Bruges Restaurants

  1. 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.

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  2. Bhavani

    A simple Indian restaurant on a bustling tree-lined square off Bruges' main shopping street. As you'd expect, vegetarians and nonvegetarians are well catered for, and the food is authentic and moreish.

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  3. Bistro de Eetkamer

    This petite restaurant is one of Bruges' more impressive eateries. The seasonal menu is mainly Belgian-based but the chefs here give it a satisfying modern twist. With only a few tables and plenty of local business, be sure to book ahead.

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  4. Bistrot De Schaar

    An out-of-the-way, good-value restaurant located just below street level. In fine weather there's also a large terrace across the road next to the canal lock. The cuisine is a Mediterranean-Belgian mix and the char-grilled specialities are excellent.

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  5. Cafédraal

    Through a stone archway, this bistro/bar's hip yet homely multicoloured rooms buzz with diners who come here for its outstanding bouillabaisse.

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  6. Chagall

    Checked olive banquettes, candles, shelves cluttered with knick-knacks and an upright piano make you feel like you're dining in a family home. Seafood, such as several variations on eel, is Chagall's specialty, but it also does daily meat specials and good deals on two- and three-course menus.

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  7. Christophe

    A cool late-night bistro with marble table-tops and a decent range of Flemish staples such as fresh Zeebrugge shrimps. Excellent late-nighter.

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  8. Da Vinci

    Not being able to choose between the 40 luscious flavours of freshly made ice cream at this gelateria is a good thing, as it means you'll be offered small spoonfuls of free samples to help you decide (of course, that might just make the decision harder). Scoops cost just around €2 .20; in high summer it stays open until .

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  9. De Belegde Boterham

    No-fuss tearoom tucked away in a pedestrianised alley close to the Markt. Firm local favourite, and the filled baguette sandwiches are delicious.

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  10. De Bron

    Queues have usually formed by the time this glass-roofed restaurant's doors open, to get vegetarian fare direct from de bron ('the source'). Dishes are available in small, medium and large, and there are some delicious soups such as pumpkin. Vegans are catered for on request.

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  11. De Karmeliet

    Chef Geert Van Hecke's intricate compositions such as Zeeland oysters, poached quail eggs, caviar and potato mousseline have earned him a trio of Michelin stars. The setting is slightly austere, but gourmands will be too busy swooning to notice. Lunch menus are a good deal, and Van Hecke is also in the process of opening a cheaper bistro. Book well ahead, especially for weekends.

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  12. De Koetse

    Restaurants on the Markt dish up the ubiquitous mussels and frites , but the quality and ambience can be trite and lacking. If you want both good mussels and attentive service, follow the locals here. Paling in 't groen (eel in spinach sauce), another Belgian speciality, also features.

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  13. De Stove

    Just 20 seats keep this gem intimate. Fish caught daily is the house speciality, but meat-based dishes on the monthly changing menu include the likes of wild boar fillet on oyster mushrooms. Everything, from the bread to the ice cream, is homemade.

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  14. Den Dyver

    Not only are the seasonal dishes at this elegant restaurant individually paired with beers, they're also cooked in Belgium's favourite nectar (such as hare, turnip and cranberry ravioli in Oude Gueuze, served with a Petrus Winterbier). Three-, four- and five-course menus can be ordered with a beer accompanying each course. There's also the option of pairing with wines, but that would be missing the point.

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  15. Du Phare

    Off-the-beaten-track tavern serving everything from kangaroo steaks to ostrich or carpaccio. The generous servings, great atmosphere and reasonable prices ensure its popularity in this unvisited quarter. Known also for its monthly live blues/jazz session (check the website for dates). Bus 4 stops out the front.

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  16. Food and Flower Market

    The Food and Flower Market is the most picturesque market in Bruges.

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  17. Frietkotjes

    Takeaway frites (fries) and hot dogs can be bought from the two green vans on the Markt. These little vans, by the way, are a gold mine for the local city council, paying around €250,000 per year to be able to use this prime spot.

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  18. Gran Kaffee De Passage

    A mix of regulars and travellers staying at the adjoining hostel, Passage, give this candlelit, alternative Art Deco-styled bistro one of the best atmospheres in town. Its menu of hearty traditional dishes, such as stoverij (local meat in beer sauce) as well as filling tofu creations, is a bargain.

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  19. Hertog Jan

    Hail a taxi to experience Hertog Jan. About 3.5km west of the centre, this suburban restaurant is the current talk of gourmet circles. Expect French cuisine such as Limousin lamb and Bresse dove, or sample the works with the degustation menu.

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  20. Het Dagelijks Brood

    Part of a national bakery-tearoom chain, with just one big table where you can eat breakfast or feast on lunch staples such as salads, boterhammen (sandwiches) or savoury pies.

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  21. Huyze Die Maene

    A classic brasserie in a prime position on the Markt. Great for a casual lunch or dinner. Limited Flemish cuisine is backed by friendly service.

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  22. Kaffee Pergola

    Follow the fairy lights to this most romantic of outdoor addresses, hidden among greenery beside a quiet and very picturesque stretch of canal right in the centre of Bruges. Book one of the four tables perched along the canal, and settle back to the sound of birdsong and the glow of fading light as evening mellows. A limited range of delicious Belgian specialities is offered, and the service is attentive.

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  23. Lokkedize

    Good spot for a late-night bite. An open fire and moody music ensure return patronage. Meals are typically Mediterranean, such as meze or moussaka, and the kitchen stays open 'til midnight, sometimes later.

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  24. Lotus

    Quaint lunchtime restaurant catering to those who love colourful healthy meals. The cuisine is completely vegetarian and the menu consists of two choices: a kleine maaltijd (small meal) or a good-value grote (large) version.

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  25. 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.

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