Brussels’ legendary Café Métropôle to finally close doors

After enjoying a brief stay of execution under a pop-up lease, the Café Métropôle will finally close on 26 February, confirmed the shareholders in a press release on Monday.

The five-star hotel and cafe were scheduled to close in April 2020, an early victim of the coronavirus victim and according to management the pedestrianisation of the city-centre. But 10 employees of the Place De Brouckère café negotiation a pop-up contract to continue running the cafe for maximum one year.

They opened in June 2021 amid fanfare, but the early enthusiasm has been replaced by the hard reality of the continuing drop in tourism and the ongoing preference for home working that has drained many businesses of their habitual customers.

Opened in 1895, the hotel and cafe were two landmark Brussels institutions. The plush, stylish interior and the latter’s heated terrace were a magnet for visitors all-year-round.

If the cafe’s last day of business is this Saturday, manager Manuel Rodrigues adamantly told RTBF: “We’ll only close when the last client has left.”

In their statement, the shareholders offer a glimmer of hope for the prestigious address, insisting on the historical character of the building and their belief that it will open again as a hotel and café in the future.

There’s talk of another pop-up contract while the owners seal a permanent deal with a company ready to take on the challenge. But in the meantime, fans of the establishment and its inimitable eclectic architectural style, have until the close of business on Saturday to enjoy a drink in the illustrious surroundings.