Bar review: Champagnotheque

Some girlfriends and I rendez-vous’ed at the Champagnotheque last week for a few glasses of bubbly. I love Champagne, or any type of bubbly wine. Opening a bottle just adds a lovely sense of occasion to anything, even something as mundane as a Thursday evening. Even if you have nothing more to celebrate than the fact that a bad day is over or that it’s Thursday, mark the fact with the pop of a cork from a bottle of bubbly. ANY bottle of bubbly – you don’t have to spend on Moet and Chandon when less expensive alternatives are out there from all over the world.

Inside the shop

Anyway, we marked this particular evening in the Champagnotheque. It is a beautiful little shop, imaginatively decorated with (empty) bottle of the produce. You can make yourself at home one of the cinema seats and pull up to a barrel while sampling bottles.

The cinema seat seating

If you are planning on going there, you should reserve, or at least let Eric know that you are coming (details below). While I was there, I heard the hosts speaking a variety of languages, from fluent English to well, fluent Italian (or at least better than mine).

Six of us wracked up and deposited €50 each. With this, we were proposed a selection of three bottles, including one for €150!!! We asked if we could change this one for two that came to the same amount. No problem! For our money, we got:

• Patrick Buache brut blanc de blancs U.V.
• Henri Goutorbe Cuvée tradition brut U.V.
• Max Cochut Cuvée Selection brut premier cru 2008
• Jean Pierre Launois Brut Blanc de blancs 2008.

The evenings' drinkies

All of them were delicious and tasted very different to each other, just showing the variety of choices and flavours that Champagnes can offer.

While we opened the first bottle, the other bottles were put of ice. The shop was open while we were there, and so the host was occupied informing and serving people buying bottles while looking after us at the same time. We were under a slight time constraint, and we had to ask – once – for the next bottle. We also got some cheese and bread to help line our stomachs. It is important to note that the Champagneotheque does not serve food, so please be responsible and eat something before you go there (like we did).

The shop window from the inside

Overall, the Champagneotheque is perfect if you want to do something a little different with your friends. You can also drop in and enjoy a glass on its own (prices start from about €15 a glass though!). But as you would have to eat beforehand, it could end up being a bit pricy should you not eat at home. You can set your own budget though – we chose to contribute €50 each. 

Champagnotheque

11 rue de la Madeleine

1000 Brussels

(between Gare Centrale and the Grande Place)

www.champagnotheque.com

ev@champagnotheque.be
T. 32 (0)2 223 20 20

Some of the inside signs