Latest reviews from Cassel

“Old fashioned restaurant packed with old pictures, flemish games, old farmer stuff. Nice selection of local beers. The food is no nonsens good, but a bit pricy for what you get.“

JefVerstraete 13 days ago

“A regional shop on the main square selling a good range of local bottled beers, a lot in 750ml bottles as well as lots of other items.“

Jerseyislandbeer 1782 days ago

“A outstanding café on Cassel's main square with very friendly service serving quality Northern French & selected other excellent French beers. They also serve basic but hearty food. I spent a very enjoyable evening here on coming on my own, but the owner & his friends were so friendly, they even shared some 750ml bottles with me to taste & would not accept payment. I was able to purchased a few bottles of take away.“

Jerseyislandbeer 1782 days ago

“A atmospheric rustic café serving food at the top of the hill a short distance from Mont Cassel, a 5 minute walk from the town centre. It was a sunny summers afternoon when I visited so I managed to get a seat on the small terrace. Outstanding local beers from the French part of the region on draft and in bottle & friendly service makes this a must visit place when visiting Cassel. A tiny shop just outside the front door with all of the beers for sale to take away is the cherry on top“

Jerseyislandbeer 1782 days ago

“Small Estaminet with a great spot in Cassel’s main square. Expect a typical setting inside with hops on the ceiling and old objects, pictures and assorted Flemish knick knacks and games from the region dotted about. It was a lovely Sunday (late) afternoon on our visit so we sat outside for the waitress to take our order. Admirable bottle selection focussed on local breweries covering all bases from traditional well-loved classics through to modern newcomers such as Au Pif from nearby Steenvoorde. On tap you can expect exclusive beers from Thiriez brewed especially for Kerelshof, under the name Bierlala. Today was a pils and, number 4 in the series, an oatmeal stout. I picked up a Bierlala India Stout in bottle form from a shop in Paris earlier this year but i believe draft is only available here. To sum up, an excellent spot to relax, people watch and enjoy good Northern beer and simple Flemish food.“

minutemat 2166 days ago

“A small brewery just 100 meters from the city gate. Very friendly brewer that speak a little English. Small bar were you can sample his 3 different beers at a very affordable price.“

TEJA 2269 days ago

“A small tobac store with a few bottles and taps. Fast service and well tempered beer. At my visit they didn't have anything very exciting unfortunately.“

TEJA 2327 days ago

“A very friendly local place where everyone knows everyone and shakes their hands or cheek kisses when coming. Dogs are left to go around and sniff and say hello as well. Small pub with around 15 beers and 4 on tap. Low prices for such good beers. Everyone speaks French and just a few words of English.“

TEJA 2327 days ago

“Nice old place with hops all over the roof. Old tables and chairs make it look like an 100 year old beer place. Not so many beers on tap, but interesting selection.“

TEJA 2327 days ago

“When you are in the north of France the place to go for local micros is Racines. 15 big and one small bottle for less than 80 euros??. (APR. 5 Eu a bottle.) They have some other dellicatessen that I just bought but not sampled.“

TEJA 2330 days ago

“At the very top of the hill - don’t expect signposts in this part of the world. Atmospheric tavern, now more of an eats house, with a list of 100% northeastern French brews, mainly from within 20 km, plus regional snacking. Its hilltop setting offers good views of the surrounding flatlands, though he wooden interior, rickety-rackety furnishings and sheltered patio are more striking. They have a small shop in which all the beers are on sale for take-away, along with the regional produce on the menu.“

Tim Webb 2497 days ago

“Great little place with excellent Saison Dupont on draught and about a dozen others. Classic simple northern French café where a nod and a bonjour might not be enough - physical handshaking may be called for. Gentleman please be sure to check out the lats.“

Tim Webb 2497 days ago

“So, hearing that a Canadian had come all the way to Europe, visited one of my favourite bars in the world, slammed it, then been so upset that he did not visit any more bars worth reviewing on his whole trip despite being at least 2.5 hours from the nearest international airport I felt I had to review it. So, er, nothing has changed, it’s still a great, atmospheric, slightly Celtic fringe, beer-leaning café, in the best small town beer destination in France - an historic hill town just 30km from the Channel ports, still largely undiscovered by weekenders. The latest addition is a black IPA, Bierlala, created with Thiriez brewery. Local andouillette and potjevleesch with frites and salad. A great locale run by a man whose destiny was to be here. As for the last review, do you know what, call me a disrupter but I suspect that Hoser never came here. He’s a little bit of a liar I suspect. I suggest his review is hosed away. (Sorry H if you were cloned.)“

