Estaminet Toone
An old estaminet down a covered alley off the Petite rue des Bouchers, under the Toone marionette theatre, with Belgian beers and puppets on every wall.
Le Cirio opened in 1886, taking its name from Francesco Cirio, the Italian merchant who made his fortune in tinned food, and the room has barely changed since. Dark panelling, engraved mirrors, brass rails, and a clientele that has always mixed market traders with pensioners and, more recently, everyone else.
The house drink is the half-en-half: half still white wine, half sparkling, served cold in a small glass. Most people at the surrounding tables will be drinking one.
Come for the room rather than the kitchen. The croque-monsieur and the shrimp croquettes are perfectly good, and the point is that you are eating them here.
It is the one place we send guests on their first evening. Nothing has been restyled since 1886, the waiters wear waistcoats without irony, and nobody will hurry you out of your seat.
Public transport
- Tram
- 4 10
- Bus
- 46 48 86 95
- Station
- Bourse
How far is it?
| From | Straight line | On foot |
|---|---|---|
| Grand-Place | 330 m | approx. 6 min |
| Manneken-Pis | 400 m | approx. 8 min |
| Our apartment | 560 m | approx. 11 min |
| Brussels Central | 640 m | approx. 12 min |
| Place du Grand Sablon | 940 m | approx. 17 min |
