosks across the Belgian capital.
The chalet of the renovated Forest Park, June 2025. Credit: Beliris
"We are planning to open in spring 2026," say Géraldine and Alice. "We still have time to see how we will distinguish between the two places. Ultimately, we see the guinguette as a place where people can come and relax without having to buy anything, while the chalet will be more of a restaurant. But all that remains to be seen."
While the chalet will be open all year round, the guinguette will only be open during the summer months from noon to 22:00 every day – with plans to open earlier on the weekend.
"We'll stay until the weather no longer allows it. We plan to close at the end of September or beginning of October."
