41 editor picks in Brussels.
41 belgian places in Brussels we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Brussels | Belgian across every city.
Belgian cooking in Brussels runs from white-tablecloth classics to the fritkot on the corner, and the city keeps both alive at once. Comme Chez Soi on the Place Rouppe and Le Chalet de la Foret in Uccle hold the high end, while the brasseries packed along Rue des Bouchers near Sainte-Catherine, such as Chez Leon and Aux Armes de Bruxelles, serve the tourist-facing tradition. In the Marolles, Les Brigittines and Au Stekerlapatte cook the heavier regional dishes, and chip stands like Maison Antoine on Place Jourdan and Fritland in the centre round out the everyday end.
Comme Chez Soi opened in 1926 under Georges Cuvelier and moved to the Place Rouppe Art Nouveau dining room in the 1930s. Located in Sainte Catherine.
OrderThe filets de sole Prince Albert, the kitchen's signature since the 1970s, with a glass of Mosel Riesling.
TipClosed Monday, Tuesday and Sunday. Book three weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner; the chef's table seats six.
Menssa in Brussels is chef Christophe Hardiquest's second act in the building that held his two-star Bon Bon until 2022. Located in European Quarter.
OrderThe tasting menu in full; the wine pairing draws heavily on small Belgian and German growers.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Book the counter for the open-kitchen view; the dining room takes parties up to six.
La Paix in Brussels has run since 1892 in a neo-classical building opposite the Anderlecht abattoir. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans modern belgian.
OrderWhatever the menu calls the day's slow-cooked beef course; the kitchen is butcher's-row by lineage.
TipClosed Saturday and Sunday. Lunch only on Friday; the dining room runs Japanese-minimalist with origami above the tables.
Au Vieux Saint Martin in Brussels has held the corner of Place du Grand Sablon since 1968. The Niels family invented Belgian filet americain here.
OrderFilet americain prepared at the table, and shrimp croquettes to start.
TipOpen every day from noon to midnight. The terrace looks straight at the Sablon church; book ahead for Sunday lunch.
Chez Leon in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1893, when Leon Vanlancker opened five tables. Located in Sainte Catherine. Priced at €€.
OrderMoules marinieres with frites, and a glass of gueuze from the beer list.
TipOpen every day from noon to 23:00. Ask for the original 1893 dining room over the recent expansions on either side.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles on Rue des Bouchers has been running since 1921, with Calixte Veulemans opening as a brasserie. Located in Sainte Catherine.
OrderChicken waterzooi in the broth, with a Trappist beer or a glass of Sancerre.
TipOpen Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 22:30, closed Monday. The salon at the back is quieter than the front dining room.
In 't Spinnekopke in Brussels is an 18th-century estaminet on Place du Jardin aux Fleurs. Located in Dansaert. Kitchen leans belgian estaminet.
OrderRabbit braised in gueuze, with bloempanch on the side and a Cantillon Geuze to drink.
TipClosed Sunday. The wooden banquettes are 1762 vintage; the cellar lambic list runs 30 bottles deep.
Restaurant Vincent in Brussels has run on Rue des Dominicains since 1905, with Maurice Grimme's 1912 ceramic murals still on the walls. Priced at €€€.
OrderChateaubriand flambeed at the table, with a side of pommes pailles.
TipOpen seven days. The narrow row of side tables along the open grill is the seat to ask for at dinner service.
Les Brigittines in Brussels sits on Place de la Chapelle in the Marolles in an Art Nouveau dining room. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans belgian bistro.
OrderCarbonnade flamande with frites, or whichever offal cut is on the chalkboard menu that night.
TipClosed Saturday lunch and Sunday. The terrace at the back is the quietest seat in summer.
La Quincaillerie in Brussels' Ixelles sits in a 1903 former hardware shop on Rue du Page, with the original mezzanines and oak drawers preserved.
OrderSix oysters from the bar and steak frites from the grill, with a bottle of Loire white.
