Namur
Much-loved locally, this cheery choice near the bridge offers a huge selection of crêpes and croques (toasted sandwiches), making it the perfect lunch or…
Must-see restaurants in Belgium
Brussels
A modest and friendly family-run restaurant and cocktail bar, decked out with an arch of plastic cherry blossom. The homemade dim sum hits the spot;…
Bruges
Decorated with hats and old clocks, this adorable little restaurant sits above a wine shop overlooking a delightful canal-side garden. Diners are…
Brussels
Hefty Belgian classics are served in a long, narrow bistro entirely walled in gleaming white tiles like the butchers’ shop it once was. Stuffed sheep's…
Ostend
Lovers of the humble fry are spoiled for choice at this frituur (chip shop). There's a little bit of extra-everything about Franky's that singles it out…
Northeast Belgium
Named for the Sicilian chef whose open kitchen takes centre stage, this tiny upmarket Italian restaurant is so intimate that you'd easily mistake it for a…
Ostend
Despite the splashes of hot pink on the street terrace, this is a fashion-conscious lounge-restaurant. Its kitchen covers a gamut of culinary styles from…
Bruges
You can't beat this always-cramped little noodle bar for its wide range of Asian flavours, from pho to ramen and dumplings too. Great value. It's just…
The Ardennes
A friendly pub-restaurant just across the stream-bridge from Achouffe's brewery shop, with pleasant outdoor seating by a stocked trout pond.
Belgium
Michelin-starred and priced to match, this is high-class French cooking, served in an Alpine-style rustic lodge surrounded by greenery. Presentation is…
Brussels
Imaginatively flavoured ice cream to take away or, in summer, eat in the garden. Sorbets, including some made from Cantillon beers, are the house…
The Ardennes
Dating from 1714, this historic pub has had a recent facelift but remains one of the most archetypal places for a hearty local meal or an Eupener beer.
Bruges
As the name suggests, Soup does soup well – it's a great little find for a healthy, hearty meal that's quick and easy and won't break the bank.
Antwerp
An unpretentious little place that's well known for its basic vegan/vegetarian Jainist buffet with four mains, two sweets, simple salad and rice.
Brussels
A macrobiotic, veggie lunch place located above a mustard-yellow ‘bio’ shop. Bright decor with murals adorning the walls.
Brussels
The Musée Art & Histoire features this upmarket bistro serving mostly Italian-inspired snacks and mains.
Bruges
This splendid little patisserie is piled with creamy fruity cakes, croissants and fresh fragrant bread.
Bruges
Intimate late-night restaurant with old-fashioned decor and good-value Belgian cuisine.
Ypres
Low-key theatre-themed bistro serving fair-priced pastas, veggie dishes and tapas.
Brussels
Honouring the meatball recipes of their grandmas, Florence and Thibaut roll out four different kinds of boulette at Ballekes (beef, pork, chicken or…
Brussels
When bao met burger, it was happily ever after. Metres from the Grand Place, Baogo lets you choose your burger of choice (slow-cooked pulled pork, panko…
Brussels
Serving fast and healthy Japanese food, like onigiris (rice balls), gyozas (dumplings) and donburis (rice bowls with meat or fish), Kumiko is a dimly lit…
Brussels
Almost everything is for sale at this sleek-looking, Scandinavian-styled design shop and cafe, from the crumbling carrot cake and daintily presented…
Brussels
Bao Bang Bang is all about Bao, little steamed stuffed buns that are typical Vietnamese street snacks. Classic recipes like crispy pork or spicy fish are…
Brussels
Pleasingly gigantic and highly addictive, donuts from Coco come with all manner of fillings from salted caramel and vanilla custard to Snickers, peanut…
Brussels
Much less formal and a little cheaper than many Ste-Catherine options. Petit Vistro has bare brick walls, a pretty tiled floor, A-frame beams upstairs and…
Leuven
This place is two businesses in one. A bargain takeaway window serves homemade pasta in a cup, with nine choices of topping including pesto, four cheeses,…
Antwerp
While it looks tourist-centric and is hardly the most fashion conscious of places, Arte has a decades-long reputation for cooking highly reliable Italian…
Liège
It's the top-quality Italian food that takes the limelight here, with fresh ingredients prepared before your eyes in the central open kitchen. There's a…
Ghent
Good veggie food set to classical music and served on linen at tables with fresh orchids. Three windows have canal views. The daily changing lunch plate…
The Ardennes
The Ardennes-style cuisine here is better than you might guess from the unexotic, tightly packed interior and garish pink frontage located 50m from the…
Namur
In a high-ceilinged 1902 building with down-to-earth touches, Fenêtre Sur Cour serves reliable favourites including barramundi with saffron, rack of lamb…
Ghent
Want to (over) fill your stomach for €5? It’s possible at Gülhan, a large, mildly garish modern diner that – despite the name – is not a pizzeria, unless…
Brussels
Gastronomic Belgo-French seasonal cuisine is served in this sophisticated restaurant on the 2nd floor of a classic 17th-century guildhall. Book way ahead…
Bruges
Providing a truly intimate eating experience in a lovely old gabled building, the owner serves classic Belgian dishes such as meatballs and kalfsblanket …
The Ardennes
This place faces St-Hubert's basilica, with an all-wooden interior festively decorated with furniture made from tree trunks, hats and wine bottles. The…
Ghent
Since 1987 this joint has been hardening the arteries of Gentiens with its knockout all-you-can-eat spare ribs (€17.95) at this and two other local…
Ghent
This rustic bakery and tearoom looks a treat from the street, beckoning you inside for breakfasts, light lunches, soups, savouries and, of course, great…
Antwerp
Unsophisticated yet atmospheric, the interior here features marble tabletops, chequerboard floors, mirror panels and carved wooden beams, all surveyed by…
