Darling, don’t hesitate.
Beneath the grand staircase of the Corinthia Brussels — the 5-star palace at 71 Rue Royale in the former Astoria, reopened after extensive heritage renovations — lies a door few in Brussels know about. Behind it: Under the Stairs, the first solo bar from Hannah Van Ongevalle, the Corinthia’s Director of Mixology and a leading figure on the Belgian cocktail scene.
Art deco and disco collide here. Deep velvets, warm brass, and golden light: the atmosphere whispers rather than shouts. “Find us under the stairs”, the menu teases. Once you’ve found it, you won’t want to leave.
Who is Hannah Van Ongevalle, the bar’s creator?
Hannah Van Ongevalle hails from Knokke, where she co-founded The Pharmacy, one of Belgium’s most decorated bars. Today, she brings her Flemish savoir-faire to the heart of the capital — choosing the city’s most iconic address for her first solo project. The Corinthia’s bet that 'the most iconic of locations deserves a cocktail star' has paid off.
On her official Instagram, she simply introduces herself: Director of mixology @corinthiabrussels · My second home @underthestairs.brussels. Her second home, then — and now, perhaps, ours too.
Recognised as one of the best cocktail bars in Brussels
Acclaim came quickly: Gault & Millau has included Under the Stairs in its official selection of the best cocktail bars in Belgium. It’s an institutional recognition that confirms what the Brussels grapevine was already whispering: in just a few months, this spot under the stairs has become a benchmark address on the Belgian cocktail scene.
The “Love Letters” Menu: Cocktails with a Story
The current menu is called Love Letters. “Words that make you smile, take your breath away, and become keepsakes to cherish forever.” Each cocktail is a letter — sweet, reckless, or one that perhaps should never have been sent. Three gems from Hannah:
- For My Man — a French dry martini, sharpened with coffee oil and black olive-infused vodka. Loyal, bold, and always there when it matters.
- To My Boss — sesame, chocolate, and salted caramel. A little respect. A little tension.
- From The Past — whiskey, pecan, pear. Sweet, fruity, and slightly dangerous. The one never quite forgotten.
You can even leave a note. The bar will send it back to you a year later.
How to find this secret bar near Place Rogier
Because while Brussels has no shortage of noisy terraces, it has far too few secret cellars. Because seeing a leading name in Belgian cocktails choose our city for her solo debut is good news worth celebrating. And because the hidden courtyard, weather permitting, is worth the visit alone.
- 📍 Corinthia Brussels — 71 Rue Royale, 1000 Brussels (formerly Hôtel Astoria)
- 🕔 5 PM → 1 AM (last orders at 12:30 AM)
- 🚪 Walk-ins only — no reservations, just head down and try your luck
- 💋 Hannah’s favourite quote, from Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
A new bright spot for Brussels nightlife for expats
The fact that the European capital now attracts top Flemish talent from the cocktail world is a positive sign: Brussels by night is breathing, evolving, and becoming a credible cocktail destination — all without losing what makes it charming: the elegant discretion of a door you push open, under a staircase, in a palace.
Darling, don’t hesitate.
The art deco-disco vibe of Under the Stairs
The latest post from @underthestairs.brussels — capturing the hushed atmosphere of this secret cocktail garden, straight from the official account.
View this post on Instagram
→ Follow @underthestairs.brussels
— Ketje, our Brussels by Night correspondent, for BXLpositive.news
