I've been although it was a while ago now, and I was about 10 so I didn't do much drinking. However I know quite a few off of here have been, as it's been discussed before. Beautiful place. Every bit as nice as it looks on the film 'In Bruges'
Visited in January and a lovely place. Trying to think of bars we went in. There was one in main square (Markt), Craenenburg? Pretty standard Belgian fare. More expensive because of it's location. By the way... there are two green "chip vans" in that square and the frites are pretty amazing. Huge queues but worth the wait. t'Brugs Beertje was good and had a huge amount of beers, including some quadruples. It was heaving and the service was typically brusque and Belgian! But some cracking beers to sample. De Garre was good, up some steep steps and into a quaint area full of locals. Think they have their own brew there and there was a mezzanine area too. There is a brewery tour at De Halve Maan. Not too expensive, very entertaining and you get a drink at the end. I enjoyed it anyway. Bauhaus is raved about (it's actually a hostel... out by the windmills) but I didn't go in. Cambrinus is really old and pretty good but was always packed when we went by. If you want something less Belgian, there is an Irish pub called druids cellar (had a very surreal experience in there with a manic depressive and a fire!). A lovely little Italian restaurant just round the corner from there that we dropped on (can't recall the name). The place I would recommend (and kicking myself that I can't recall the name!) It was down a narrow cobbled street, there was a very small "Dumon" chocolate shop near by. I think the outside was a modern style, grey painted I think, and inside it was modern (by bruges standard). Very narrow and darkly lit. They had an offer with 3 small beers, so between us we got to sample 6 different beers (well... more than that with the time we spent in there!). We simply told the barman a few things we liked in terms of taste and he did the rest. Some really unusual ones I wouldn't have tried otherwise. Bruges is pretty small and easily covered on foot so you may well pass it. Think there was a little bridge nearby. And think it was quite close to the DeHalveMaan Brewery heading off that little square and towards the centre. If I remember I'll post the name for you. Have a great time and if you go via Brussels.... go to Mort Subite (at one end of the Royal Arcade). My favourite bar in the world... solely for the framboise!
We're going on a minicruise from Hull for my stag do this weekend, did Brussels a few years ago on my mates stag do, really enjoyed it so that's kind of why I decided on Bruges, the fact the minicruise is a cheap option also helped in the choice...
Bruges is a lot prettier than Brussels. Plenty of bars. You'll pay more in those on and around Markt and Burg (the two central squares). Many of the bars I went in were quite small so if you've got a large group the central square and the likes of Cambrinus may be better options.
Ok - he covered much of it there! Fave place was probably t'Brugs Beertje, though they close on a Wednesday and are also closed for holidays in July! http://www.brugsbeertje.be/index_en.htm Sit yourself down and look through the beer menu. We got in earlish. Staminee de Garre, really nice old building, down the side of a chocolate shop. Think this one was closed on a Monday! http://www.brugsbeertje.be/index_en.htm Cambrinus - nice place but in the evening they really concentrate on food and we didn't feel welcome other than being crammed up at the bar. http://www.cambrinus.eu/default.htm A little bit of a walk out of the centre, but worth it to visit what is said to be the oldest pub in Bruges, dating back to 1515. http://www.cafevlissinghe.be/www.cafevlissinghe.be/home.html Oh and if you like seafood, you have to have moules et frites!
There are a couple of decent bars near where the coach drops you off - worth considering if you are a little early for your pick-up Both next to the road that leads into town (just as you cross the first canal). Take a city map too, it's easy to get lost / go in the wrong direction in the back streets (especially after too much local brew ) Be careful on the top bunk too, this was the result from last year of an all day session in the city and on the boat. Got out of bed to go to the kharzi (still blathered) and fell down the ladder It still hurts