30 belgian restaurants worth the trip across Belgium, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Belgium.
Zilte ★ 4.9 · Antwerp
eilandje · Hanzestedenplaats 5, 2000 Antwerp
Zilte in Antwerp holds the country's only three Michelin stars under Viki Geunes. Kitchen leans modern belgian-french. Tasting menu €295 to €395.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book eight weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner. Lunch is the more accessible entry point.
Vrijmoed ★ 4.9 · Ghent
binnenstad · Vlaanderenstraat 22, 9000 Gent
Two Michelin stars in central Ghent: chef Michaël Vrijmoed pushes Belgian produce through fermentation and global technique, with a dedicated Purs vegetarian.
Tip: Book the 7-course format on a Friday evening, when the kitchen serves its most ambitious version of the menu.
Hertog Jan at Botanic ★ 4.8 · Antwerp
historisch-centrum · Leopoldstraat 26, 2000 Antwerp
Hertog Jan at Botanic in Antwerp is Gert De Mangeleer's two-star room inside the Botanic Sanctuary, opened in 2021 after his three-star Zedelgem chapter.
Tip: Only open two weeks per month. Maximum 22 covers. Book three months ahead for the dinner sittings.
Bistro Bruut ★ 4.8 · Bruges
markt · Meestraat 9, 8000 Brugge
Bistro Bruut sits on the Meestraat canal in Bruges, cooking modern Flemish food on regional produce. Gault&Millau rates the kitchen 16 points.
Tip: Open Monday to Friday only, lunch and dinner. Ask for a canal-side table when you book.
De Jonkman ★ 4.8 · Bruges
sint-kruis · Maalse Steenweg 438, 8310 Brugge
De Jonkman in Bruges holds two Michelin stars under Filip Claeys, who builds menus around lesser-known North Sea fish from his room in Sint-Kruis.
Tip: Closed Sunday through Tuesday. Lunch is the more accessible entry; book six weeks out for a Friday or Saturday dinner.
Le Chalet de la Foret ★ 4.8 · Brussels
Drève de Lorraine 43, 1180 Uccle
Le Chalet de la Foret in Brussels' Uccle has two Michelin stars under Pascal Devalkeneer. Belgian-only sourcing, Aveyron lamb and Breton scallops.
Bistro Refter ★ 4.7 · Bruges
sint-anna · Molenmeers 2, 8000 Brugge
Bistro Refter in Bruges is Geert Van Hecke's contemporary bistro on Molenmeers, the relaxed counterpart to his fine-dining room. Good food at fair prices.
Tip: Book ahead, the dining room fills fast at lunch. It sits near the Sint-Anna quarter.
Comme Chez Soi ★ 4.7 · Brussels
sainte-catherine · Place Rouppe 23, 1000 Brussels
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.
Tip: Closed Monday, Tuesday and Sunday. Book three weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner; the chef's table seats six.
Comme Chez Soi ★ 4.7 · Brussels
Place Rouppe 23, 1000 Brussels
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.
Roots ★ 4.7 · Ghent
patershol · Vrouwebroersstraat 5, 9000 Gent
Roots is a Michelin-listed gastro-bistro in Patershol where chef Kim Devisschere's West Flemish heritage drives menus that change with the seasons.
Tip: Book at minimum three weeks ahead; this is one of the most consistently difficult tables to secure in Ghent.
Publiek ★ 4.7 · Ghent
binnenstad · Ham 39, 9000 Gent
One Michelin star in a loft-style bistro on Ham street: Olly Ceulenaere champions lesser-known Belgian vegetables and local produce at every turn.
Tip: Lunch is three courses from €55 and usually has last-minute availability where dinner books out weeks ahead.
Locàle by Kok au Vin ★ 4.6 · Bruges
sint-gillis · Ezelstraat 21, 8000 Brugge
Locàle by Kok au Vin in Bruges is Jürgen Aerts's sharing-plates room on Ezelstraat, successor to his Kok au Vin, leaning on organic local produce.
Tip: It sits in the quieter Sint-Gillis quarter north of the Markt. Book ahead for weekend dinner.
Zet'Joe by Geert Van Hecke ★ 4.6 · Bruges
langestraat · Langestraat 11, 8000 Brugge
Zet'Joe in Bruges holds one Michelin star under Geert Van Hecke, who ran three-star De Karmeliet for twenty years before opening this warmer Langestraat room.
Tip: Open Tuesday through Saturday, lunch and dinner; closed Sunday and Monday. The lunch menu is the value entry.
Menssa ★ 4.6 · Brussels
european-quarter · Avenue de Tervueren 453, 1150 Brussels
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.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book the counter for the open-kitchen view; the dining room takes parties up to six.
Menssa ★ 4.6 · Brussels
Avenue de Tervueren 453, 1150 Brussels
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.
Roots ★ 4.6 · Ghent
patershol · Vrouwebroersstraat 5, 9000 Gent
Michelin Guide-listed bistronomic gem in Patershol: Kim Devisschere applies rigorous seasonal sourcing and West Flemish heritage to five-course menus.
