As road trips go, taking a Genesis to Bruges probably doesn’t rank that highly. We could discuss reasons for making the trip, from understanding Bruges’ place in European history to exploring undiscovered bars and restaurants. The truth is that a bunch of journalist friends and some reps from luxury carmaker Genesis thought it would be fun. There’s a Christmas market there, meaning there must be Gluhwein, which was enough to push the plan forward.
Arriving at the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle Flexiplus lounge at Folkestone in a Genesis G70 Shooting Brake on a freezing morning, CALIBRE’s Phil and Sam Huff — the title’s automotive and lifestyle editors — met up with a ragtag bunch of friends, including CarGurus’ Vicky Parrott, Auto Express’ Nicola Hume, and Driven It’s Stuart Bird
. Genesis sent two professionals — Simon Branney and Sam Buckingham — to make sure we all behaved.
Over a coffee, a plan was formed. We would… drive to Bruges. It’s 70 miles from Calais, mainly on a motorway. This was not going to be an epic road trip.
Genesis G70 Shooting Brake
It was going to be a comfortable road trip, at least. The G70 Shooting Brake comes from Korea and, while the design has clear American influences, it remains compact and compatible with UK roads. That means we don’t get the 3.3-litre V6 petrol engine that our US cousins enjoy, so we’re making do with the 2.2-litre diesel and the 200hp it’s got available.
When we first drove the G70 Shooting Brake way back in November 2021, we liked the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol model but were less convinced by the 2.2-litre diesel model on the twisty roads of Cascais, and it’s the latter that we’re driving to Belgium. Happily, once the car has warmed up, the rough and rattly (and distinctly un-premium) engine note disappears, replaced by a quieter hum. It settles down on the motorway, the adaptive suspension of our Sport model isolating us from the road surface nicely. Paired with a smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox, the G70 makes for a fine car for a long-distance cruise, especially as wind noise is notably absent, even if the M25, M20 and A16/E40 to Bruges don’t qualify as ‘long distance’.
The comfortable seats, quiet cabin and reasonably compliant suspension make it a place to sit back and relax. Turn on some music — you might want to splash out £790 for the 15-speaker Lexicon audio system — and let the engine’s torque push you to your destination with Genesis’ driver aids, including lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, keeping you on the straight and narrow.
It’s less convincing on twistier roads, where the diesel engine becomes unpleasantly vocal. And, despite the rear-wheel drive setup and Sport moniker, it’s no driver’s car in the way a BMW 3 Series or Jaguar XE is, although it rides more comfortably than either. It feels like a halfway house between the BMW and a cossetting Mercedes, which is no bad place to be.
It’s well appointed, with essentials and luxuries abound — a heated steering wheel was appreciated when it was -6°C — and it’s all wrapped up in an environment that’s beautifully upholstered and well built. Its utterly conventional design doesn’t shout ‘luxury’ like its GV70 SUV sibling does, but it feels every bit as premium as any of its rivals. Add in a large infotainment screen (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as wireless phone charging), a glorious 3D digital instrument binnacle, a detailed head-up display system, and a funky blind spot camera display that augments the mirrors, and you start to see and feel where your money has gone.
While Genesis doesn’t claim that the Shooting Brake is an overtly practical car, the estate-like design would lead most to think there’s plenty of space inside. There isn’t, at least once you leave the front seats — which are wonderfully comfortable, incidentally. The rear seats are just about ok, but the boot is surprisingly small, and a couple of weekend bags soon took up most of the space. Shopping at the Bruges Christmas market, or picking up duty-free booze on the way home, was going to have to be carefully planned.
What didn’t need planning was the drive to Bruges. After a relaxed 90 minutes or so, we were battling pedestrians and cyclists on the cobbled streets of Bruges, heading for the underground car park at the Grand Hotel Casselburgh. Accessible only by a tiny one-car lift on a narrow road, the arrival of five Genesis G70s at the same time caused traffic chaos. As the first to arrive, we made a hasty exit and looked for a bar…
What: Genesis G70 Shooting Brake 2.2d Sport
How much: £41,480
Web: Genesis.com
Hotel Central Bar & Restaurant
I’ve been to the Central bar before, so knew the menu well. It favours regional beer, with a mix of brews from run-of-the-mill Stella Artois to a strong amber-brown local ale, Kwak, inexplicably served in a branded glass held upright in a wooden stand. Hoegaarden is delivered in what can only be described as a bucket, while there are some glorious off-menu options hidden away for those that know to ask.
Food options are equally as comprehensive, from the Famous Cheese Burger (it’s not famous, but it’s decent enough) and pizza choices to mussels or rabbit stew. Many of the group picked the mussels, available in white wine, garlic, cream, beer and other sauces. If that’s not something that floats your boat, ignore the other options and pick the rabbit. With applesauce and croquettes and full of flavours of prunes, onions and garlic, it’s a gloriously warming and satisfying dish to enjoy on a freezing night while drinking heavily.
It’s right on the marketplace, looking out towards the square and the UNESCO-listed Belfort. It couldn’t be in a better location, but that also means it’s something of a tourist trap. It’ll accommodate 150 diners, so this is no bijou cafe with a family feeling, but on a cold December evening, the staff are bright, entertaining, and effective. That said, in the peak of summer, I can imagine it being so packed as to be uncomfortable.
What I didn’t know is that there are 11 rooms above the restaurant. While our chosen accommodation, the Grand Casselburgh Hotel, was only a five-minute walk to the centre, the literally-named Central Hotel is the closest place to the action — or what counts as action in Brugges on a cold, wet Wednesday night.
What: Hotel Central
Where: Markt 30, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
Web: HotelCentral.be
Staminee De Garre
One of our party, Vicky Parrott, had spent most of the day raving about Staminee De Garre, a tiny bar that she’s been trying to find for years. She’s searched the streets for hours, hunting down the elusive hidden entrance. Google Maps solved the problem in about 15 seconds, and we were soon walking from the Central bar, through the disappointing Christmas market, and towards Bruges city hall.
On the way, we pass by a narrow alleyway, squeezed between two chocolatiers — because Belgium — which is where you’ll find the bar. To be fair to Vicky, you’ll only find Staminee De Garre if you’re looking for it. It’s a cosy bar over two floors, but while that sounds expansive, it’s a tiny place that fills up quickly. Our group of seven covered a quarter of the first floor, with other tables close by, creating a vibrant atmosphere; patrons on tables were talking to each other, including this sudden influx of Brits with little idea of why we were there beyond it being somewhere one of our party had heard about.
The bar claims that there are 140 beers on the sizeable menu, from big brands to names you’ve never heard of. We didn’t count them all, but we wouldn’t doubt the claim. The bar staff know them all, guiding customers to a suitable drink for their tastes. The safe option is to choose the Tripel van De Garre. This creamy beer is brewed for Staminee De Garre and isn’t available anywhere else. The triple brewing process takes months and produces a soft but strong beer — it’s an 11% tipple — with a creamy texture and a slightly bitter aftertaste. A side serving of cubed cheese pairs well and is a lovely touch.
Outside of beer, drink options are rather more limited — there’s not a single bourbon on the menu, for example — but you don’t come to this cosy, homely bar to do anything other than relax, unwind and enjoy some of Belgium’s finest beers. Staminee De Garre has a narrow brief but follows it well. If you want a raucous atmosphere and expensive cocktails, there are plenty of other options in the city.
What: Staminee De Garre
Where: De Garre 1, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
Web: DeGarre.be
Is there enough to Bruges to warrant a road trip? Yeah, sure, especially if you’re with friends. It’s only 90 minutes away, after all.