Tim Webb 2498 days ago

“Garbage food, think I have had better food out of a microwave at 7/11. The bathroom was mess bad mangement and a bad visit.“

Hoser 2572 days ago

“This place is a friendly local TABAC/PMU which happens to stock some good beers. There are better bars for beer in Cassel, but the Sainte Cecile does what it does very well, offering friendly service to its many locals, and visitors alike.“

JimGent 2690 days ago

“The beer list contains some strange choices, and it’s a shame there is only industrial beer on tap, but the bottled St Bernardus along with Anosteke and 3 Monts are the highlights, with ok prices for France. Sit on the terrace with a bottle and enjoy one of the best views in northern France.“

JimGent 2711 days ago

“New Brewery 100 metres from the Grand Place (Grote Markt) in Cassel (Kassel). Walk through the old arch opposite the cafe Trois Moulins and it is 100 metres on your left. Good quality blond beer!“

JimGent 2711 days ago

“Bar 150 metres from the Grand Place in the direction of St Omer. Not promoting itself as a specialist beer bar, but as a locals bar with some good beers. Its can be open when others in Cassel are closed (Monday nights for example). Normally a good guest beer from Van Ecke or Dupont, plus 4 or 5 decent bottled beers. Friendly greeting from the energetic Virginie, and the locals will not bite. Pool table and Darts, sometimes live music.“

JimGent 3025 days ago

“Another absurd bar in Cassel, the hidden gem of département du Nord. By the side of the Hôtel de Ville, sometimes open to an absurdly late hour, sometimes closing by 19.00. The beers have to be spotted. Engagement with the owner is essential. Trip Advisor would loathe it. True beer travellers might just get it.“

Tim Webb 3260 days ago

“The ultimate French all-purpose café, where everybody knows your name. And where you ate last night. The beers are hidden from view - ask for bières spéciales. The frites are the best in Europe. The chat is local. The design is classical small café.“

Tim Webb 3260 days ago

“Lovely restaurant in a wonderful location with fantastic views. Good choice of French beers. Service was very good, but the food was pretty mediocre although good value. Not sure if it’s ok to come for a drink only.“

baxterfish 3402 days ago

“Nice cafe with a good choice of French & Belgian beers.“

baxterfish 3402 days ago

“A pleasant stop-off, and an estaminet we’ve been meaning to call in to for a few years. Located at the top of the hill alongside the church on the corner of a cobbledy old road (park in the car park at the bottom of the hill). There’s a small shop as you walk in, adjacent to the main estaminet room with a decent selection of local cheese, terrine, biscuits, speculoos & honey and a small but enticing selection of local beer, including an intriguing high ABV honey-based liqueur.

The estaminet itself is a small room with a huge window boasting an incredible view over the Flanders region. The ledge in front of the window has a number of typical estaminet games which the table of 4 older ladies in front of us & the family next to us were working their way through. Beer wise there wasn’t a huge choice, perhaps 20 beers but thankfully mostly local, plus a few Normandy cidres . We picked a choulette Brune, Thiriez La Maline and a couple of cidres, plus a planche board. The planche wasn’t too great, the meat & cheese ok but the bread was cheap verging on stale and the decorative salad and carrots looked a little tired and wilted.

Visually this is a good example of a traditional estaminet, with good games and a good atmosphere. The food however could do with a little improvement.“

minutemat 3463 days ago

“Walked past this shop quite a few times in the past, but from the other side of the corner and dismissed it as a board game / gift shop. This time I passed from the other side and noticed cider and beer in the window, so ventured inside and found a decent selection of local beer on a display amongst some cheese, chocolate and biscuits. It was only after my partner pointed out the ’cave a bieres’ sign pointing downstairs that I realised what we had here. Downstairs was an excitable selection of beers from Flanders, Northern France and Belgium.. micro-breweries mainly but a few classics dotted about. For the eager ticker this is a must-visit stop-off en route to Belgium. And cheap too!“

minutemat 3463 days ago

“The classic hilltop estaminet of Cassel serving traditional hearty French dishes and offering a bottle list in the dozens. Though the bulk of the list is made up of relatively common BdG (3 Monts, Castelain, La Choulette, etc.), there were a number of new (to me) bottles to get excited about. The setting is gorgeous, the food quality, the beer selection exciting, and though it’s full of tourists it doesn’t suffer from that fact one bit.“

3fourths 3487 days ago

“What looks like only a gift shop from the outside contains a bricked basement inside with the largest selection of French beer in the region. The selection at the nearby Traditions en Nord was minuscule compared to Racine’s. Hoppy Belgian-style, hoppy Biere de Garde, a number of Thiriez bottles... a trip to Cassel for beer without a visit here would be a shame.“

