Hi everyone, long time lurker here. Just a quick question. I just scored a reservation at Westvleteren next week to pick up a couple of crates (WooHoo), and was wondering what else there is to do there. Am I right in assuming there is a cafe/gift shop were you can have lunch and buy some glasses, right? Anything else worth doing when you are there? Thanks a lot.
You won't be able to spend any time at the monastery but as mentioned by Domingo, In De Verde is across the street and can satisfy your glass/lunch needs. However I would recommend one of the finest beer/food pairing restaurants in Belgium called the Hommelhof which is in nearby Watou for lunch instead but by all means grab a beer and get your glassware at In De Verde. A great beer store is in the countryside is called Noel Cuvelier-also plenty of glassware there and a large selection of beer. In the nearby town of Poperinge there is a hop museum and if you are there on a Saturday De Plukker's tap room is open, and I would see if you could join a tour at Sint Bernardus near Watou.
Very closeby is this great pub / restaurant : https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22404/ , and across the street from this are De Struise Brouwers (taproom open on Saturdays) : https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/15237/ . Great times...
Thanks a lot to everyone on for the fantastic and detailed advice, that all sounds great. I think we will check out In De Verde even if we just pop in to have a look and get some glasses. Seems like it makes sense seeing as it is right by the monastery. Both Hommelhof and 't Molenhof look like great places to eat and drink in. We've got three days in the area so even if we don't make it when we are collecting the Westvleterens at the monastery, I'm sure we'll try and get over to them along with Noel Cuvelier and the hop museum. Thanks a lot for these recommendations. Unfortunately we are only around mid-week so we won't get a chance to visit De Struise when it is open on Saturday. That is a real shame as it is one of my all time favourite Belgium breweries. I take it if we drive over there mid week there is nothing to see, do, or drink? I'm hoping I'll get a chance to drink some of their beer regardless either in Ypres or around West Flanders in general. I'm only across the channel in London, so will just have to make the trip out to the brewery on a Saturday another time! Thanks again to everyone for their replies.
You can drink most of the Struise beers at 't Molenhof ! They serve great meals with accompanied beers also...
Great, thanks Ben. Will have to aim to make a stop there for lunch one day (thankfully I am not doing the driving )
This is good advice. Although personally I would visit Struise Brouwers taproom as well as (or instead of) De Plukker’s on a Saturday afternoon in that region.
Was just in the area this last weekend. Would recommend you pass on Hommelhof. Menu ideas were great but execution was sorely lacking. Had some of the driest pork shoulder I’ve ever had before. Just completely hammered. Best thing was the rillette at the beginning.
