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Belgium

Café restaurants in Belgium

  1. A

    Blaise Café/Nero Bianco

    This duo doing modern Italian cuisine occupies an elite corner of Namur. Delvaux and Pierre Marcolini are also present, making it the spot to dine and shop. The ground-floor Blaise Café has a semiprivate courtyard, or you can take to the soft seats inside, watched by military mannequins. Upstairs, Nero Bianco's modern décor is accentuated by lamps that hang over the tables like great praying mantis.

    reviewed

  2. Bar Choc

    Hidden away in the Zilverpand shopping courtyard, this streamlined, contemporary café is chocoholic heaven, serving chocolate fondue, chocolate pancakes, rabbit in beer-and-chocolate sauce, as well as 44 different kinds of hot and cold chocolate drinks (made from real chocolate, of course). The ginger hot choc – with bobbing pieces of handmade gingerbread – is wonderfully warming in winter.

    reviewed

  3. B

    Le Pain Quotidien/Het Dagelijks Brood

    Now a successful multinational chain, this is the original flagship of baker Alain Coumont, who launched his cafés here in 1990. Like its offspring, it revolves around a central wooden communal table, where local fashion designers, media types and post-clubbers rub shoulders over freshly baked bread and pastries, pies, salads and sandwiches, as well as sinful chocolate cakes.

    reviewed

  4. C

    Simon Says

    Inside one of Ghent's only Art Nouveau buildings, this creative little newcomer has gold futuristic flying objects hand-drawn on its turquoise walls by celebrated contemporary Antwerp artist, Panamarenko. Great for light organic lunches and snacks and Fair Trade coffee. Simon also runs a state-of-the-art two-room B&B upstairs. Located just north of Vrijdagmarkt.

    reviewed

  5. D

    Brasserie La Clef d'Or

    Unassuming café that's been serving soupe de la maison (house soup) and a good croque-monsieur (grilled ham and cheese sandwich) to flea-market vendors for years. It's as unpretentious as they come. The unusual opening hours reflect the needs of the clientele.

    reviewed

  6. E

    Waka Moon

    This funky corner cafe in a converted bookshop serves up African cooking to locals who congregate at the outside tables when the weather permits. There's plenty of chicken on the menu (try the chicken yassa) and the eclectic interior's zebra-striped chairs are happy-snap worthy.

    reviewed

  7. F

    Patine

    Give minimalism the flick in this bohemian little wine bar-restaurant-tearoom that also doubles as a B&B. The décor is warm and soothing, the clientele's a mix of everyone (including poodles), and the cuisine is light and healthy - salad, quiche and pasta dishes.

    reviewed

  8. G

    L’Ultime Atome

    The lively dining strip of Rue St-Boniface typifies ‘new Brussels’ with its multilingual clientele and diverse cuisines (traditional Belgian to Thai and more). For a good entrée to the scene here, start at the brasserie L’Ultime Atome.

    reviewed

  9. H

    Den Draak

    Den Draak Café and community centre, also known as Het Roze Huis (the Pink House), for Antwerp's gay and lesbian community. It's located in the Zurenborg (take tram 11 direction Eksterlaar).

    reviewed

  10. I

    Le Grain de Sel

    Cheery eatery set up in three connecting rooms. The house speciality is tartines Corses, sandwiches of sorts with a base of mozzarella cheese and tapenade. A good respite for vegetarians.

    reviewed

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  12. J

    Mezzogiorno

    Contemporary Italian café that proves Bruges is not all old hat. Head up the cement steps near design shop B and enter a world where modern décor and fresh food are paramount.

    reviewed

  13. K

    Soep & Soup

    At this buzzing soup bar in trendy St Andries, five pots of soup, all made with fresh ingredients, simmer away. Vegos can ask to hold the meatballs.

    reviewed

  14. L

    La Cuisine

    The cheapest eatery in town is run by youth learning the trade.

    reviewed

  15. M

    Den Draak

    Den Draak Café and community centre, also known as Het Roze Huis (the Pink House), for Antwerp's gay and lesbian community. It's located in the Zurenborg (take tram 11 direction Eksterlaar).

    reviewed

  16. N

    OK

    Finger food, burgers and sandwiches are the staples at this hip new café attached to the casino. Free internet when you dine.

    reviewed

  17. 't Pandje

    Decorator's shop and tearoom, and the place to try a Hasselt speculaas. These cinnamon-flavoured biscuits are devoured nationally; however, they supposedly originated in Hasselt where the fat, chewy versions are still baked and sold.

    reviewed