3fourths 3487 days ago

“Visited the 26th September 2014. On the city center of Cassel you will find the place. Really nice with a good atmosphere on it. The place is really nice with good restoration. The service is really friendly and you will find really nice french beers selection on tap and on bottle. I really recommend it. The price are really good and you can also eat there but I didn’t try. A must to go it you are near to Cassel.“

sir__v 3497 days ago

“Yes it’s quaint....much more of a toursit restaurant than an Estaminet... service can be patchy. If you want the real thing... go to the Kerelshof...that’s where you will find the locals.“

JimGent 4032 days ago

“A very fetching place set atop the hill. The main seating area has a few sets of tables and chairs and a large window that looks out over the town of Cassel. It’s all very rustic and homey, with various beery and Frenchy bric a brac scattered about, linging the walls, hanging from the ceiling. The bottle range here is heavy on French breweries, which I liked, including some fairly uncommon offerings. The prices are very fair by my standards, the service more than adequate. I would have loved to have eaten here - the lone server/ food preparer was peeling potatoes in between serving us our beers, and the soups getting consumed at a table adjacent to ours smelled delightful - but alas this was not our stop for food. This place also has a small gift shop of sorts, where you can purchase many of the same beers from the menu to take away (at lower prices than drinking on-site) in addition to other foodstuffs, chocolates, etc. I would happily return to this establishment.“

Leighton 4047 days ago

“A lovely spot right on the plaza in central Cassel. It’s a rather unpretentious watering hole, just a smattering of tables and chairs, a small bar with a few tap lines, windows looking down on the square. The bottle list is around 30-50 bottles, mostly French and Belgian. They have a small menu of snacks and a more substantial entree listing. Prices on everything were quite reasonable. Service was decent, and thankfully one of our party spoke French (the waitress claimed to understand no English). Well worth a visit.“

Leighton 4048 days ago

“Visited around 3pm on Friday 22nd March ’13. Up on the hillside overlooking the valley below, the Kasteelhof is an old building with a small shop adjoining where you can buy beers, including their house beer, and food products to go. Great panoramic view from the smallish room which probably holds about 30 or so people over 7 or 8 tables. There were 2 or 3 couples finishing off their lunches when we arrived and the food looked very good. There is also a patio area at the rear but alas this day was not yielding patio weather! Bottled menu runs over a few pages, largely French micros from the surrounding area and a few beers on tap. Service was fine, one French speaking lady who managed to run food from the kitchen to the tables, serve us drinks, stoke the fire up and whilst she wasn’t doing all of that she was sat at a table in the corner peeling apples ... oh and she was also manning the shop where we took a bottle of the house beer - Kassels away with us. Nowhere obvious to park so we just plonked the car slightly further up the hill on the pavement by the castle. I’d definately head back here probably for a meal, 45 mins drive from Callais, an hour to Kortrijk. See also the Kerelshof in the centre of town.“

Theydon_Bois 4050 days ago

“Visited around 2pm on Friday 22nd March ’13. Located in the middle of the picturesque Grand Place the Kerelshof is smallish sized ’L’ shaped bar with the bar area itself directly in front of you as you enter. We sat to the right of the bar by a warming hearth. We were the only people there during our 30 minute visit. An impressive bottle list of some 30 + French beers and 40 + Belgians is backed up with 5 beers on tap. Service was fine - they only had us to look after mind - from the husband and wife team behind the place, he spoke a little English where as we spoke French with her. We had some tasty snacks in the form of cheese and sausage, very gernerous portions for a vfm E2.50 a plate! I’d definately recommend the detour to Cassel if you’re heading from the Eurotunnel to the mid or south of Belgium as we were. See also the Kastelhof around half a mile away. 45 minutes drive from Callais, then around an hour to Kortrijk.“

Theydon_Bois 4050 days ago

“On the ground floor this is a toy and craft shop cum deli, with about 30 local beers in 75cl bottles. In the cellar downstairs are roughly 100 more. Almost all from within 40 kilometres with some of the Belgian ones from slightly further afield. Good cheese and deli snacks too - hence the food rating. Cassel really is turning into THE touring base for northern bières de garde.“

Tim Webb 4058 days ago

“Thoughtful selection of regional French ales right in the center of Cassel. Local cheeses and meats too. A man could live well in a hotel on the square, self-catering from here by day and drinking in the Kerelshof by night. Lady got a bit upset when I snapped a photo, though. A good sign, maybe, that they aren’t used to tourists (yet).“

