Axel Van Tuijn is co-founder of Compagnie ABC, a group of bars in Brussels he created with childhood friends, Bruno Bogaert and Chuck Bindels.
“We design and run neighbourhood bars where people can come together, connect, and celebrate. For us, it’s about the balance between the setting, the lighting, the atmosphere, the music, and the food. Up to how people are greeted when coming in."
You guys run several bars in Brussels. Please take me through them?
"Each place is closely tied to its neighborhood and a moment of the day. Bar du Matin is our historic HQ in Forest. Morning café and croissants, lunch canteen, and a lively bar at night. Large terrace, DJ sets, concerts, blind tests, and a very local energy. Café Flora, on the Parvis de Saint-Gilles, serves a sunny aperitif, homemade burgers, DJ sets every weekend, and monthly concerts. Chez Franz, a Brussels institution between Place Brugmann and Châtelain, has a comforting bistro feel, a sunny terrace, a bustling brunch, and jazz concerts every Sunday evening. Dinghi is more intimate, focused on bitter cocktails — pump Spritz, Negroni, Sbagliato… Tussen, our latest in Uccle, is a neighborhood bar that shifts between brunch, dinner, and evenings out with friends. Designed as an “in-between” space, bridging day and night. Jalousy, a well-known spot in Brussels nightlife that we recently took over, is a hybrid between a cocktail bar and a club. Spread over two levels, it’s designed to welcome people early, keep them late, and offer a different way to experience the night from Thursday to Saturday. We try to make each place singular, with its own character, but still recognizable.”
“Start the weekend at Chez Franz on Saturday or Sunday morning with a mushroom and pecorino truffle omelette from Julien Hazard, paired with toasted bread from Fine Bakery. On the last Thursday of the month, head to Bar du Matin for a live concert to discover a new artist. At Dinghi – a Negroni, of course. And in Café Tulipant, take your time sharing a few small plates over a relaxed drink. Gather friends at Café Flora for a decadent pulled pork burger with sweet potato fries and a house draft beer. As the night kicks off, sip a Basil Smash at Bar du Marché while listening to a local DJ set, and before midnight, start at the cocktail bar at Jalousy and continue downstairs. Finish Sunday with a family brunch at Tussen, with brioche toast topped with wild mushrooms and extra bacon.”
TheList is all about neighbourhoods. How important is a neighbourhood for the bar? And the other way around?
"The neighbourhood is key. We’ve always focused on busy areas and main streets, mostly around squares like Flagey, Châtelain, Albert, and Fernand Cocq. Before settling on a location, we pay close attention to the local environment — the mix of bars, restaurants, and residential spaces, potential nuisances, the diversity of the clientele, and transport accessibility. Brussels has a few strategic hotspots, and we want to be part of them."
Nightlife and partying have shifted. A younger crowd drinks less… bakery raves? Is that something you notice?
“Yes, definitely. We’re seeing several trends. Alcohol consumption is declining in wealthy countries, especially among young people. In 2011, the average person in the OECD consumed the equivalent of 8.9 liters of alcohol; by 2021, that had fallen to 8.6. The large brewers and alcohol groups we work with confirm this regularly.At the same time, the range of products has evolved. Non-alcoholic beer and other NA options used to be undrinkable, full of sugar, but they’re gradually becoming very interesting. Functional drinks are also emerging, boosted with plant extracts like ginseng, L-theanine, lion’s mane, and more. People are increasingly going out for the experience itself, not just “to have a drink”: concerts, DJs, communities, games…I don’t think bars will disappear. I’m convinced people will always enjoy gathering, socializing, exchanging ideas, and celebrating events with friends or family, but the bar will change."