By Gisèle - Herberge "In Sint Elooi" (Houtkerke, France)
Photos – Info – Weather – Tips – Geo Info – Starry sky [- Tides]
General information about Herberge "In Sint Elooi"
Madame Gisèle Coudeville is a living legend, her village café "Au Saint Eloi" is de facto living heritage. She is now 90 years old and is not yet thinking of quitting. She started there in 1958 and, anno 2025, has kept the business open for 67 years herself. This has to be a (world) record, right? By the way, the café is said to have been around for more than 400 years (started in 1668). She is the third in line of the family to keep this icon open.
It may not be a protected site, but its place is widely known as a place-to-be to have a nice picon. Last year they seriously suffered from a leaking roof there, which has now been completely renewed as well. The peeling and moldy furniture paper is now also on the program. But you know what? None of this bothers the visitor to this very cozy village pub. And before any misunderstandings arise: Gisèle doesn't live there. Her daughters built her a brand new house. But she simply prefers to be in her café and so she can usually be found where her heart is. She cannot live without "the people." A beautiful portrait of her café, along with 4 other popular cafes, was made in the 2010 documentary film "Thanks & Merci".
Gisèle is also sometimes called the "queen of picon." There is even a diploma of her "best picon in the world" hanging on the wall. Not that secret ingredients are used or anything (the used bottles are simply scattered on the guest tables and the counter), it is instead the conviviality that makes a visit to this café a warm event. If Gisèle has no time to help you for a moment due to busyness, you may make your own picon. And all that for 5,50 €, where do you find that for such a large picon? You also hear " oet vloamsch klapp'n " and you easily make contact with other villagers and passers-by. The furniture must have been hip and trendy ... many decades ago 😉.
Definitely must visit. Open during the week from 4pm. On weekends, Gisèle is helped by her two daughters. The super small terrace in front of the café is no longer used, you can also go to the (partially covered) terrace in the back or a separate room (the "vaulte") behind her bar. That accommodates about 20 people.
Visitor tips Herberge "In Sint Elooi"
General tips:
1) if you are looking for other nearby attractions, consult our Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen.
2) You can consult our overview lists: by category ( e.g. timeline, size, ...) or by region
3) You can also always consult tourist services: see our overview of tourist services
Tip 1: If you still have to drive: point out in advance a Bob (or Bobette?) in the group, it might be necessary! 😉
Tip 2: while you are there, you might also want to visit the castle and/or church of Ekelsbeke.
Geographical information
Address: Route d'Herzeele, Houtkerke, Hauts-de-France, France
Geographical coordinates:
- Google Maps: Latitude = 50.8765295 - Longitude = 2.5931084
- Open Street Maps: Latitude = 50.876568 - Longitude = 2.593126
- Altitude h = 18 m
Indication of Herberge "In Sint Elooi" on:
Tourist map of Top.Vlaanderen - Google Maps - OpenStreetMap.
Route to Herberge "In Sint Elooi": Route via Google Maps
Meteo
7°C
| Day | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Today
22:00
|
cloudy
|
6° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 12 Km/h | 98 % | 1019 mb |
|
Tomorrow
22:00
|
 cloudy
|
4° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 12 Km/h | 91 % | 1019 mb |
|
Mon Jan 26
10:00 p.m.
|
partly cloudy
|
3° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 11 Km/h | 92 % | 1019 mb |
|
Tue Jan 26
10:00 p.m.
|
 slightly cloudy
|
5° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 11 Km/h | 92 % | 1020 mb |
|
Wed Jan 26
10:00 p.m.
|
 cloudless
|
3° | 8°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 22 Km/h | 93 % | 1014 mb |
| Hour | Condition | Temperature | Precipitation | Rain Chance | Wind | Humidity | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Today
10:00
|
cloudy
|
7° | 7°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 8 Km/h | 98 % | 1015 mb |
|
Today
13:00
|
cloudy
|
9° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 88 % | 1016 mb |
|
Today
16:00
|
cloudy
|
10° | 10°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 91 % | 1017 mb |
|
Today
19:00
|
cloudy
|
8° | 8°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 10 Km/h | 94 % | 1018 mb |
|
Today
22:00
|
cloudy
|
9° | 9°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 12 Km/h | 89 % | 1019 mb |
|
Tomorrow
01:00
|
cloudy
|
8° | 8°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 12 Km/h | 87 % | 1019 mb |
|
Tomorrow
04:00
|
partly cloudy
|
6° | 6°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 10 Km/h | 90 % | 1019 mb |
|
Tomorrow
07:00
|
cloudy
|
6° | 6°°C | 0 mm | 0% | 9 Km/h | 91 % | 1019 mb |
Starry sky over Herberge "In Sint Elooi"
Internet information from and about Herberge "In Sint Elooi"
Social media of this village cafe: Facebook
Example of a piconroute which this café of Gisèle with VW van to: Tour of the Westhoek
Example of a bicycle tour from Poperinge who calls on Café Saint-Eloois: RouteYou
Wikipedia page on Eligius ( = Saint Elijah): Dutch - French - English
Extremis showcase at Madame Gisèle.
Info on the 2010 documentary of 5 village cafes: "Thanks & Merci"
-> Interview VRT - 
Trailer - Extract Cinema Theresia
Our photos about Herberge "In Sint Elooi"
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Photos from May 31, 2025:
Photos from April 25, 2023:
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