Tip: Book at least three weeks ahead; this is one of the hardest tables in Ghent to secure.
Le Pristine ★ 4.5 · Antwerp
theaterbuurt · Lange Gasthuisstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp
Le Pristine in Antwerp is Sergio Herman's modern Belgian-Italian dining room in a 1960s modernist building. Crudo, wood-grilled fish and pasta.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The Cafe two doors down is the better-value breakfast and lunch option.
Nage ★ 4.5 · Antwerp
borgerhout · Congresstraat 42, 2060 Antwerp
Nage relocated from Reyndersstraat to a Congresstraat corner space in the 2060 quarter and now serves casual seasonal cooking with a natural-wine list.
Tip: Open Friday to Monday only; reserve a week ahead for weekend service.
Le Pristine ★ 4.5 · Antwerp
theaterbuurt · Lange Gasthuisstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp
Le Pristine in Antwerp is Sergio Herman's modern Belgian-Italian dining room in a 1960s modernist building. Located in Theaterbuurt. Priced at €€€€.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The casual sister Le Pristine Cafe shares the same Lange Gasthuisstraat 13 address for breakfast and counter lunch.
Den Amand ★ 4.5 · Bruges
markt · Sint-Amandsstraat 4, 8000 Brugge
Den Amand is a small family bistro off the Markt in Bruges, on car-free Sint-Amandsstraat, where Ann Vissers cooks seasonal vegetable, fish and meat dishes.
Tip: Closed Wednesday and Sunday. The room is tiny, so reserve, especially in summer.
La Paix ★ 4.5 · Brussels
anderlecht · Rue Ropsy Chaudron 49, 1070 Anderlecht
La Paix in Brussels has run since 1892 in a neo-classical building opposite the Anderlecht abattoir. Priced at €€€. Kitchen leans modern belgian.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Lunch only on Friday; the dining room runs Japanese-minimalist with origami above the tables.
Bar Pêche ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
theaterbuurt · Bollandusstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp
Bar Pêche on Bollandusstraat, just off Britselei, is chef Semmy Roumans's small bistro built around seasonal fish, vegetables and natural wine.
Tip: The intimate dining room books up fast; reserve a fortnight ahead for weekend tables.
Bistrot L'îlot ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
eilandje · Kribbestraat 15, 2000 Antwerp
Bistrot L'îlot in Antwerp is a 30-seat seasonal bistro on Eilandje. Chef Sander De Saegher runs the kitchen with a tight short-menu approach.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Book a fortnight ahead; only 30 covers per service.
Bistrot du Nord ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
eilandje · Lange Dijkstraat 36, 2060 Antwerp
Bistrot du Nord in Antwerp keeps one Michelin star for hearty classical bistro cooking. Michaël Rewers leans on meat and tripe in a tiled vintage room.
Tip: Closed Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is the better-value entry, around 50 euro for three courses.
Bistrot L'îlot ★ 4.4 · Antwerp
eilandje · Kribbestraat 15, 2000 Antwerp
Bistrot L'îlot in Antwerp is Sander De Saegher's seasonal bistro on Eilandje, opened end of 2017 after his Graanmarkt 13 sommelier years. Priced at €€€.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The bistro seats only 30, book ahead even on a Tuesday.
De Stove ★ 4.4 · Bruges
markt · Kleine Sint-Amandsstraat 4, 8000 Brugge
De Stove in Bruges has cooked fresh Zeebrugge fish since 1998, a few steps off the Markt. The room seats barely twenty, so the kitchen stays personal.
Tip: Tiny room, book ahead. Closed Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday; lunch sittings are short.
50 fifty ★ 4.4 · Ghent
binnenstad · Ottogracht 10, 9000 Gent
50 fifty runs a bistronomy sharing-plate format on Ottogracht with vegetable-led seasonal plates rated 4.8 out of 5 by local reviewers. Located in Binnenstad.
Tip: Come with four people to try the widest range without over-ordering; the room accommodates groups well.
LOF Restaurant ★ 4.4 · Ghent
binnenstad · Hoogstraat 36, 9000 Gent
Inside the Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof on Hoogstraat, chef Paul de Groote runs a five or six-course tasting menu rooted in classical French technique.
Tip: The Sunday lunch at €17.50 to €27.50 per course is the most accessible way into this kitchen.
Brewers' Kitchen ★ 4.3 · Antwerp
historisch-centrum · Oude Beurs 60, 2000 Antwerp
Brewers' Kitchen on Oude Beurs is a small Belgian-French dining room where the chef pairs seasonal plates with craft beers from local breweries.
Tip: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The chef works the room and the stove, so the pace is unhurried; book the early sitting on busy nights.
Au Vieux Saint Martin ★ 4.3 · Brussels
sablon · Place du Grand Sablon 38, 1000 Brussels
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.
Tip: Open every day from noon to midnight. The terrace looks straight at the Sablon church; book ahead for Sunday lunch.