TipClosed Sunday lunch. The upstairs mezzanine seats are the quietest; book a fortnight ahead for Friday or Saturday.
Le Varietes in Ixelles sits on the ground floor of the Flagey Liner on Place Sainte-Croix. Brasserie-rotisserie cooking off a Belgian classics carte.
OrderSpit-roasted chicken with house jus.
TipKitchen runs lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, then non-stop noon to 22:00 Saturday and Sunday. Book a window seat for the Flagey square view.
Le Selecto on Rue de Flandre runs a bistronomie carte in the Sainte-Catherine quarter. Bib Gourmand listed, modern Belgian cooking off a short seasonal card.
OrderThe lunchtime two-course set; the kitchen leans on Belgian sourcing and the daily ardoise.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Friday and Saturday dinner runs through to 23:00; book a week ahead for weekend service.
Brasserie de l'Expo in Brussels sits on the Heysel plateau in Laken, two metro stops from the Atomium. Priced at €€. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie.
OrderStoemp with sausage and bacon, or vol-au-vent with frites for two.
TipOpen seven days, lunch and dinner. The 1958 marquetry in the back room is worth the seat; closes at 22:00 on weekends.
Garage a Manger in Brussels' Ixelles is the wood-fire restaurant on Rue Washington, in a former mechanical workshop. Kitchen leans modern belgian.
OrderWhichever fire-cooked main is on the chalkboard, with charred greens and the natural wine pairing.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. The counter seats give the best view of the open fire; bookings recommended.
Chez Leon in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1893. Located in Sainte Catherine. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie. At Rue des Bouchers 18.
OrderMoules marinieres with frites and a glass of Cuvee Rene gueuze on the house list.
TipOpen seven days. Ask for the original 1893 dining room; the side rooms feel like a tourist trap.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1921. Located in Sainte Catherine. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie.
OrderChicken waterzooi in cream broth, with a Westmalle Tripel from the bottle list.
TipClosed Monday. The back salon is the quietest seat; the front spills onto the busy restaurant row.
Au Vieux Saint Martin in Brussels' Sablon has run since 1968. The Niels family invented Belgian filet americain at this corner of the square.
OrderFilet americain prepared at the table, and shrimp croquettes to start.
TipOpen every day from noon to midnight. The terrace looks straight at the Sablon church; book ahead for Sunday lunch.
In 't Spinnekopke in Brussels is an 18th-century estaminet on Place du Jardin aux Fleurs. Located in Dansaert. Kitchen leans belgian estaminet.
OrderRabbit braised in gueuze, with bloempanch on the side and a Cantillon Geuze to drink.
TipClosed Sunday. The wooden banquettes are 1762 vintage; the cellar lambic list runs 30 bottles deep.
Les Brigittines in Brussels sits on Place de la Chapelle in the Marolles in an Art Nouveau dining room. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans belgian bistro.
OrderCarbonnade flamande with frites, or whichever offal cut is on the chalkboard menu that night.
TipClosed Saturday lunch and Sunday. The terrace at the back is the quietest seat in summer.
Brasserie Ploegmans in Brussels' Marolles is the wood-panelled local that runs Belgian standards: meatballs, shrimp croquettes, choucroute garnie.
OrderCarbonnade flamande with frites, and a Westvleteren 12 if it is on the board.
TipClosed Monday. Book ahead for Sunday lunch when the Jeu de Balle flea market is in full swing.
Volle Gas in Brussels' Ixelles is a 1924 Art Deco brasserie on Place Fernand Cocq. Kitchen leans belgian brasserie. At Place Fernand Cocq 21.
OrderWhichever mussel preparation looks new on the chalkboard, with frites and a Tripel Karmeliet.
TipOpen seven days, kitchen runs late. The Art Deco interior is the seat; book the corner banquette.
Au Stekerlapatte in Brussels' Marolles is the wood-panelled bistro on Rue des Pretres. Boudin noir with caramelised apples, shrimp croquettes.
OrderBoudin noir with caramelised apples, and shrimp croquettes to start.