JoeinDahlem 4261 days ago

“We were caught in a traffic jam (!) driving out of Cassel on Easter Monday during their Fete de Fleurs, and I noticed this bottle shop. As we weren’t going anywhere, I asked if I could jump out and buy some bier de garde for the road. As I walked through the door, I noticed the restaurant, so I persuaded my traveling companions to pull over and join me. What a great place! Flemish beer, some from Trois Monts right down the road, and homemade pate, cheese, and sausages put us in the proper frame of mind to resume our trip. They had bundles of herbs and flowers hanging from the rafters to dry out. The views across the surrounding farmlands were beautiful. All in all, I would heartily recommend any beer travelers to Poperinghe, Watou, or Westvletern to consider a 20 kilometer detour to check this place out.“

Strebs 4279 days ago

“On my trip through northern France I ended up here... I’m not so attracted to the real "flemish identity" as it has a nasty political ring to it. But this place is just amazing. The food was great and reminded me of my grandmothers cooking. The drinks were great and the price really reasonable. And also important, the girl working there was stunning too. Anyhow, this is considered a Flemish estaminet... you just don’t find them that flemish anymore in Flanders, it’s sad but at least we have this great place!“

Jasua 4346 days ago

“A great little bottle shop on the small square at the heart of this excellent small hill town, run by locals for all-comers. It is a delicatessen too with cheeses, charcuterie and potted casseroles. Most of the beers are French micros with a few Belgian. A majority are in 75cl bottles.“

Tim Webb 4492 days ago

“One of the most authentic place i visited in the North of France. Beer selection is not so large but very well chosen“

tomahawk 4624 days ago

“Very good cafe to discover regional products. A good choice of beers from north of France. Food is simple but well-made.“

tomahawk 4624 days ago

“A real classic family run Estaminet! As authentic as they come!. St Sylvestre Luxe Moulin on tap, Hommelbier, Kappitel Pater, Vlaamsche Leeuw Blonde and Bruin and St SylvestreTrois Monts in 75cl. They also have a frituur in the adjoining room, where they make the best frites in the area (freshly cut and cooked in beef dripping), along with simple local dishes. Francine and her family are sure to make your visit a memorable one! Useful for a quick livener at 08:00!“

JimGent 5162 days ago

“ October 12, 2009 If travelling to the Biere de Garde region, I highly recommend a visit to this magnificently simple and wonderful. cafe. If you can’t get a seat on the patio get a seat by the window, you can see for miles and miles. It is not hard to envision the French farm worker in the fields. This place only serves beers from the region and wonderfully simple food. We had a great cheese and pate plate . There is a store attached to that only sells French biere from the region as well “

Hoser 5282 days ago

“An institution in Cassel, near the famous old mill on the top of Cassel. The choice of beer could be better but it’s retricted at regional products (Go to the shop inside, delicious products here). Anyway, you could taste the 3 monts brewed in Saint Syvestre Cappel near Cassel. The food is very good in my opinion with original cooking.The place is exceptional and the owner tell nice old stories from times to times. A place to see (before to go to the Kerelshof for the evening).“

mattfromlille 5727 days ago

“One of my favourites too (hi jim, that’s matthieu), an authentic place, full of taste and history (yes, it’s a friendly Vlaams area). Be sure the owner will have good councils for the beers. Here, you could taste the Hommelbier on tap, a delicious lager from Poperinge in Belgium. Some rare very good microbewery beers as Tim Webb wrote and the best Belgium and French beers anyway. The food is allright (i think of the hot ham with ancient cooked mustard and fried potatoes or the tart of leeks but also ’carbonnades’ and fries, among others). Cassel, one of my favourite place in France after travelling quite a lot. You could spend the night at ’La Gourgandine’ (bed and breakfast) owned by an artist friend of mine (usual client) and i think you would have spent a very good journey there. “

mattfromlille 5727 days ago

“Ok it’s my local in France, but it’s the main reason I moved there! One of the best beer selections in France, coupled with a great atmosphere. Has a definite Vlaams identity, as this area has a Dutch speaking history, so don’t upset some of the locals by calling them French! Hoser must have been in another bar, as the Kerelshof has been completely closed since Feb 2009, and is some way from the Tabac. Finally fully reopened since the beginning of November 2010, and as enjoyable as ever! Nicely developing beer card and food menu. Beers from De Molen (NL) De Ranke and many others. Also Oud Geuze (Cantillon)“

JimGent 6017 days ago

“Not just a bar - a place where regional food and drinks are served, sold and promoted. The view from the ’Mont de Cassel’ , ideal from the dining room is breathtaking. The food is simple, but well-made, and in the little shop, real specialities can be bought - both liquid and solid. The choice - say 75 changing regional beers - might not seem sensational, but a better choice in Northern France micros is difficulty imaginable.“

JorisPPattyn 6600 days ago