Reviewed by Daniel · El Albir resident since 2007 · Updated November 2026 · Write to meUniversal Lounge Bar is El Albir’s place for Belgian beer. It’s on the avenue, next to the street market, and has been run for more than fifteen years by its owner, Alain. It’s not a white-tablecloth restaurant: it’s a café-bar for breakfast, a bite to eat and beers you won’t find anywhere else in town.
What Universal Lounge Bar is
It’s a Belgian-style café-bar with a list of over a hundred beers, many of them Belgian, and around ten taps. It serves breakfast from the morning, simple meals and dishes to share, with homemade sauces. On Sunday mornings, market day, it’s a meeting point for brunch.
What you’ll find on the table
At Universal Lounge Bar the beer list is what matters, and understanding it a little changes the experience. Belgium has one of the richest brewing traditions in the world, and almost nothing here resembles your usual lager.
Trappist and abbey beers. Trappist beers are brewed in monasteries under the supervision of monks, with their own seal. Abbey beers follow that style, even when they’re made outside the monasteries. They tend to be dark or golden, with lots of body.
Dubbel, tripel and strong ales. Dubbel is toasty, with dried-fruit notes. Tripel is golden, aromatic and deceptive: it goes down easily, but many are over 8%. Strong ales can go beyond 10%.
Lambic and kriek. Lambic ferments spontaneously, with wild yeasts from the air, and comes out sour, almost like a cider. Kriek is a lambic with cherries: red, sour and fruity. People who don’t like beer sometimes love this one.
The food. It’s bar food, made to go with the drinks: ribs, the speciality, with homemade sauces, salads, soup and breakfasts in the morning.
If you arrive hungry. Eat first, drink later. Some ribs or a salad as a base, then ask them to recommend two or three different beers, from lower to higher strength.
What to order
A Belgian beer you don’t know. It’s the whole point of the place. Ask for advice: they have everything from the well-known ones to lambics and unusual ales. Careful, many are quite strong.
Ribs. The kitchen’s speciality, according to the house.
Salads and chicken soup. Reviews single them out for price and flavour.
Breakfast. With Spanish-style toast or heartier dishes.
How much it costs
It’s one of the cheaper places in Albir: between €10 and €20 per person for a meal (approximate price). Special beers, naturally, push the bill up.
Location, opening hours and bookings
It’s at Avenida de l’Albir, 68, next to the street market. It opens from 9:30 to 22:00; on Sundays, until mid-afternoon. Closed on Thursdays. The phone number is 966 865 910.
What the ratings say
It averages around 4.4 out of 5 from about 870 reviews across Google and Facebook. People praise the variety of beers, that they’re well chilled and well poured, the prices and the simple but good food.
Where it falls short
Service at peak times. When it fills up, especially on market Sunday, service gets slow.
It’s not a restaurant. If you’re after an elaborate dinner, it’s not for you. It’s a bar with good food to share.
Local’s tips
Come on Sunday morning, after the market, if you like a lively atmosphere. If you want to try beers calmly, a weekday afternoon is better. And if you’re going to try several Belgian beers, let someone else drive.
Frequently asked questions
Which day is Universal Lounge Bar closed?
Thursdays.
How many beers does it have?
Over a hundred, many Belgian, and around ten taps.
Does it serve breakfast?
Yes, from the morning, and brunch on Sundays.
Where is it?
At Avenida de l’Albir, 68, next to the street market.
To finish
Universal Lounge Bar is a must if you like beer: a little piece of Belgium on Albir’s avenue, at neighbourhood-bar prices.
If you want to compare it with other options, my guide to restaurants in El Albir by what you’re looking for has every place with its closing day and approximate price. If you’re on a tight budget, take a look at my tips for eating cheaply in El Albir, and if you’re coming by car, check where to park in El Albirbefore you go. For everything else, go back to the El Albir guide told by a local.
Prices, opening hours and ratings are approximate, checked against public listings and customer reviews in November 2026. They may change: confirm with the restaurant before you go.
I'm Daniel and I've lived in El Albir since 2007. LiveinAlbir.com started because so many people would stop me in the street to ask where to eat, where to stay, which areas are worth it and what living here is really like.
Questions about El Albir? Write to me and I will get back to you.