TipClosed Sunday. Open evenings only; the dining room fills with the same Marolles regulars night after night.
Friture Rene in Brussels' Anderlecht has run since 1932 on Place de la Resistance. Kitchen leans belgian friterie-bistro. At Place de la Résistance 14.
OrderSteak frites or moules-frites, then anything from the long beer list.
TipClosed Monday and Tuesday. Lunch service runs to 14:30; the dining room books out on weekends.
Le Varietes in Ixelles sits on the ground floor of the Flagey Liner on Place Sainte-Croix. Brasserie-rotisserie cooking off a Belgian classics carte.
OrderSpit-roasted chicken with house jus.
TipKitchen runs lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, then non-stop noon to 22:00 Saturday and Sunday. Walk-in for lunch, book for weekends.
Comme Chez Soi opened in 1926 under Georges Cuvelier and moved to its Place Rouppe Art Nouveau dining room in the 1930s. Led by chef Lionel Rigolet.
Menssa in Brussels is Christophe Hardiquest's second act in the room that held his two-star Bon Bon until 2022. Twenty-two seats, a cuisine instinctive carte.
Le Chalet de la Foret in Brussels' Uccle has two Michelin stars under Pascal Devalkeneer. Belgian-only sourcing, Aveyron lamb and Breton scallops.
Fritland in Brussels is the canonical late-night frites window behind the Bourse. At Rue Henri Maus 49. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
OrderMitraillette and frites
Maison Antoine in Brussels' Place Jourdan runs late into the night, with the surrounding bars open later still. At Place Jourdan 1. Booking recommended.
OrderFrites in a paper cone
Chez Leon in Brussels has run on Rue des Bouchers since 1893 and keeps the kitchen open until 23:00 every night. The mussels arrive in a black pot.
OrderMoules-frites
Delirium Cafe in Brussels keeps its subterranean rooms open until 04:00 on weekends. Belgian craft on the carte plus 3,000 bottles in the cellar.
OrderBeer with snacks
Aux Armes de Bruxelles in Brussels keeps the kitchen open until 22:30 every night. At Rue des Bouchers 13. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
OrderWaterzooi and croquettes
Au Vieux Saint Martin in Brussels' Sablon runs a continuous service from noon to midnight, every day. Filet americain prepared at the table.
OrderFilet americain
Au Stekerlapatte is side-street marolles bistro where locals eat boudin noir with caramelised apples on the same wood-panelled banquettes since 1974.
TipClosed Sunday. Open evenings only; the dining room fills with regulars night after night.
In 't Spinnekopke in Brussels: 18th-century estaminet on a quiet square that cooks Brussels-specific dishes with lambic beer as a sauce ingredient.
TipClosed Sunday. The wooden banquettes are 1762; lambic list runs 30 bottles deep.
Friture Rene is pre-war fritkot-bistro hybrid on place de la resistance in anderlecht: hand-cut beef-fat fries, steak from the grill, white-shirt waiters.
TipClosed Monday and Tuesday. Lunch service runs to 14:30; the dining room books out on weekends.
Brasserie de l'Ermitage is anderlecht nano-brewery on rue lambert crickx that brews modern belgian craft and pours only friday-saturday afternoons.
TipTaproom Friday and Saturday 14:00-22:00; bring cash for the smaller producers' bottles.
Maison Antoine in Brussels' Place Jourdan has been the canonical fritkot since 1948. At Place Jourdan 1. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
OrderFrites with classic sauces
Frit Flagey in Brussels' Ixelles is the green caravan on Place Eugène Flagey. Booking recommended. Reservations advised. Cash and card accepted.
OrderFrites in beef fat
Fritland in Brussels is the late-night frites window behind the Bourse. The mitraillette (frites and meat in a baguette) is the cult Brussels dish.
OrderMitraillette and frites
Vitalgaufre in Brussels has been pressing Liège-style sugar waffles by hand since 1998 from Rue Neuve. At Rue Neuve 25. Booking recommended.
OrderLiège-style waffle with toppings
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