Au Revoir, Bruxelles: Brussels Bar & Restaurant Becomes The Local

Imagine traveling all the way to Belgium to visit Brussels, only to discover that it had changed its name to Local City. Well, have that same crestfallen feeling tonight in Sanlitun, as popular watering hole Brussels Bar & Restaurant is now known as The Local.

The name has changed, but both the ownership and the location are staying the same. "Beyond the name and logo, the biggest changes are to our drinks and food. Specifically, we’re putting more focus on our cocktails, and we’ve added two grills: one in the kitchen and one outdoors. While most of the good stuff you expect from us will stick around, some selections will be removed from the menus to make way for better options," owner Kenn Bermel said in a statement.

"Partners came and went...and an American with lots of experience in Beijing and no experience in Belgium ended up at the helm. The menu and atmosphere increasingly has reflected that fact. Simply put – we’re just not Belgian," Bermel said of the rebranding decision.

Patrons of the bar formerly known as Brussels can expect what Bermel described as "smaller changes," including: "A few, less popular food items have been removed from our menu; a much shorter list of bottled beer – making room for fresh fruit and chilled glasses; food and drink menus have pared down and reorganized; a new budget-conscious draft beer for 20 kuai (15 on happy hour); and happy hour now starts at opening and ends at 9pm."

He described "bigger changes" as: "improved our cocktails and added a page full of our house specials; more focus on late nights; the grills – more grilling up burgers, steaks, sausages, and steak skewers to start; lighter options on the menus; and new hours to show more sports."

We're looking forward to checking out the changes. Meanwhile, in a final tribute to Brussels' mythical country of origin (the bar's origin was mythical, not the country), watch Belgium for Dummies. Read all about Belgian beer in the new issue of theBeijinger, out next week, and celebrate Belgian National Day July 21.