The 10 Best Restaurants In Brussels

As the de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels is home to a lot of diplomats from all over the world. It is no wonder good restaurants are a dime a dozen in this cosmopolitan city. We’ve selected the 10 best ones for you.

Comme Chez Soi **

Restaurant, Belgian, European

Until 2006, Comme Chez Soi was the capital of Europe’s claim to a three-star dining venue, holding on to the title for no less than 27 consecutive years. Since the relative downgrade to two stars that came with the retirement of chef and owner Pierre Wynants, it is still widely received as the holy grail of dining experiences in the city. The restaurant’s signature menu consists of a five- or six-course meal, though ordering a la carte is also a possibility. Located on Place Rouppe in Brussels’ city center, the interior pays homage to the city’s own Victor Horta as stained glass panels and art-nouveau furniture adorn the surroundings.

Bon Bon **

Restaurant, Belgian

Bon Bon has recently risen up the ranks, obtaining two of the sought-after stars in 2015. The restaurant is located within a spacious white house in a residential part of green Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. Diners have the option of ordering a la carte, choosing the three-course Menu du Marche, or the splendid five-course Menu Impro, inspired by each table’s particular requests. You may also opt for the Best Of menu, consisting of the most successful recipes of the chef. This choice allows you to totally immerse yourself in chef Christophe Hardiquest’s cooking art. Enhancing even further the quality of its creations, the restaurant works with no less than 95% bio-organic produce. Pay attention if you happen to be sitting in the outdoor garden terrace as you might just catch a glimpse of the chef picking fresh herbs.

La Fleur en Papier Doré/Het Goudblommeke in Papier

Restaurant, Belgian

This famous bar in Brussels went from being an 18th-century convent of the sisters of St-Vincentius to a hot spot for poets and artists, since it was opened by Greet Van Bruaene. Stepping into the bar is like taking a step back in time, you can almost imagine this spot as a meeting place for creatives such as René Magritte. Supposedly, this is the bar where Magritte’s first art exhibition took place. You can go in for a Belgian beer and at the same time admire Greet Van Bruaene’s collection of original sketches, photographs, and drawings of famous artists, including Magritte. Remember to look for a black-and-white photograph of the artists that used to frequent the place.

Au Vieux Bruxelles

Restaurant, European, Belgian

Au Vieux Bruxelles has been standing in the heart of St. Boniface since 1882, and can easily claim the title of the most Bruxellois restaurant in the area. Its charm is due to its simplicity, where wood-paneled walls, checkered table covers and countless memorabilia scattered around the room transport diners to another era. Expect to see the best of traditional Brussels fare on the menu, from the Gueuze beer carbonnade with chips to the waterzooi chicken stew and some of the best moules frites (mussels with chips) in town. However, be careful not to miss Au Vieux Bruxelles while walking by – the tumbledown exterior and plastic chairs set on the street outside do a great job at camouflaging this hidden gem of a restaurant.

Fin de Siècle

Restaurant, European, French

Universally acclaimed as one of the best spots for authentic fare in the capital, Fin de Siècle is all about the heavy, hearty flavors of Belgian cuisine. Get ready to taste the classic sausage and stoemp (mashed potatoes) smothered in a thick sauce, the ever-local carbonnade – Belgium’s answer to the Hungarian goulash – and numerous other delicacies best washed down with a glass of beer. The setting is basic and convivial, but Fin de Siècle has the kind of charm that makes it an instant favorite with guests, who always come back for more. Make sure you get there early as the restaurant doesn’t accept bookings, and there’s always a queue thanks to its popularity and location right by Saint-Géry.

Restaurant Vincent

Bar, Restaurant, Belgian, European

Situated in the very heart of Brussels, just a street off the Opera La Monnaie, Restaurant Vincent serves authentic Belgian cuisine. This small, cozy restaurant is known for its delicious meat, displayed in glass cases by the open bar so diners can chose their own cut. It is then flambéed directly at the table.

La Truffe Noire *

Restaurant, Belgian, European

La Truffe Noire is a one-starred restaurant but no less of a culinary institution in its own right. Black, but also white, truffle-based dishes are the specialities of choice here, offering many tasty delights to those enamored with the delicacy. Dishes range from the more conventional truffle-filled ravioli, to the more luxurious and sophisticated whole-cooked Périgord truffle. This elegant, carpeted restaurant overlooks the tranquil Jardins de l’Abbaye de la Cambre, ideal for pre- or post-dinner strolls.

Le Chou de Bruxelles

Restaurant, Northern European

The name of this restaurant literally translates to ‘The Brussels Sprout’. Serving mainly ‘Brussels specialties’, this restaurant is a great place to get acquainted with Belgian cuisine, especially moules-frites – they serve 30 different variations of the famous dish. So if you’re dying to try some mussels in Brussels, Le Chou de Bruxelles is the place to go. Make sure you’re not too full, as the portions are typically Belgian as well.

Nüetnigenough

Restaurant, Belgian

This tonguebreaker of a restaurant name is Brussels dialect for nooit niet genoeg in Dutch, which translates to never enough in English. Fittingly, portions at Nüetnigenough are rather large. They not only serve good food here, there is also a pretty extensive beer selection, with some rare drafts from all over the country. Despite being a very popular place to eat (and drink!), Nüetnigenough doesn’t take reservations.

Aux Armes de Bruxelles

Restaurant, Belgian

Also called ‘the stomach of Brussels,’ Rue des Bouchers (Butchers street) is home to several local and international restaurants. You can get the full Belgian traditional experience at the Aux Armes de Bruxelles restaurant. Around since 1921, this mainstay of the Brussels dining scene was declared bankrupt in early 2018, but has since been sold to a new owner, who kept the same chef and staff, so the quality of the food and service is as good as ever.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.