I first became familiar with Trappistenlokaal because it hosts the Jameson Quiz Nights in Delft every Monday evening. This venue is hardly the most apt place to hold a pub quiz -- it is very small, with only a bar and about four tables. However, the coziness and slightly run-down interior make this brown pub an excellent place to enjoy Belgian beers on other nights.

There is a gallery of regulars who gather around the bar most nights, and flocks of students occupy the tables. Trappistenlokaal is usually pretty quiet in the early evening but livens up considerably as the night wears on. Beer-wise, this pub does quite well for being such a small place. There is a rotating selection of about eight beers on tap, and at least fifty more available in bottles.

One Thursday night last year, I propped myself up on the bar and the bartender took me on a voyage of discovery that included a Delirium Tremens, a few Belgian triples and a four-year-old bottle of Chimay. Of course the following day was apocalyptic for my central nervous system, but it was worth it for a spectacular night of high-quality drinking. Most of the regulars drink normal beer so the bartenders are usually quite pleased to be able to serve fine beers to patrons with discriminating palates.

The lack of food is perhaps this pub's only Achilles' heel. Aside from nuts and a cheese-and-salami platter, there is nothing. (They do let you order pizzas to be delivered to the pub though.) That and the poor state of the bathrooms (which are clean but barely functional) knock this otherwise fine little watering hole down half a star. I should also note that occasionally Trappistenlokaal has a special evening sponsored by Leffe, whereby you pay ten euros and get one of each of the four flavors of Leffe, plus all-you-can-eat steamed mussels with bread and garlic sauce. I did this once and it was a very fine evening indeed; good value, a friendly crowd, AND I received a free cookbook, "Feestelijke Koken Met Leffe".

Klooster 't Trappistenlokaal is located on Vlamingstraat 2, close to the Nieuwe Kerk in the center of Delft.

Vlamingstraat 2
2611 KW Delft
(015) 212 10 13