Stella Sablon has opened its doors at Place du Grand Sablon 46, replacing the former Café Leffe. An AB InBev concept, it features raw concrete, 10 draught beers, 12 bottled selections, and roast chicken as the star lunch dish. Open daily, no reservations.
What replaced Café Leffe on the Grand Sablon?
We knew it as a cosy, wood-panelled, quintessentially Belgian spot: for years, the Café Leffe on the Grand Sablon stood at the entrance to the roundabout, opposite the antique dealers and a stone’s throw from the Church of Our Lady of the Sablon. AB InBev—the parent company of Stella, Leffe, Jupiler, and more—took over the management, gutted it completely, and reopened under a new name: Stella Sablon.
And the transformation is startling. Gone is the classic brasserie decor. Now, it’s raw concrete everywhere, suspended Edison bulbs, and a New York loft vibe. A radical, minimalist departure that, on one of Brussels' most beautiful squares, opts for simplicity where opulence was once expected.
“You can see that sometimes, simplicity in the decor of new hospitality venues is also what people enjoy.”
First Look: The Opening Video by Kroegtijgers
It was Kroegtijgers — Save Our Bars, the Brussels blogger who tirelessly chronicles the capital’s bars, who set up his camera on opening day. Concrete, golden light, the first beers being poured: it’s all there.
Roast Chicken & Draught Beer: The Sablon’s New Perfect Match
The concept is clear: the beer sets the tone, and the rotisserie provides the accompaniment. There are 10 perfectly poured draught beers, 12 bottled varieties, and a “stellar” team trained to recommend the right glass for the right moment.
On the food front, the roast chicken is the star attraction. Available every weekday for lunch. Crispy, with sharing sauces and generous sides—the official house photo speaks for itself:
Hercule Chicken might have a bone to pick—but at BXLpositive, we love seeing roast chicken making a comeback on the city’s menus.
When is Stella Sablon open? Daily Hours & Weekend Brunch
Bar — from morning coffee to evening beers:
- Sunday → Wednesday: 09:00 – 23:30
- Thursday → Saturday: 09:00 – 00:30
Kitchen — lunch, rotisserie & sharing plates:
- Monday → Wednesday: 12:00 – 14:30 / 17:30 – 21:30
- Thursday → Friday: 12:00 – 14:30 / 17:30 – 22:30
- Saturday: 10:00 – 22:30
- Sunday: 10:00 – 21:30
Split shifts on weekdays, weekend brunch, a huge terrace on the square, and—good news given the forecast heatwave—air conditioning inside.
Why This New Bar Is a Sign for Brussels' Hospitality
When Belgium’s wealthiest company tests a minimalist, no-reservations, 7/7-open concept in one of its most prestigious squares, it’s more than just an opening: it’s a bet on the new way of experiencing Brussels' hospitality scene. Loft style, craft beer, neighbourhood rotisserie, brunch—the entire vocabulary of modern bistros, condensed on the Sablon.
And at BXLpositive, we don’t do business obituaries: we talk about openings, not closings. The Café Leffe has passed the torch, and Stella Sablon is lighting the fuse.
Finding Stella Sablon: A New Bar in Sablon, Brussels
Place du Grand Sablon / Grote Zavel 46 — 1000 Brussels At the entrance to the roundabout, on the antique dealers' side. View on Google Maps.
📞 +32 2 393 48 26 · ✉️ cheers@stellasablon.be 🌐 stellasablon.be — no bookings, just walk in.
🔗 Sources & Verifiable Links
- Official Stella Sablon website: https://stellasablon.be/
- Google Maps listing: https://share.google/PpgoIC42V9006mS3r
- Official Instagram @stellasablon.be: https://www.instagram.com/stellasablon.be
- Opening reel by Kroegtijgers (Brussels blogger): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYWyTEKsk8I/
- Roast chicken photo (official post): https://www.instagram.com/p/DYrpubvka8P/
- Kroegtijgers / Save Our Bars: https://www.instagram.com/kroegtijgers.save.our.bars
— Iris, from the Sablon, one eye on the antiques and the other on the roast chicken 🍗🍺
But at BXLpositive, we don’t do business obituaries: we talk about openings, not closings.
