Oostende Questions

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Feb 2007, 11:54

We have booked our annual holiday and we are going to Oostende this year.

What are the best things to see? I have seen the Mercator, had a boat trip (will have another one as I love boat trips) and visited the airport.

What about good places to eat?

Any good bars (with a big selection of beers)?

My Belgium guide books only feature Oostende briefly and never have so much as a decent map.

jan_olieslagers · Post by **jan_olieslagers** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:16

Consider the "Fort Napoleon" if you're into history.

regi · Post by **regi** » 20 Feb 2007, 15:19

Grilled chicken for 3 pounds in De Koekoek in the Langestraat.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 20 Feb 2007, 18:45

Thanks.

Fort Napoleon sounds like it might be worth a look.

What about good bars? Now that I can't take beer home with me I have to try as many types as I can while I'm in Belgium.

Post by **sn26567** » 21 Feb 2007, 09:45

Excellent food in nice surroundings: the "Ostend Queen" on the jetty. Decorated by famous artist Antonio Pinto, who performed similar jobs at "Belga Queen" in Brussels and the Château du Lac on the Lake of Genval. Promoted by the owners of "Comme chez soi", the three-starred restaurant of Brussels.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 21 Feb 2007, 11:17

Thanks Andre - that sounds like one for a special treat.

I love to have seafood in Oostende, that's what I've usually had when we've had a meal there, as opposed to having an afternoon trip like we did last year. We found a nice place which we went in a couple of times but it's now either closed or changed its decor and we can't find it (we didn't remember the name, just the look of it).

I assume the place with the crocodile on the roof is still there

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 21 Feb 2007, 12:13

There is an old fishing vessel in an indoor museum of fishing industry, not far from the railway station, if I remember well, quite interesting to visit.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 21 Feb 2007, 16:16

airazurxtror wrote:There is an old fishing vessel in an indoor museum of fishing industry, not far from the railway station, if I remember well, quite interesting to visit.

I think I know the one you mean, I took a photo of it but have never had a look round. I would also like to have another look at the Mercator, I found it very interesting before and would like to video and photograph the bits I missed first time round.

If I can't find any good bars in Oostende then I might have to go to Oudenaarde or Antwerp to be reunited with my beloved :drink:

LeFreak · Post by **LeFreak** » 22 Feb 2007, 10:09

Lafayette in de Langestraat .. a very nice bar where they play jazz & soul and which was once one of the places Marvin Gaye hung out at when he lived in Ostend.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 22 Feb 2007, 11:48

What about the beer list? As a rule, I don't like any live music when I have a drink, over here you get deafened by whining microphones, loud instruments etc which spoils going out for a drink. I don't mind music from CDs but I hate the live stuff.

The big attraction for me with Belgian bars is what beers they serve, as I can never get them at home I have to make the best of my time in Belgium.

The best one I've visited so far is Cambrinus in Brugge, their beer list is better than Beertje and it is a bigger place.

The Pub in Oudenaarde is also very nice but don't go on Wednesday because it is closed. (And for me their beer list is to die for! It is a Roman house).

Koenie666 · Post by **Koenie666** » 22 Feb 2007, 12:07

I believe there is a good irish pub in the langestraat but I'm not sure. Probably from the same "chain" as the one in Bruges. (google Celtic Ireland or something)

They sometimes have live music.... and offcourse serve belgian beer beside their guiness

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 22 Feb 2007, 15:19

I won't go anywhere with live music, but thanks for the suggestions. Time in Belgium is too short to waste it on Guinness.

Beers I like to see on a beer list:

Romy
Sloeber
Ename
Mater
Black Hole
Leffe 9
Leffe Vieille Cuvee
Tongerlo
Ciney
Westmalle Tripel
Maes
Jupiler
Stella
Arabier
Oerbier
Oeral
Bos Keun
Vieux Temps

to name a small selection

Tompompier · Post by **Tompompier** » 22 Feb 2007, 15:54

Comet wrote:I won't go anywhere with live music, but thanks for the suggestions. Time in Belgium is too short to waste it on Guinness.

Beers I like to see on a beer list:

Romy
Sloeber
Ename
Mater
Black Hole
Leffe 9
Leffe Vieille Cuvee
Tongerlo
Ciney
Westmalle Tripel
Maes
Jupiler
Stella
Arabier
Oerbier
Oeral
Bos Keun
Vieux Temps

to name a small selection

Jupiler, Maes, Romy and Stella are just PILS beers, so no special beers at all...

Maybe you can try following beers too....

Westvleteren Tripel
La Chouffe
Orval
Chimay Tripel
Grimbergen Tripel
Piraat
Kasteelbier
Vlaskop
Houten Kop
Pauwel Kwak
Delirium Tremens
Malheur
Pater Lieven
Hapkin

and many, many more...

Cheers,

Tompompier

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 22 Feb 2007, 18:56

Tompompier wrote: Jupiler, Maes, Romy and Stella are just PILS beers, so no special beers at all...

Maybe you can try following beers too....

Westvleteren Tripel
La Chouffe
Orval
Chimay Tripel
Grimbergen Tripel
Piraat
Kasteelbier
Vlaskop
Houten Kop
Pauwel Kwak
Delirium Tremens
Malheur
Pater Lieven
Hapkin

and many, many more...

Cheers,

Tompompier

The ones I quoted are unavailable where I live, so while they are not special to people who live in Belgium, they are very special to someone from England who only gets to drink them on a very few occasions each year.

From your list:

Vlaskop
Houten Kop are both unavailable where I am so I would look out for them

La Chouffe is only available in big bottles with a cork round here

Orval :pukey: tastes like polio vaccine (not joking!)

Chimay Tripel I like that but haven't had it for a while now

Grimbergen Tripel
Piraat
Kasteelbier are available where I live. I especially like Kasteel Blond.

Delirium Tremens
Malheur
Pater Lieven
Hapkin are all very nice too. I also like Delirium Nocturnum.

Pauwel Kwak love its glass! I always try to have that in Belgium because of the glass.

But of course no holiday would be complete without some of my darling beloved Sloeber :drink: :drink: