Must-see restaurants in Belgium

  • The Jane

    Antwerp

    In a stunningly repurposed old military-hospital chapel, the Jane's sublime two-Michelin-star dining is such an overwhelmingly fabulous experience that…

  • Bouchery garden

    Bouchery

    Brussels

    Using locally sourced and organic ingredients, award-winning chef Damien Bouchéry puts his own twist on French cooking with veal tartare and grilled…

  • Ötap from entrance

    ÖTAP

    Brussels

    ÖTAP chef Paul-Antoine Bertin serves small seasonal plates with natural wines and expertly presented cocktails. Expect anything from Iberico ham rolls to…

  • Arcadi interior

    Arcadi

    Brussels

    The jars of preserves, beautiful cakes and fruit tarts at this classic and charming bistro entice plenty of Brussels residents, as do well-priced meals…

  • Kitchen 151

    Brussels

    Standing at a culinary crossroads, Kitchen 151 offers a whole world of flavours from the Middle East. Drag thick, fluffy pitas through velvety hummus, or…

  • Tich interior

    TICH

    Brussels

    A vegan canteen-cum-concept store, TICH sells organic groceries and vegetarian-friendly cookbooks alongside its açai bowls, cold-pressed juices and…

  • MOK

    Brussels

    MOK serves some of the capital’s best coffee and offers a wide range of vegan-inspired recipes prepared by Josefien Smets – think crispy tofu and pickled…

  • Cachet de Cire

    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…

  • Life Is Art

    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…

  • Graspoort

    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…

  • Au Couleur Rouge

    The Ardennes

    Accessed through a stone archway behind a grand patrician villa, this excellent restaurant does everything right, from the exquisite floral details on the…

  • Le Patch

    The Ardennes

    Appetising aromas of fried garlic intermingle with jazzy music, dangling creepers and a ceiling hung with cookery utensils to create a multisensory treat…

  • L'O de Source

    The Ardennes

    Putting their energies into superb, refined food rather than fussy decor, L'O de Source offers a very short menu of gourmet offerings in a paired-back but…

  • Oscar

    Wallonia

    A few steps from the Grand Place, Oscar is a local favourite for its well-executed cooking that showcases high-quality seasonal produce. The creative menu…

  • Entre Sambre et Mer

    Namur

    Offering great value for quality seafood, this is a family-run restaurant with a warm, unpretentious feel. Daily specials complement a fairly priced menu…

  • Restaurant Messeyne

    West Flanders

    Popular with the travelling business crowd, the restaurant of the fabulous Hotel Messeyne offers exquisitely presented lunchtime set menus and evening…

  • L'Envers

    Wallonia

    One of Mons' most popular restaurants, this lively spot deals out bistro favourites complemented by a list of daily dishes with innovative takes on…

  • De Stove

    Bruges

    Having just 20 seats keeps this gem intimate. Fish caught daily is the house speciality, but the monthly changing menu also includes the likes of wild…

  • Laurent Gerbaud

    Brussels

    A bright and welcoming cafe with big picture windows that’s perfect for lunch, coffee or hot chocolate if you’re between museums. Don’t leave without…

  • Comme Chez Soi

    Brussels

    The name evokes cooking just like ‘at home’, but unless you have a personal chef crafting North Sea lobster salad with black truffles and potatoes, sole…

  • La Petite Madeleine

    Wallonia

    Petite indeed in size, but flexing grand culinary muscles, this place offers beautifully presented modern gastronomic fare, with more than a nod to the…

  • La Bonne Auberge

    Wallonia

    Walking past the inviting terrace of this restaurant, it's hard not to salivate at the aromas of butter and garlic wafting from within. Despite the cosy…

  • La Table des Sépulcrines

    The Ardennes

    A comfortably contemporary bistro-style interior brings a gentle touch of modernism to the frontage of the 17th-century convent complex that also includes…

  • Claire Fontaine

    Brussels

    Just off Place du Grand Sablon, this is a tiny but atmospheric tile-floored épicerie, fragrant with spices and home-cooked dishes – there’s a small…

  • La Calèche

    Wallonia

    In the beautifully reappointed 17th-century building that forms the entrance to the Malle Poste Hotel, La Calèche offers elegant fine dining on pressed…

  • Mer du Nord

    Brussels

    Well-reputed fishmonger’s window catering to a wide cross-section of Brussels folk plus assorted visitors – place your order and when it’s ready your name…

  • Den Dyver

    Bruges

    Den Dyver is a pioneer of fine beer dining where you match the brew you drink with the one the chef used to create the sauce on your plate. This is no pub…

  • Lieven

    Bruges

    You'll need to book ahead for a table at this extremely popular, excellent-value Belgian bistro. It works wonders with local ingredients, and is…

  • Wijnbistro Di Vino

    Ostend

    The product of one man's hard work, this intimate candlelit wine-bistro reflects its owner's passion for food and wine. The menu is simple (fish or meat),…

  • Julia Fish & Oyster Bar

    Belgian Coast

    This acclaimed restaurant – run by the fourth-generation, female-led fishmongers Mare Nostrum – secures its own supply of fresh seafood daily. If you love…

  • Cuines 33

    Belgian Coast

    Leave it to the chef in this compact, airy bistro where the food is a work of art, crafted from the freshest ingredients of the day. Choose from set lunch…

  • Stirwen

    Brussels

    This long-established Franco-Belgian restaurant is popular with a discerning EU crowd. The decor is rather dark and conservative, but the classic and…

  • Hôtel Bonhomme

    The Ardennes

    This nostalgically old-fashioned post hotel dates from 1768 and has been in the same family for eight generations. Attractively shaded by trees and an…

  • Maccheroni

    Liège

    At lunchtime this delightfully welcoming little traiteur (deli-cafe) serves pasta and antipasto so good that they have customers clamouring for tables…

  • Ô Mal-Aimé

    The Ardennes

    If you're in Stavelot on a weekend, don't miss this eccentric delight. The dining room is smothered in bohemian quotes, poems and massed pictorials…

  • Amon Nanesse

    Liège

    Just behind Place du Marché, this rambling antique house with bare-brick walls and heavy beams combines a lively bar specialising in pékèt (gin) shots (€3…

  • ’t Hemelrijck

    Northwest Belgium

    This usually bustling tavern has a pleasant outdoor patio, cold local beer and good-value pub food including plenty of seafood and local cuisine. For many…

  • Saint-Boniface

    Brussels

    An enchanting old-world restaurant near the eponymous church featuring gingham tablecloths, walls jammed with framed pictures, and authentic dishes from…

  • Restaurant Pegasus

    West Flanders

    Hotel Recour's Restaurant Pegasus is a very upmarket affair. Those under 60 might feel out of place, but the food is very creative. While mains are…

  • De Stoepa

    Bruges

    A gem of a place in a peaceful residential setting. It's got a slightly hippie/Buddhist ambience; oriental statues, terracotta-coloured walls, a metal…

More destinations you need to see