Antwerp
In a stunningly repurposed old military-hospital chapel, the Jane's sublime two-Michelin-star dining is such an overwhelmingly fabulous experience that…
Must-see restaurants in Northeast Belgium
Northeast Belgium
Superb attention to detail is evident in every little touch here from the fresh market produce to the hand creams in the bathrooms. The cuisine and…
Antwerp
Loose cushions on bench seats, brocante mirrors, an old piano and a dangling canoe-skeleton all conspire to create a casually quirky venue for super-fresh…
Northeast Belgium
Despite her restaurant's improbable location down a dead-end residential alley, traveller-turned-chef Greet has a winning combination of Asian and…
Leuven
With an extensive tree-shaded terrace, this rambling student classic uses road signs, lanterns and very rough walls dangling with builders' tools to add…
Antwerp
For years, locals have sworn that this bustling, fashionably dishevelled former fishmongers’ shop serves the best seafood in town. Finally the owners are…
Northeast Belgium
For years, great pub food has draw diners to what was – until more recently – a traditional low-key café…so much so that these days the place essentially…
Northeast Belgium
Hidden away in the rear of the De Borght flower and interior design shop, this indulgent lunch spot has a menu of regularly changing sharing plates:…
Antwerp
In the heart of the tourist zone, this ivy-clad medieval masterpiece has an astounding interior decked with angels, saints, pulpits and several…
Antwerp
Celebrity TV chef Roger van Damme's Het Gebaar occupies the romantic former caretaker's house at the entrance to Antwerp's petite botanical gardens,…
Antwerp
The Dôme's renowned Zurenborg bakery-cafe now also has an old-city address whose two upper rooms are lavished with mouldings and camp colours. Perfumed…
Northeast Belgium
Facing Kasteel van Horst's drawbridge, with terrace tables surveying the moat, this popular café-restaurant is a high-roofed antique barn with giant A…
Northeast Belgium
Part of an original working watermill-complex, this popular cafe-restaurant has given its interior a gently contemporary rework and can get crowded at…
Northeast Belgium
Facing Mechelen's cathedral and a contoured green space onto which a giant, bright yellow Op-Sinjoorke appears to have fallen, this big-windowed terrace…
Leuven
Reminiscent of a big old-English country pub, this brewery-café has heavy beams and rough-plastered part-brick walls generously adorned with photos,…
Northeast Belgium
For very fine bistro food with a rock-and-roll soundtrack, cosy up with fellow diners at a long rough-wooden table and choose from the day's three…
Antwerp
In a classic Zurenborg building with an interior that's all white but for a mirror-topped blue stripe of an aquarium, this professional seafood outfit…
Antwerp
Discover a veritable museum of African artefacts in a historic old Antwerp house while perusing the multilingual menu supplement that helpfully explains…
Leuven
Interesting combinations of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, plenty of seafood and classy vegetarian alternatives feature at Zarza, and are best…
Northeast Belgium
At the northeast corner of the begijnhof, this antique-styled hostelry has a manorial charm with a central barbecue hearth and a lovely rear terrace area,…
Leuven
Hidden away within the 30cc arts complex, between the former farm buildings of an Augustinian convent, this 1735 mansard-roofed building was originally…
Antwerp
Ciro's is an authentically nostalgic restaurant that dates back to 1962 and sports an almost untouched mid-century interior. The well-reputed cuisine…
Northeast Belgium
At first glance it's easy to mistake this restaurant for a half-closed cooking-utensil shop. But the gorgeous aromas soon prove otherwise, drawing you…
Northeast Belgium
Gilt cherubs hold wooden beams, and a contemporary wrought-iron chandelier sits above the grand piano in this characterful place whose summer 'garden’…
Northeast Belgium
Tucked away at the base of the begijnhof, Infirmerie is a relaxed brasserie incorporating elements of historical design from a 1701 building that had been…
Northeast Belgium
With distressed walls, well-spaced seating and a street terrace, this organic grocery/salad bar is great for coffee, pancakes or especially for healthy…
Antwerp
Sit at 1960s-style school chairs in a pair of artily sparse shopfronts while the chefs perform in a glass-fronted show kitchen. The short, monthly…
Leuven
This very original place is unusual for its great feeling of space between tables, for the big open kitchen, for its philosophical tract on good eating…
Antwerp
Overlooking St-Jansvliet square, this tiny shop-cafe and takeaway peddles an interesting selection of good-value, international street food including veg-…
Northeast Belgium
Tucked behind Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk, Nieuwscafe has remained fresh and inviting for two decades. By day it offers a calm, modern brasserie experience with…
Antwerp
Serving all-vegetarian dishes apart from a couple of fish offerings, this enticing place opens with a deli section purveying huge takeaway quiche slices…
Northeast Belgium
In the the courtyard of Grimbergen Abbey, this buzzing brasserie offers standard meat, fish and pasta dishes plus well-presented salads and, from 2pm to…
Leuven
This friendly place has been serving vegetarian delights since 1967. Its high-ceilinged front room faces Stadspark from an otherwise residential street…
Antwerp
The look, the flavours, the punning menu and even the authentic masala chai (Indian-style tea) all buzz with the colourfully spicy verve of a Kolkata…
Northeast Belgium
This 18th-century brick house fronts the beautiful Tuinen van Hoegaarden formal gardens and has a wisteria-shaded terrace that is a delight in summer. The…
Antwerp
Whether in the upper-market glass box of a dining room or at one of the summer tables fanning out along the walkway, RAS is a superb place to be dazzled…
Leuven
This bright, simple, six-stool counter cafe is named for a semisweet pastry twist (sold for €2 here), but it's the super-authentic noodles, freshly…
Northeast Belgium
This beautiful old corner building hosts a female-run cafe that's a great choice for breakfasts of smoothies and blueberry pancakes, or lunches including…
Northeast Belgium
Always one of the most popular spots on the magnificent Grote Markt, Sava offers authentic, seasonal tapas to be savoured with an exclusive brand of cava…
Antwerp
There's a fancy Chinese-style gateway on Van Wesenbekestraat, but otherwise its numerous East Asian restaurants are mostly bland-looking box-rooms…
