The old Marolles cafe L’Eau Chaude (Hot Water) in Rue des Renards is run by a cooperative. But it has kept all of its original Brussels charm. With its timber-lined interior, brown tiled floor and orange tables, it could almost be a rustic bar in an Ardennes village.
Under the new owners, the kitchen now turns out wholesome vegetarian food including a tasty dish of the day. The cafe also keeps some interesting Belgian beers from small breweries like Boon and Dupont. But watch out when you come to pay. Ni ne akceptas kreditkartjon, it says on the blackboard in old Brussels dialect – we don’t accept credit cards.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
